COMM 614

ETHICAL ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION

Fall 2010. Thursdays To find out if classes will meet in bad weather, call 704-337-2567.

_____________________________________________________________________________ Instructor: Leanne Pupchek, Ph.D. Office: 101 Dana Office Hours: Monday 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Tues./Thursday 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Before class and by appointment. Please reserve time by signing appointment sheet on my door.

Phone: (704) 337-2240 (office)

(704) 663-4861 (home) Textbooks: Arnett et al. (2009). Communication ethics literacy: Dialogue and difference Hugo, V., Les Miserables. (Suggested.) Course Prerequisites: Graduate standing. Course Description: Enron. Madoff. Blair. Napster. Adelphia. British Petroleum. The

individuals and organizations practicing “What not to do” with regard to performing ethically often make the news, and their names linger as cultural shorthand for dishonor. But how do people distinguish between the wrong choices and the right ones? What standards can we hold up as “What to do” to guide our decision-making case by case? How do we take focus such concepts on our practice of communication? This course is designed to help you answer such questions.

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Guided by the framework provided by our text, you and your classmates will lead us all in discussions to explore ethical issues in communication. Each week you will bring to class a response to the assigned material that analyzes and evaluates it according to your experience.

Further, just as the text applies the theory to behavior and decision-making in Victor Hugo’s story of Les Miserables, you will demonstrate your understanding of the material by applying theory to scenes from a film. We will move on to discuss examples from our own experience and current events. You will finish by adding to your original response by responding to class activity.

Course Objectives: After successfully completing this class, you will be able to:

1. Identify at least five ethical issues in communication in class discussions and reflection papers.

2. Identify at least five bases for ethical choices based on published theoretical and philosophical thought in reflection papers.

3. Discuss at least five ethical concepts in depth in reflection papers. 4. Discuss ethical concepts thoroughly as they apply to one communication

issue in a 10- to 15-page paper. 5. Illustrate your understanding of ethical guidelines in professional or

personal contexts by applying them to your own experience and observations in class discussions and reflection papers.

6. Demonstrate your ability to explore one ethics topic thoroughly in class presentation and research paper.

7. Demonstrate understanding of ethics terminology in class discussions and reflection papers.

COMM M.A. Students: Keep this syllabus and your completed assignments for your

Capstone portfolio. Learning management system: Moodle Students will submit course materials using the Learning Management

System Moodle. To be able to use this system, your computer equipment needs to meet these specifications:

PC: Access: 56.6 Kbps modem or cable modem/DSL if available Operating system: Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT, ME, XP or Vista Browser: Explorer 5.5 or later, Firefox Mac: Access: 56.6 Kbps modem or cable modem/DSL if available Operating system: OS 9 or OS X Browser: Firefox Students can get help with their technology needs by calling the QUEST help

desk at 704-337-2323. For Moodle training, contact williamsja@queens.edu. Course Responsibilities:

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READING: This course requires reading about 60-100 pages a week. ATTENDING: Please let me know by e-mail if you know something will keep you out of class, and attach your reflection. You are responsible for the work you miss. Call classmates to review class activity. Students who miss more than three classes should meet with me to determine their likelihood of success. That being said, we all want you to miss the class if you are sick. Really.

CONFORMING TO PROFESSIONAL WRITING STANDARDS: To meet my

expectations for the style of your formal written work, please ensure you: 1. Review and follow the honor code. Cutting and pasting anything from the web without attribution is plagiarizing, even if you mix up the order of the words or change them to synonyms. (You can always go to the writing center in the basements of Sykes if you want to improve your prose.) 2. Submit all formal documents word-processed, double-spaced, in 11- or 12-point type. 3. Conform to a standard academic reference and citation style. In the graduate program, we prefer American Psychological Association (APA) style. The library has quick reference guides, as do many websites. 4. Use standard print fonts (Arial, Times Roman, Helvetica). 5. Number each page of your document in the upper right-hand corner. 6. Attach a cover page that notes the title of your document, your name, course number, and e-mail address. 7. Staple documents in the upper left-hand corner.

COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS: Submit assignments electronically by midnight the day before, or at the beginning of class on the due date.

Reflections Demonstrate your engagement with the reading by submitting weekly reflections that discuss reading concepts according to your own experience or observations. You have ten (10) opportunities to write reflections. Please submit nine (9). The first reflection is ungraded but I will comment on it. You may skip the week you lead the class. Due: Weekly Value: 36% (12@3%) Ethics Presentation Lead the class discussion on a concept or family of concepts from the assigned chapter. Illustrate the concept with a 15- to 30-second scene from a film. Lead a discussion of concepts from the text. Enhance the discussion with additional scholarly research you have found: summarize the additional readings and suggest others in an annotated Reading List.

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(Annotations supply a sentence or two identifying the conclusion or value that justifies including the work.) See schedule for topics. Two students will present in each class. Confer with each other to ensure you cover different topics/chapters. Value: 24% Paper Discuss an ethical issue in communication. This paper is your exam. Bring it to the last class for discussion. Due: Dec. 9 Value: 40%

Grading scale:

A Superior work B Good work. Could improve one of these areas: ideas, argument or grammar. C Acceptable work. Needs to improve two of these areas: ideas, argument or grammar. F Unacceptable work. Reflects unacceptable level of commitment or skill.

(No grad student should ever earn an F.)

Students with disabilities: If you are a student with a verified disability and you require accommodations, please provide me with the memorandum from Student Disability Services. If you have questions or need such verification, contact: Sandy Rogelberg, MA, LPC, NCC Phone: 704-337-2508 Email: rogelbes@queens.edu

Proposed Schedule: Please read the assigned chapters and print out a 1-3 paragraph response for each class. Write your class reflection on the back of your reading response. Sept. 9 Introduction. Film discussion model. Template. Reading: Preface

Discuss possible research topics. Choose a day to lead the class. View: Les Miserables

15 Last day to add

16 The necessity of communication ethics, defining communication ethics

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Reading: Ch. 1, 2 Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 1 & 2

Last day to drop 23 The pragmatic good of theory

Reading: Ch. 3, 4 Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 3 & 4

Discuss research topics. 30 Dialogic ethics

Reading: Ch. 5 Presentation: Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 5 Due: Research topics.

Oct. 1-2 Carolinas Communication Assoc. Conference, Conway-Myrtle Beach SC

Oct. 7 Public Discourse ethics Reading: Ch. 6 Presentation: Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 6

14 Fall Break. No class. 21 Interpersonal communication ethics

Reading: Ch. 7 Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 7

27 Last day to withdraw 28 Organizational communication ethics

Reading: Ch. 8 Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 8

Nov. 4 Intercultural communication ethics Reading: Ch. 9

Due: Reading Responses and Reflections, Ch. 9

11 Professional communication ethics Reading: Ch. 10 & 11

Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 10 & 11

18 Share drafts of your paper with peer reviewers. Professor away at conference.

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Due: 3-5 copies of your Research Paper Draft.

30 Thanksgiving Break Dec. 2 Communication ethics literacy and difference

Reading: Ch. 12 Due: Reading Response and Reflection for Ch. 12

9 Research Paper Presentations, discussion Due: Presentations Due: Papers

16 Response and course reflection.

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COMM 614

Writing a reflection paper The primary purpose for short reflection papers is to get you to digest your reading and class discussions by applying the new concepts or perspectives you are learning to your personal experience and observations. The reflection also gives you material to contribute to class discussions by either serving as the basis for your contributions, or prompting you to continue thinking and formulating a further response. In about two pages:

1. Summarize the reading. Tell me about what you read. Make sure you tell me how you felt about what you read. (I can go back to the original reading to review the content.)

2. Describe the theory that resonated particularly with you and how it applies to something you have seen or experienced.

3. If appropriate, describe something in the reading that you struggled with, and explore possible meanings for or applications of the concept on an additional page.

Evaluation:

+ Excellent: Demonstrates insight into some of the material Features one concept

Explores concept deeply rather than covering everything you read.

Good: Connects ideas from other courses, work, current events etc. Provides acceptable application of the material

- Incomplete

Needs focus Needs application

Needs organization Needs vocabulary/spelling/grammar review

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Name: _____________________________

COMM 614 Contact information

and Honor Code Pledge Address: ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Phone number: _________________________________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________________________ Honor Code:

As a member of the Queens Community, I will endeavor to create a spirit of integrity and honor for its own sake at Queens University of Charlotte. I pledge truthfulness and absolute honesty in the performance of all academic work. I pledge to be truthful at all times, to treat others with respect, to respect the property of others and to adhere to University policies. Accepting both the privileges and responsibilities of living by this code of honor, I resolve to uphold this code and not to tolerate any violations of its spirit or principles.

Signed: ___________________________________________Date: ______

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1. The Pragmatic Necessity of Communication Ethics Student Application: Contending Goods The Good Historical Moment: Mapping Communication Ethics Postmodernity Learning Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 2. Defining Communication Ethics Student Application: Finding Narrative Ground Multiplicity of Communication Ethics Philosophy of Communication Applied Communication Narrative Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 3. Approaches to Communication Ethics: The Pragmatic Good of Theory Student Application: Choice Making Democratic Communication Ethics Universal-Humanitarian Communication Ethics Codes, Procedures, and Standards in Communication Ethics Contextual Communication Ethics Narrative Communication Ethics Dialogic Communication Ethics The College Campus: Communication Ethics Perspectives Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 4. Communication Ethics: In the Eye(s) of the Theory of the Beholder Student Application: Common Sense and Contention Common Sense Learning Theory Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 5. Dialogic Ethics: Meeting Differing Grounds of the "Good" Student Application: Negotiating Difference Dialogue and Difference Dialogic Theory Dialogic Coordinates: Without Demand A Dialogic Learning Model of Communication Ethics Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 6. Public Discourse Ethics: Public and Private Accountability Student Application: What Is Public and Private Space? Public Discourse: The Public "Good" Public Decision Making: The Good of Public Accountability Differentiation of Public and Private Space Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 7. Interpersonal Communication Ethics: The Relationship Matters Student Application: Relational Responsibility Interpersonal Communication Distance Interpersonal Responsibility Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 8. Organizational Communication Ethics: Community of Memory and Dwelling Student Application: Finding a Dwelling Place Organizational Communication Dwelling Place Organizations and Institutions Community of Memory Within Organizations Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 9. Intercultural Communication Ethics: Before the Conversation Begins Student Application: The Unfamiliar Intercultural Communication Culture Culture Shock The Inarticulate Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 10. Business and Professional Communication Ethics Student Application: Finding Direction Business and Professional Communication The Dialectic of Direction and Change Public Testing Pointing to a Dialogic Ethic in Business and Professional Communication Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through

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Literature: Les Miserables 11. Health Care Communication Ethics Student Application: Responding to the Other Health Care Communication Health Responsiveness Care Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables 12. Communication Ethics Literacy and Difference: Dialogic Learning Student Application: Understanding the Other Pragmatic Crisis Communication Communication Ethics Literacy The Pragmatics of Dialogic Ethics Communication Ethics: Reflection and Action Engaging Communication Ethics Through Literature: Les Miserables