The purpose of the first half of the course is to orient you to the central ideas in the study of Intercultural Communication.  An understanding of the key concepts addressed in the first six chapters of your textbook is critical to your continued success in this class.

Students in this course should now have a firm understand the following:

1. The importance of intercultural communication competence
2. The nature of communication, specifically that of intercultural communication
3. The definition of culture
4. How intercultural communication differs from other forms of communication
5. The mix of cultures in the United States
6. Why cultures differ
7. The influence of primary value patterns and orientations on cultural behaviors
8. The term "intercultural communication flexibility," its components, and how people can achieve it when communicating with others
9. How ethinic and cultural identities are developed
10. Culture shock and its influence on human behavior and adaptation
11. The conventions and rules of language and how they can differ across cultures

Guidelines for writing and submitting your first paper can be found on our main Blackboard (Bb) page by clicking on the button labeled "Papers."

Please contact me with any questions.

This week is reserved for reflecting on what has been learned in our course in the past seven weeks. Take a day or two to review what has been covered in the course (Chapters 1-6, and all Discussion Boards).

Paper Week

Paper 1