HCOM 525
Fall 2005

Seminar in Organizational Communication
Class Meeting: Thursday 7:00-9:45 p.m.
CP 470

Course Description:

Prerequisites: HCOM 324, 326 and 420, or consent of the instructor. Theoretical postulates concerning managerial and organizational communication. Research findings and case studies relating to communication determinants and organizational effectiveness. Communicative relationships among individuals, the work unit and the organization.

Learning Goals: Four main goals for this course:

1. to explore and critique organizational theories and perspectives.
2. to assimilate these theories and perspectives into current organizational practices.
3. to argue for innovative change or constraint.
4. to enhance your own intellectual growth, personal development and career focus.

Readings: A course handbook with selected readings is available at the campus bookstore.   This handbook is required.

Additional readings in the handbook bibliography and additional sources that are relevant to your
class assignments and topics.

A current APA manual for reference (5th edition).

Course Requirements: The following must be completed for a final grade.

Participation and attendance 15%
Team Discussion 20%
Research Paper 40%
Short Paper (topic of choice) 25%



Participation & Attendance: It is imperative that you attend and participate in each class meeting. Your opinions and critiques are a vital part of our continuous learning. I promise to carefully plan each class so that it is informative, challenging and somewhat entertaining; however, I need your attention and participation to make this truly a valuable experience. Assigned readings must be read before our meeting so that you can actively and intellectually participate in discussions. Your input is important!

Scale:
0-1 classes = A
2 classes = B
3 classes = C
4 classes = F

Course Policies

University regulations require that you are provided with a statement about plagiarism in the course syllabus.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as the act of taking the specific substance of another and offering it as one’s own without giving credit to the source. Sources must be cited accurately and appropriately. When sources are used, acknowledgment of the original author or source must be made following standard scholarly practice. Cases of plagiarism will constitute dismissal from the course with a failing grade.

Honesty: Academic honesty is a core value at Cal State Fullerton. It is cheating if you develop your answers from sources other than those permitted by your professor or represent the work of others as your own. A few specific examples are:
• Using the notes of others
• Using the work of other students
• Handing in work that isn’t yours
• Taking a test for someone else
• Sharing your answers to examination questions or class assignments with others

Cell phones: Please make certain that all cell phones and other technical equipment are turned off during class meetings.

Flexibility: Please allow for flexibility with our schedule due to class enrollment, class speakers, or other events.

Assignments: All assignments are accepted on or before the due date. Assignments should be “professional” quality and must be completed and handed in for a final grade. Late assignments may constitute a grade penalty.

Grading: Use this as a guide for your written assignments:

CLARITY – structural pattern clear, sentences and paragraphs well developed, transitions and report development.

CONCISENESS – strive for brevity, avoid redundancies, and include well-developed ideas.

COMPLETENESS – introduction, body, and conclusion with support and good development.

GRAMMAR – capitalization, punctuation, references, grammatical correctness, proofreading, professional appearance.

Requirements: Typed, double-spaced, and carefully proof-read for grammatical and spelling errors. You must reference all research when citing ideas, words, data, and other information from published sources such as journals, newspapers, magazines, books and other literature.

All papers must include a bibliography or reference page, title page that includes your name, course number, date and professor’s name.

Please use APA style for citations.

Assignments

Team Discussion Assignment (20%): As a team member, you will lead the topic discussion for the week. Each team is responsible for the following:

1. Additional research (use 5-8 outside sources for this – journal or scholarly articles) that will provide more insight into your topic.

2. Prepare a list of questions that will stimulate discussion of your topic. These should be given to class members one week prior to your discussion. These will aid the class in preparing for your topic.

3. Turn in a summary of your readings. The summary should be at least three to five pages (typed, double-spaced) including a reference page of your readings.

4. You will have one hour to conduct your discussion followed by a fifteen minute question and answer period when you will respond to questions that your classmates have for you.

Class Responsibilities for Team Discussion Assignment

You are responsible for the course readings for the week in addition to any other readings that are appropriate to the topic. Be prepared to bring at least two topic questions for the team.


Short Paper (25%)

You are responsible for selecting an article that relates to organizational communication. You may chose a topic from our course or any other appropriate topic (please submit a prospectus – one paragraph for discussion and our mutual agreement).

Your research should include the following:

1. A topic of interest to you and one that stimulates your intellectual curiosity.

2. Support it with at least three articles from scholarly journals.

3. Be prepared to give at least a 15 minute report of your findings.

4. Write a paper that has a purpose statement of your findings; summarize the key points; discuss why this is of interest to you; and advance an argument for future research on this topic.

5. Paper should be typed, double-spaced and three to five pages in addition to a reference page (APA style).

Research Paper (40%)

The goal of this assignment is to explore an organizational theory, phenomenon or perspective that is of particular interest to you. You are required to complete a scholarly review of the literature, investigate the topic, discuss its implications and rational for future investigations. You need to have your topic approved by me before beginning your research. Please hand in one or two paragraphs that describe the topic and your curiosity and interest in it.

Paper structure:

1. Title page (include your name, course name and number, semester date, and professor name.

2. Introduction (approximately 1/2 to 1 page)
   a. Identify the focus of your paper. Create interest for the reader.
   b. Why is the topic worthy of study.
   c. Purpose statement

3. Literature Review (approximately 3-5 pages)
   a. Reference other studies and link these to your paper.
   b. All references must be cited. Un-cited research will result in plagiarism and a failed paper.
   c. At least eight to ten sources. You may use more.

4. Implications (approximately 2-3 pages)
   a. Make connections of your research and future benefits to organizational studies.
   b. Offer suggestions that go beyond your research. You’re just as clever and intelligent as the researchers you cited.

5. Summary and your thoughts (approximately 1-2 pages)
   a. Reiterate the significance of the topic and necessity of future research.

6. Reference page
   a. APA research style

Requirements:

1. All papers are due on schedule date.

2. Choose a topic that you are interested in or have passion for investigating.

3. No folders please – just staple the right hand corner or report.

4. Reference grading standards in syllabus.

5. Have fun with this research.

GRADING SYSTEM
PLUS/MINUS GRADING

 

A+	4.0
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
D+	1.3
D	1.0
D-	.7
F	Failing

Course Schedule