CMST 397: Special Topics in Health Communication
Spring, 2000

Instructor: Dr. Madeline M. Keaveney
CSU, Chico

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Health communication is an emerging specialty in the field of communication. This course is designed to provide a broad introduction to human communication in a health care context. We will look at issues such as provider-client communication, provider-provider communication and education, intercultural health communication, alternative medicine, health ethics, and mass media health images.

Payer, Lynn. Medicine & Culture. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1996.

Du Pre, Athena. Communicating About Health: Current Issues and Perspectives. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company, 2000.

Extensive readings available in the library, on reserve, and/or in packets.

Course materials must be read on schedule to insure informed class discussions. There will be some instructor lectures but most course content will be covered through class discussions, reports on outside readings, and the sharing of assigned papers.

All written work for this course must utilize standard source citation format (either MLA or APA style) for acknowledging source material. All written work must follow standard expectations for written work (i.e., 1" margins, typed, double spaced., etc. ). Papers marred by errors such as spelling errors, sentence fragments, etc. will not receive a high grade in this class; carefully proofread your work before submitting it for evaluation. Late papers will not receive full credit, so plan ahead.

The particular percentages for assignments will be determined after all class assignments are set.

1. IN-CLASS REPORTS ON ASSIGNED ARTICLES: Students will present a 10-15 minute report of assigned articles during the semester. (The order of reports will be by random draw). Each presenter must have a 2 page typed handout for each class member and the instructor.

   The written report should, for empirical articles, describe the questions(s) investigated as well as the research design (sample, test instrument, etc.). Summarize the findings of the article. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the article, commenting on the clarity of the methodology and the discussion of the results. Discuss the indications given for directions for future research.

   For theoretical articles, describe the theoretical content of the article (including previous research foundations). Summarize the main points of the article. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the article, commenting on the clarity of the theoretical foundations/ premises / discussion. Discuss the indications given for directions for future research.

   The presentation must be more than just a mere reading of your written handout. I expect the presentation to evidence a synthesis of the material read and to evidence communicative competence. You are the teacher of the class during your report time: your presentation needs to cover the article but also be interesting.

2. READER/RESPONSE CRITIQUES: For at least four classes during the semester (no more than one class per week), you are to submit a one page summary and critique of one of the assigned readings for class. You will be particularly responsible for discussing this reading and raising relevant issues/making connections, etc.

3. HEALTH COMMUNICATION PAPER/PROJECT: There will be a relatively small (5-7 page) paper due at the midpoint in the semester that will deal with some issue(s) related to health communication. Details to follow shortly.

4. HEALTH COMMUNICATION MAJOR PAPER: In a 12-15 page paper, using at least three artifacts (such as pamphlets, print ads, videos, etc.) analyze the rhetoric of a successful or an unsuccessful health communication campaign such as AIDS awareness, safe sex, breast self examination, smoking cessation, etc. Or you might want to analyze the rhetoric of artifacts produced by organizations and support groups for specialized health problems such as Alzheimer's disease, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, etc.

   Have some identifiable method of analysis (for example, look at metaphors through metaphor analysis, look at the "story" in the artifacts through narrative analysis, look at the way men and women are portrayed through feminist analysis, examine themes in the artifacts, etc.). In addition to the actual analysis of the artifacts, you will have a literature review that details the writing/theorizing that has been done on this topic.

Since this is a graduate seminar, I assume you will attend all classes, will do the readings on schedule, and will be prepared to make significant contributions to all class discussions. Part of your final grade will be based on attendance/participation / impromptu brief assignments related to issues related to course content.

Class begins at 3:00 p.m. BE ON TIME!!! Class ends at 4:15 p.m. Plan to be in class for the entire time.

Plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty will result in course failure. Plagiarism/academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, requesting answers on exams, submitting as your own a paper written by someone else or a paper you have submitted to another class, working with someone else on a paper you present as your own, failing to give appropriate credit for ideas via citation in papers, etc. Any sign of cheating in any way on course exams or assignments will be addressed directly. Ignorance of the specific parameters of plagiarism and academic dishonesty will not serve as a defense. Be informed! If you have questions, get the brochure "Academic Honesty" available through the office of Student Judicial Affairs and/or review the University Catalog.

It is expected that students will demonstrate appropriate, mature in-class behavior. The opinions of all students need to be respected. However, it is important that no students monopolize class time or behave in such a way as to impede others in learning class material or fully participating in class discussions and exercises. Disruptive behavior such as inappropriate talking, noisy behavior, etc. is not acceptable. Problems will be handled on an individual basis..

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

If you are taking this class in English as a second language and will need more time on exams, identify yourself by the end of the second week of class so that special arrangements can be discussed. If you have any disability related needs in terms of taking exams of other accommodations, please contact Disability Support Service (Building E, 898-5959) on campus to obtain the appropriate documentation. Once you have the additional documentation but at least by the end of the second week of class, come by my office and identify your needs so that any necessary arrangements can be made.

INCOMPLETES AND ADDS/DROPS

Incompletes in this class are strongly discouraged and will only be given for serious and compelling reasons that can be documented; if given, they will only be for one semester, and will mean that a student electing to take an incomplete will be unable to receive any kind of A grade in this class

Students may add or drop courses without restriction or penalty and without instructor approval during the first two weeks of the semester (January 24 — February 4, 2000) using the telephone registration system (TRACS) or, where necessary, by submitting a Change of Program (COP) form. During the third and fourth weeks of classes (February 7 — February 18, 2000) COP forms are needed to add and drop and will require the approval signature of the instructor. After the end of the fourth week of the semester (February 21, 2000), all COP forms to add or drop will require a serious and compelling reasons (University Catalog Catalogue , p. 155) and require approval signatures of the instructor, department chair, and dean of the college. Do not assume that you will be automatically dropped for not attending class; it is your responsibility to make a commitment to drop or stay in class by the end of the second week of classes; it is also your responsibility to follow the appropriate drop procedures or you risk getting a failing grade for the class.

PLEASE NOTE: Your continued enrollment in this class is prima facie evidence of your agreement to the policies and conditions set forth in this syllabus.

Initial Course Outline

August 25 Introduction to the course

August 27 Terminology and introductory concepts

September 1 Comm and Health 1-3

September 3 Comm and Health 4-5

September 8 Comm and Health 6-7

September 10 Comm and Health 8-9

September 15 Comm and Health 10-11