CMN 105Semantic and Pragmatic Functions of Language

Course Syllabus (Spring, 2012)

**You are required to know all the information presented in this course syllabus.
Instructor: Virginia Hamilton, Ph.D.
Course Time: M,Ws 2:10 3:50 (no break)
Hamiltons Office Hours: Weds 4:00 5:30 PM and by appointment
Course Assistants Office Hours:
Office: 367 Kerr Hall
Phone: None available, due to budget cuts
E-mail: vohamilton@ucdavis.edu
Course Description: CMN 105 is an intriguing examination of the role of language in shaping
attitudes and perceptions of self and others. The course explores the use and abuse of verbal
symbols in communicative situations. The concepts of the course focus on meaning and the
relationship between language, thought and action in interpersonal, group, and public
communication.
Required Readings:
1. Lee, Irving, J. (1955) The Semantic Man. Understanding and Being Understood by
Sanford I. Berman (1969). International Society for General Semantics.
2. Hayakawa, S.I. (1990). Language in Thought and Action. (5th edition). Harcourt Brace &
Co.
Evaluation Method:
Your grade will be based on three multiple-choice exams, 50 questions each.
Exam #1: 44 questions from Section #1 lecture material, and six questions from The Semantic
Man article. (Worth 50 points)
Exam #2: 50 questions from Section #II lecture material. No textbook material on this exam.
Exam #3: 50 questions from the textbook only. There is no lecture material on this exam.
To calculate your final grade, add your scores for all three exams, add any additional extra credit
points you earned (see extra credit below,) and then divide by 150 to get your percentage.
Regarding rounding up of percentages to determine final grades, the following applies: If your
percentage ends up being 83.3, I will round that down to 83% (B-). If your percentage ends up
being 83.5, I will round that up to 84% (B+.) Please understand the line has to be drawn
somewhere and these are the university guidelines.
97 - 100% = A+ (4.0)
87 - 89 % = B+ (3.3)
77 79 % = C+ (2.3)
67 69% = D+ (1.3)
59% or below = F

94 96% = A (4.0)
84 86% = B (3.0)
74- 76 % = C (2.0)
64 66 % = D (1.0)

90 93 % = A- (3.7)
80 83 % = B- (2.7)
70 73% = C- (1.7)
60 63% = D- (.7)

Extra Credit
There will be an opportunity to earn two extra credit points. The maximum extra credit that
anyone can earn is two points.
Exams
It is important that you show up for exams. Please bring a Scantron 2000 and a #2 pencil to every
exam. Please arrive on time for exams.
**If you need testing accommodations contact the staff to make an appointment. Please let me
know you did this so that I can be sure to provide an exam. The phone number to call is: 530752-1221.
Make Up Exams
Make up exams will be allowed only under very extreme circumstances. If you are faced with a
difficult circumstance and cannot take the exam at the regularly scheduled time you can: 1) take a
make up exam during the specifically scheduled times or make ups. If you cant make those
selected times you will have to use the final exam period to take a make up, 2) use the final exam
option to make it up.
Mistakes Made on the Scantron
When taking a Scantron exam, it is your responsibility to make sure that you bubble in the
answers correctly. I do not allow students to look at the specific exams they wrote on and then
show me how they had the correct answer written in on the test but the wrong answer bubbled
in on the Scantron. Allowing this is like allowing people to provide me with two different answers
and then taking the one of the two that is correct. Your Scantron is the document from which you
will be evaluated.
Lecture Notes
I am willing to make my personal lecture notes available to students. You can access them via
SmartSite or by purchasing a notesbook from Davis Copy Shop. However, I do not promise that
they cover everything that may have been covered in lecture. It is absolutely your responsibility to
know what went on in class.
Study Guides
I provide study guides for every exam for both book and lecture-based exam questions.
Regarding book-based questions, everything that is on the exam should be on the study guide.
However, lectures are different. Lectures vary based on class discussion and my own changing
experiences with the material being taught. Although most every lecture-based question on the
exam is on the study guide, there will be examples discussed in class that are on the exam that
are not explicitly stated on the study guide. It is your responsibility to know all examples and other
subject matter discussed in lecture.
**I recommend that everyone attend the exam review sessions so you will be informed on any
changes I have made to the study guide and/or exam.
Cheating
Cheating will not be tolerated! Cheating includes the following: Sharing information during exams,
reading notes during exams, taking exams out of the classroom, taking photos of exam

questions, discussing exams with latecomers outside of the classroom, having possession of a
stolen exam or a photocopy of any part of a stolen exam, writing a non-attending persons name
on an attendance sheet, and copying others work.
Any suspicion regarding cheating of any kind will be reported to Judicial Student Affairs. Cheating
can result in expulsion from UC Davis. Dont do it!
Talking in Class
I encourage, enjoy, and appreciate class participation. I welcome all questions and relevant,
appropriate comments when they are directed to the large group in a polite and well-timed
manner.
However, I will not tolerate private conversations occurring in class during lecture or any other
presentational times. Others perceive talking in class as ill mannered, annoying, and highly
disruptive to learning. Disruptive students will be asked to drop the course. I also expect people to
stop talking when I indicate to the class that I am ready to begin the days lecture.
Attendance
Your presence in class is recommended and desired. If you choose NOT to attend class do NOT
e-mail me or come to my office hours to ask me questions about what you missed or do not
understand. If you miss class, you must get your questions answered elsewhere. Those who DO
attend class may use my office hours to review course content.
Grades
Unless you believe I made a mistake in calculating your grade, DO NOT ASK ME TO CHANGE A
GRADE. Further, I prefer not hear about your grade problems and stresses except when it
involves my particular course. Although I do care about your success, I do not want to be pulled
into a conversation about how much you need to get off probation or how much you need to get
into a competitive law school. Your counselor is the one to go to.

CMN 105
Course Schedule (Spring, 2012)
Language is to the mind, like light is to the eye.
--Anne Sullivan (Helen Kellers teacher)

Date
M. 4/2

Topic
Course Introduction

W. 4/4
M. 4/9
W. 4/11
M. 4/16
W. 4/18
M. 4/23
W. 4/25

No Class
Meaning/Principles of Language
Principles of Language/
Semantics
Principles of Language/Pragmatics
General Semantics
General Semantics
Review for Exam #1

M. 4/30
W. 5/2
M. 5/7
W. 5/9

Exam #1
Language Myths/Miracle of English
Plastic Words/Fallacies
Language Wars

M. 5/14
W. 5/16

The Argument Culture/Persuasive Question-Asking

Review for Exam #2

M. 5/121
W. 5/23
M. 5/28
W. 5/30

Exam #2
Textbook Lecture
Memorial Day Holiday
Textbook Lecture

M. 6/4
W. 6/6

Extra Credit Movie

Review for Final Exam

Reading
Read The Semantic
Man before beginning
the textbook.

Come with questions

All lecture material,
plus The Semantic
Man article.
.

Come with questions

All Section II lecture
material only; no
textbook material

Textbook material only

on final exam

Final Exam Time: Tuesday, June 12 @ 8:00 10:00 AM