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Fall 2011
August 29-Dec 19
CMCL-C427 Cross-Cultural Communication
RW 211, TR 12:30-1:45pm
Professor: Dr. Natalia Rybas
Email: OnCourse &
natrybas@iue.edu
This is the most effective way. Please
use OnCourse message system to
communicate with me regarding the
course matters. There is no need to
copy the message to my email address.
On weekdays, I will check these
Course information messages at least once a day and will
Course Description Learning Objectives provide a response within 24 hours.
In this course, the students will During this course, students will:
heighten their cultural awareness 1. Become familiar with the In person: Tom Raper 248
and intelligence as well as create study of intercultural You are welcome to visit me in the
intercultural communication communication from the traditional office during the office hours or during
competence. We will explore the social psychological perspective, other negotiated times. I plan to have
notions of culture, identity, the interpretive perspective, and the campus office hours on Tuesdays and
difference, and power. Our more recent critical perspective. Thursdays, 2-3pm. Please let me know
discussions will focus on the 2. Discover the importance of
if you plan to come to see me.
reasons to study intercultural or the roles of context and power in
cross-cultural communication, the studying intercultural
popular culture representations of communication. Skype: nr_iueast
cross-cultural contact, and ways to 3. Become more sensitive to If you cannot see me on campus, you
develop intercultural the complexity of intercultural can contact me via Skype (make sure
communication competence interactions. you introduce yourself “requesting
4. Recognize the influence of contact”); we’ll talk via video, voice,
their own cultural group(s) on or chat. My screen name is nr_iueast
intercultural communication
(available from the university interactions. Phone: (765) 973-8376
bookstore and other retailers) 5. Become more willing, self- Please feel free to call my office during
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. reflective, flexible, and open work time. If necessary, we can
(2010). Intercultural communicators in intercultural
arrange a phone conversation, please
communication interactions.
Communication in Contexts, email me your phone number and the
(5th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN: Like other communication courses, best time to call you.
978-0-07-338512-9 this course strives to:
- Investigate the knowledge, Voice Mail: (973) 506-0815.
attitudes, and skills, and values that You can leave a voice message calling
underlie competent Google Voice (973) 506-0815. When
communication; you dial this number, it rings in the
- Promote active critical thinking office. If I am there, I’ll pick up.
about the role of communication in Otherwise, your message will be
everyday life; transcribed and sent to my email. If
- Improve your ability to analyze you leave a message on my office
human communication interaction. phone (765) 973-8376, I will check it
when I am on campus.

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Cmcl-C427 syllabus
Academic Academic Integrity
Information *Each student is expected to
uphold the standards of academic
Teaching Philosophy honesty by submitting original and
I believe that students learn by doing individual work in class. You must
and active participation. Thus, I strive do your own search and research in
to create a context of engagement preparation for your projects and
through various activities where each assignments.
student does meaningful work
applying and connecting class *Plagiarism means using someone Course Structure
activities and life outside classroom. I else’s work in your own academic We are scheduled to meet 2 times
will utilize a variety of learning projects without proper credit, a week for 75 min. During these
strategies and teaching methods in thus plagiarism is a form of meetings, we will engage in
this class to best meet the needs of theft. Engaging in plagiarism shows different types of activities:
learners – thus, you will probably that your lack of self-respect and
• Summarizing the reading for
never feel that you are idle in the respect for others.
the sake of understanding in
course. These methods of instruction
the form of posters, slides, and
will include small group discussions
other;
and activities, reflection
engagements, analyses of various • Teaching each other about a
sorts, hands-on activities. I do not do particular aspect of the topic –
lecturing in traditional sense of the a jigsaw discussion;
word. Rather, we all come to class • Analyzing and examining cases
with the readiness to dig for studies, presented as
knowledge! documentaries, speeches, or in
In order to help you assess other form to seek the
your knowledge and competence of application and analysis of
the material under study, I will theories and concepts that we
provide you with prompt and timely *Cite any work that is not your study;
feedback regarding your performance own. Written work, such as papers • Talk with guest speakers who
in the class. I will strive to provide and discussion forums, and other do research related to
written feedback for your projects instances of your activity in class intercultural communication;
within one-week of assignment should reflect original thought as • Working on your course
completion (=after the deadline). well as cited resources. Tell your projects;
peers and me what words and ideas • Discussing your questions;
your have borrowed and where
• Making presentations and
they borrowed them from.
facilitating discussions;
The semester consists of 3 units
*Cheating and plagiarism will not
(you can see them color coded on
be tolerated. The minimum
the course calendar), each unit
consequence is failing the
includes a few topics and ends with
assignment. In a case of more
an application week. During the
serious offense, a student may fail
semester you will do a research
the course.
project, and make a poster
presentation at the very end of the
*I may use the services of
semester. A portfolio will
Tuneitin.com to check for
systematically and creatively
originality of your written work.
assemble your work.

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ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
This is the list of assignments and projects, which are planned to be completed during
the semester. Changes are possible. Some assignments will consists of several steps, the
details for each step will be provided separately.
Weekly reading journals (5-10pts) = starting from week 2 of the semester, you
need to bring a write up based on your reading assigned for the week. The content will
vary and we’ll decide in class what we want to do. The assignments may include:
summarize the most difficult part of the reading; explain how one idea from the reading
applies to your life; choose a passage from the reading and explain what it means and
why it is important; compose a conversation with a scholar or character; explain a
specific real-life use of the material; a high and low points in the reading or other. This Grading Scale
paper is 1-2 page long, double space and should include 2-3 questions you want to bring
for discussion that week. A+ = 98% and higher
Application week 1 (50pts) = Read, present, and discuss an article. This activity will A = 93% and higher
happen in 2 groups. Each student will present 2 times for each group. Then you will A- = 89.5% and higher
have to moderate a discussion on the issues raised by the article. A handout with B + = 87% and higher
summary, 3 significant quotes, and at least 3 questions for discussion should be B = 83% and higher
distributed before the presentations. B- = 79.5% and higher
C+ = 77% and higher
Application week 2 (50pts) = Watch a movie, summarize an episode, and analyze it C = 73% and higher
based on the theories and concepts we have studied. Each student in the group will have C- = 69.5% and higher
to work with 1 movie, while in the group you will discuss a few of them. You will have D+ = 67% and higher
to moderate a discussion on the issues raised by the movie as well as participate in D = 63% and higher
discussing questions raised by others. A handout with 150-word episode summary, 400- D- = 60% and higher (lowest
500word analysis, and at least 3 questions for discussion should be distributed before the passing grade for general education
presentations. requirements)
Application week 3 (50pts) = Produce a poster and make a presentation to share your F = below 60%
research findings. Discuss your findings.
Work that meets the requirements
Course Project: Local and personal cultural history and communication of an assignment deserves a B. A
(160pts) = The focus of this semester long project is to analyze how your family higher grade is awarded to work that
histories intertwine with local histories and influence communication patterns. The goes above or beyond the minimum
question that you want to answer is the following: How the ways you communicate standards. You must complete all
reflect (also create, depend on, differ, influence, construct, etc.) the histories of your assignments to successfully fulfill the
family(ies) and your community(ies). You will have to study the ways you course requirements.
communicate, the history of your family, and the history of your community. There
will be 6 parts in this assignment. I will NOT round up your grade: if
Part 1. Identify your focus. (10pts) you have 88.5%, your grade is a B+.
Part 2. Explore your own backgrounds and how these backgrounds influence your I do not assign projects for extra
communication patterns. (30pts) credit. Please work on the
Part 3. Research the community in which you grew up or currently live to discover or assignments planned in the course.
critique the communication patterns prevalent in the community. (40pts)
Part 4. Interview an elderly member of your community; analyze the communication
patterns emerging from the interview. (40pts)
Part 5. Suggest a framework for analysis of what you have discovered about yourself,
your community culture, and communication patterns – on the basis of studied theories
and concepts. This will be the basis and the draft of your presentation (20pts).
Part 6. Present your project. Discuss the projects of others (= application week 3)
Course portfolio (30pts)– This activity is called to wrap-up the course. You have to
assemble a portfolio to showcase your work during the semester, using a special
function in Adobe Acrobat Professional. Your portfolio will include a 1-page overview
of your work, a reviewed paper, and other elements of the work you have produced in
the course.

4. Cmcl-C427 syllabus Fall 2011
Writing Instruction for formal assignments
Guidelines for written assignments
All papers or projects should be formatted in MS Word version 2007 or 2010, available
from IUWare. All assignments should be typed using Times New Roman #12 or Arial #11,
2-spaced. Submit your papers or any other work by bringing them to class on the assigned day
and/or uploading via Assignment section of the site on OnCourse. I would appreciate if you
do not email me your assignments because they tend to get buried. Accurate APA
style documentation should be strictly adhered to. No assignments will be accepted for
grading after Wed, December 14, 2011, midnight.
Saving Materials
It is imperative that you keep personal copies of all written work submitted in the course. If
there is some discrepancy in your grade or submission for the course due to an online mishap
or missing communication, I will ask you that you reproduce these documents.
Writing Assistance
While there is no teaching assistant or student instructor for this course, writing assistance is
available through Writing Center, Whitewater Hall 206, write@iue.edu. I will provide its
schedule as it becomes available. The help is provided online if you cannot come to the center.
The staff of the Writing Center can assist you with writing style, grammar, and developing
good study habits.
Preparation: I expect you to be well prepared before each
Course policies week commences. Being prepared means that you must read
the assigned text and/or watch videos or listen to audios and
Attendance = participation =
complete tasks assigned. Be familiar with the details of each
presence: Communication as a discipline and skills can be
project and assignment. You will not pass the course by
learned best when you participate in course activities and
occasional appearance in class, scanning the texts, and
actively evaluate your colleagues’ work. Thus your active
completing assignments and projects off-the-cuff. Please plan
presence - that is, productive, substantial, original, and critical
your schedules accordingly.
- is mandatory. Presence implies engagement in a dialogue
with people and texts. Mere observation, or just marking your Late/make-up work:
presence with an expression of agreement or disagreement, · All assignments are to be completed by the date assigned.
does not count "by the end of the day." As a result, your Deadlines help switch your attention from one project/task to
participation = presence = attendance will influence your another; and deadlines help me organize grading routines.
grades. · I reserve the right to not accept any late assignments regardless of
In other words, attendance is required. When you the excuse provided. In the case of an emergency or serious
are resent, you will earn points for quizzes, classwork, peer illness, please contact me as soon as possible. Assignments
feedback and other activities. Any student with more than one turned in late receive a 10% reduction in points for each day.
(1) absence will be penalized 5 points for every absence after I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY WORK AFTER 5 DAYS PAST
the first. THE DUE DATE, including weekends and holidays.
If you plan to be absent from class activities for · Graded weekly activities that involve any kind of social
longer periods of time because of a sport, school, medical, or interaction (e.g., weekly forums, peer feedback, group work,
family event, please let me know and complete your work in etc.) cannot be made-
advance. In case you miss scheduled events and do not up.
negotiate, you will receive no grade, a zero.
· The last day to submit
Reporting attendance: A few times during the semester, I any work is Wed, Dec 14
have to report if you are attending the course regularly. I will
use your most recent email or post on the discussion board as
the evidence of your last visit.
I