Editing Communication Theory Development (Fall 2025) (section)

=== Module I: What is Communication? What is Theory?  ===
==== Day 1: Wednesday September 24: Introduction to the Course ====

We will review the syllabus together, discuss course expectations, make any necessary adjustments or accommodations, and get to know each other. 

Before class, please read chapters 3 and 4 from:

:Calarco, Jessica McCrory. 2020. ''A Field Guide to Grad School: Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum''. Princeton University Press. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1828104/files/folder/readings/day01-intro?preview=138792418}} {{avail-uw|https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/washington/detail.action?docID=6260699}}

You will likely find the rest of the book helpful during your graduate journey. UW libraries currently has the full ebook available at the link above.

==== Day 2: Monday September 29: Histories of the Field (Speech Communication) ====

* National Communication Association.” In ''A Century of Communication Studies: The Unfinished Conversation'', edited by Pat J. Gehrke and William M. Keith, 1–25. New York: Routledge. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/files/138792721/download?download_frd=1}}
* Gunn, Joshua, and Frank E. X. Dance. 2014. “The Silencing of Speech in the Late Twentieth Century.” In ''A Century of Communication Studies: The Unfinished Conversation'', edited by Pat J. Gehrke and William M. Keith, 64–81. New York: Routledge. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/files/138792784/download?download_frd=1}}
* Eadie, William F. 2011. “Stories We Tell: Fragmentation and Convergence in Communication Disciplinary History.” Review of Communication 11 (3): 161–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/15358593.2011.578257. {{avail-uw|https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15358593.2011.578257}} <!-- Consider replacing this with something from Thomas Nilsen’s book Speech Communication at the University of Washington. -->

==== Day 3: Wednesday October 1: Histories of the Field (Mass Communication/s & Journalism) ====

* Peters, John Durham. 1993. “Genealogical Notes on ‘The Field.’” ''Journal of Communication'' 43 (4): 132–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01313.x. {{avail-uw|https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01313.x}}
* Glander, Timothy. 1999. “Chapter 2: Communications Research Comes of Age.” ''Origins of Mass Communications Research during the American Cold War''. 1st edition, 38-72. Mahwah, N.J: Routledge. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/files/138793587/download?download_frd=1}} (Scanned pages) {{avail-uw|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/files/138793588/download?download_frd=1}}
* Weaver, Carl H. 1977. “A History of the International Communication Association.” Annals of the International Communication Association 1 (1): 607–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.1977.11923710. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/files/138793093/download?download_frd=1}}
* International Communication Association. n.d. “History.” Accessed September 20, 2025. https://www.icahdq.org/page/History. {{available-free|https://www.icahdq.org/page/History}} [n.b. The first half overlaps with th Weaver and you can probably skim that part.]
* Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, “Our History,” https://www.aejmc.org/about/our-history {{avail-free|https://www.aejmc.org/about/our-history}}

==== Day 4: Monday October 6: What is Communication? ====

* Lasswell, Harold D. 1948. “The Structure and Function of Communication in Society.” In ''The Communication of Ideas.'' The Institute for Religious and Social Studies. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1828104/files/folder/readings/day04-what_is_communication?preview=139459247}} <!-- I would definitely cut this if we teach it again. -->
* Carey, James W. 2008. “A Cultural Approach to Communication.” In ''Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society'', Revised Edition, 11-28. New York: Routledge. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/files/139457876/download?download_frd=1}} {{avail-uw|1=https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/washington/reader.action?docID=356343&ppg=42&c=RVBVQg}} [n.b., UW libraries have the full book, but the formatting is less good than this chapter.]
* Peters, John Durham. 1994. “The Gaps of Which Communication Is Made.” ''Critical Studies in Mass Communication'' 11, no. 2 (June): 117–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295039409366891. {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/files/139457877/download?download_frd=1}}
* Silvio Waisbord’s UW Colloquium in Spring 2017 (Note: Although the video 1hr 20m, the talk itself is only 31m. There are no slides so you should be able to listen on the go). {{avail-free|1=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et5Lsss_rBs}}

* Chakravartty, Paula, Rachel Kuo, Victoria Grubbs, and Charlton McIlwain. 2018. “#CommunicationSoWhite.” ''Journal of Communication'' 68 (2): 254–66. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqy003. {{avail-uw|https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqy003}}

'''Optional Readings:'''

* Shannon, Claude Elwood, and Warren Weaver. 1969. ''The Mathematical Theory of Communication''. University of Illinois Press. ''[Available from Instructor]''
* Waisbord, Silvio. 2019. ''Communication: A Post-Discipline''. Polity. (Intro & Chapter 1) {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1828104/files/folder/readings/day04-what_is_communication?preview=139459798}}

==== Day 5: Wednesday October 8: What Is Theory? (Social Sciences) ====

* Abbott, Andrew. 2004. ''Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences''. New York, New York: W. W. Norton. Read Chapter 1 Part I-II (3-26); Chapter 4 (110-136); Chapter 5 (137-161); & Chapter 6 (162-210).  {{avail-canvas|1=https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1828104/files/folder/readings/day05-theory_socsci?preview=139460649}}

==== Day 6: Monday October 13: What Is Theory? (Humanities) ====

* Brummett, Barry. 1984. “Rhetorical Theory as Heuristic and Moral: A Pedagogical Justification.” ''Communication Education'' 33 (2): 97. https://doi.org/10.1080/03634528409384726. {{avail-uw|https://research.ebsco.com/c/2onyl7/viewer/pdf/mvqh7etk6z}}
* Madison, D. Soyini. 1999. “Performing Theory/Embodied Writing.” ''Text and Performance Quarterly'' 19 (2): 107–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10462939909366254. {{avail-uw|https://doi.org/10.1080/10462939909366254}}
* hooks, bell. 1991. “Theory as Liberatory Practice.” ''Yale Journal of Law and Feminism'' 4 (1): 1–12. {{avail-uw|1=https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/yjfem4&i=7}}