Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2020 - CMNS 304W D100

Communication in Everyday Life (4)

Class Number: 2292

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2020: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units, including one of CMNS 220, 221, 223, 223W, 235.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of a range of theories of everyday language focused on specific forms of discursive practice, including gossip, humour, religion, and sarcasm. Students with credit for CMNS 304 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course examines the level of everyday life to identify the various forms of communication, discourse, and power that circulate through our everyday experiences. The course is structured to simulate a typical day in one's life, so each week we will unpack topics such as dreams, self-identity, intercultural communication, gender relations, dialogue and listening, workplace interactions, gossip, comedy, games and sports, fashion, and several other things that we encounter every day but may not reflect on their significance. Using an approach of discourse analysis, we will investigate these everyday experiences for the signs and meanings that exist within each of them to better understand the social and power relations they produce. As this is a third-year Writing (W) course, students are expected to do a significant amount of weekly reading and writing, and course assignments include weekly journal submissions, a major research paper with proposal, and mid-term and final exams.

Grading

  • Tutorial Attendance 5%
  • Tutorial Participation 15%
  • Weekly Journal Submissions 15%
  • In-Class Midterm 15%
  • Research Paper Proposal 5%
  • Research Paper 25%
  • Take-Home Final Exam 20%

NOTES:

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades.  In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline.  [Note: as of May 1, 2009, the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

There will be zero tolerance towards plagiarism.

Please see Library’s plagiarism website: https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/academic-integrity/plagiarism

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Course readings will be made available online via Canvas.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SUMMER 2020

Please note that all teaching at SFU in summer term 2020 will be conducted through remote methods. Enrollment in this course acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.