Communication 4600: Senior Seminar in Organizational Communication
Social Constructions of Difference in Organizations
Spring 2003 Semester
TR
Dr. Jennifer Lyn
Simpson
“I entered the classroom with the conviction that it was crucial for me and every other student to be an active participant, not a passive consumer..."
~bell hooks
The best way to
reach me outside of class time or office hours is via e-mail at Jennifer.Simpson@Colorado.edu,
course information and readings are available on-line at
http://www.colorado.edu/communication/comm4600003
The class e-mail
list address is OrgDiv@yahoogroups.com and the
message archive can be accessed at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrgDiv
My regular office
is located in Willard Hall, Room 29. I will gladly meet with you
there by appointment, and can be reached there at any time at 303-735-2096.
Allen, B. J. (in press). Difference matters: Communicating social identity in organizations. Available from class Web site in HTML and PDF formats.
Flick, D. L. (1998). From Debate to dialogue: Using
the understanding process to transform our conversations.
Rosenblum, K.
E. & Travis, T. C. (2003). The meaning of difference: American constructions
of race, sexand gender, social class, and sexual orientation. 3rd ed.
Supplemental
Additional or
alternative readings may be assigned at my discretion over the course
of the semester to address issues that arise in course discussion or to
deeper learning on topics of particular interest. These readings will be
handed out in class or available on-line. You are responsible for knowing
what readings are due on any given day. Please check
the course web site or contact me in advance of class if you are unsure.
For our class to form a functional, supportive, and effective learning environment, attendance and participation are required. In class discussion items are subject to testing along with concepts from assigned readings. Unexcused absences are not acceptable, and will negatively impact your grade in the course. If you are ill, you will be expected to provide verification from Wardenburg or a private doctor. A late written assignment will be penalized 10% of the grade for each day it is late, and will not be accepted more than three (3) class periods after it is due. If any circumstances arise that inhibit the timely completion of your work, I expect you to see me BEFORE they are due so that we can discuss possible arrangements.
This class is
a safe zone that respects all people regardless of cultural background,
sexual orientation, age, religion, ability and gender. Some ground rules
that facilitate a safe climate are no interrupting, put downs or name-calling.
I expect you to think critically and engage everyone respectfully in my
classroom and on our course discussion list. The campus policy governing
classroom behavior can be found at www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html.
The
All class members
are expected to read all assignments thoroughly
and to be prepared for class discussions. You are to have read the class
readings before class on the day for which they are assigned. Verbal
participation will affect your grade. Pop quizzes may be administered
and mini-assignments added from time to time to enhance class participation
or student learning. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility
to get the information you missed, including assignments. While I expect
you to attend all classes, I also know that sometimes things happen which
make that impossible. It is always better to contact
me to let me know that you will be absent if such a situation arises.
Every member of
the class is expected to sign up to and participate in an on-line discussion
that will allow space for reflection on class readings and provide a
forum for follow-up on class discussions. The list
will be hosted by Yahoo!Groups, and class members should sign up during
the first week of class by sending me an e-mail from the account you
will be using to check for class announcements and submit assignments. I will use this list to share important information with
you over the course of the semester, and you will each be expected to
post at least one substantive, thoughtful message to the list each
week. This message may raise a question about the
reading, respond to or elaborate on a class discussion, or relate class
material to an experience outside of class. Respect
for one another’s viewpoints and perspectives is expected at all times.
Participation on this list will count for 50% of your 200 participation
points and as such represents a significant portion of your grade.
There are three
exams scheduled this semester. Your first Exam will take place on February
11th, and your second Exam will be held on March 20th.
Your final exam
is scheduled for Saturday, May
3rd from
There are three
reflection papers scheduled throughout the semester that are designed
to push your thinking further in the topic areas we will be exploring this
semester. For each of these papers you will be expected
both to do additional reading beyond that assigned for the course (though
some of it may draw from readings included in your texts but not assigned)
and to draw on personal and organizational experience.
More details will be provided as the due date for these papers
approaches
Presentations
The last three
course meetings will be devoted to in-class presentations related to
your learning in the class. These presentations will count as a portion
of your final exam grade and will call on you to integrate, synthesize
and present your learning in creative ways. A separate assignment sheet
will be provided that more explicitly details what will be expected for
these presentations as the date approaches.
|
Assignments |
Points |
Due Date(s) |
|
Exam 1 |
100 |
2/11 |
|
Paper 1 |
100 |
3/4 |
|
Exam 2 |
100 |
3/20 |
|
Paper 2 |
100 |
4/1 |
|
Paper 3 |
100 |
4/17 |
|
Presentation |
40 |
4/24, 4/29,
or 5/1 |
|
Final Exam |
60 |
5/3 |
Participation |
|
|
|
Attendance/ participation—in
class |
50 |
Every day |
|
Participation—on-line
|
50 |
Once a week
|
|
Total |
700 |
|
*Quizzes and/or exams may be added if deemed necessary or appropriate.
|
100-95% |
A
|
73.5-76.9% |
C
|
|
90-94.9% |
A- |
70-73.4% |
C- |
|
87-89.9% |
B+ |
67-69.9% |
D+ |
|
83.5-86.9% |
B |
63.5-66.9% |
D |
|
80-83.4% |
B- |
60-63.4% |
D- |
|
77-79.9% |
C+ |
0-59.9% |
F |
Part of what I
enjoy most about teaching is getting to know my students and helping them
apply course material to their own experience. I
highly encourage you to meet with me in my office either alone or as a
group. The more open the lines of communication between
us the better able I will be to address your individual learning needs. Also feel free to e-mail me anytime with questions or
concerns that you have regarding course material.
Students with
disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter
from Disability Services (DS) and discuss specific needs with me, preferably
during the first two weeks of class. DS determines
accommodations based on documented disabilities (303-492-8671, Willard
322, www.colorado.edu/sacs/disabilityservices).
If you will miss
class because of a religious observance, please see me well in advance
of your absence so that reasonable accommodations can be made.
Academic Skills
Program (Student Academic Services) 492 - 5474
Willard 386
Academic Excellence
Program 492 - 3842, 492-4977
(TTY)
Willard 313
Advising, tutoring,
career advising, financial advising, mentoring for low income, 1st generation
in college or disabled students
American Indian
Upward Bound 492 - 6134
WILLARD 203
Career Services
492 - 6541
WILLARD 20
492 -6766 WILLARD 134
Cultural
Social Support/Counseling/
Resource and Referral
Mentorship/Leadership
Cultural Awareness
& Sensitivity
Professional and
peer counseling
Disability Services
TTY/V 492 - 8671 WILLARD 322
English as a Second
Language 492 - 5547
(63 UCB)
Help Desk: 492-6543
General: 492-8172
492 - 1377 WILLARD
227
Stress Management
Counseling 492 - 5654 WARDENBURG
Tutorial Services 492 - 5474 WILLARD 386
Women's
WILLARD 386
University Writing
Program 492-8188
TB01 113
|
Date |
Topics
|
Assignments |
T 1/14
|
Introductions and Course Overview |
|
R 1/16
|
Social Construction
and Difference in Organizations
|
Allen Ch. 1*
|
T 1/21
|
Communicative
construction of Difference: Doing Dialogue
|
Flick Chs. 1-4
|
R 1/23
|
Communicative construction of
Difference: Doing Dialogue |
|
T 1/28
|
Defining Terms
and Concepts
|
Allen Ch. 2*
|
R 1/30
|
Constructing
Difference(s)
|
|
T 2/4
|
Maintaining Difference(s) |
|
R 2/6
|
Summary and Synthesis |
|
|
T 2/11 |
Exam 1 |
Study!
|
R 2/13
|
Tough Guise |
Gender Matters
|
T 2/18
|
|
R&T 98-108
|
|
R 2/20 |
Connections & Synthesis |
|
T 2/25
|
|
Race Matters
|
R 2/27
|
Hair piece |
|
|
T 3/4 |
Connections & Synthesis |
Paper 1 Due |
R 3/6
|
|
Class Matters |
T 3/11
|
|
|
|
R 3/13 |
People Like
Us
|
|
T 3/18
|
Connections & Synthesis |
|
R 3/20
|
Exam 2 |
Study!
|
|
T 3/25 |
Spring Break |
No School
|
R 3/27
|
Spring Break |
No School |
T 4/1
|
|
Sexuality Matters |
|
R 4/3 |
|
Paper 2 Due |
T 4/8
|
Connections & Synthesis |
|
R 4/10
|
|
Age & Ability
Matters
Allen Chs. 6 & 7* |
|
T 4/15 |
|
R&T 216-220
& 471-480
|
|
R 4/17 |
|
R&T 516-521
Paper 3 Due
|
|
T 4/22 |
Connections & Synthesis |
|
|
R 4/24 |
|
Presentations
|
|
T 4/29 |
|
Presentations
|
|
R 5/1 |
|
Presentations |
All readings marked
with a * are available from the course web page, listed below.
This schedule is
tentative and subject to change. If you miss
class, it is your responsibility to find out if the content of this schedule
has changed at all. Updates to it will be posted at www.colorado.edu/communication/comm4600003
Final Exam, Saturday,
May 3,