SPCH 230 Intercultural Communication
Spring 2008 Course Syllabus
Item 1901 Section D Hybrid
Meeting Times & Locations: face-to-face T/Th 10:30 – 11:20 in R204 &
On-line approximately 3 hours per week.
Instructor:
Course
Website: http://bellevuecollege.edu
(Log into MyBcc and into
Required Text: Communication Between Cultures by Larry A. Samovar, Richard
E. Porter, & Edwin R. McDaniel, 6th Edition
Course Goals:
This course
aims to increase student intercultural competence by examining the effects of
culture on both the communication process and individual. Students taking this course will
explore: communication and culture,
intercultural messages, the role of context in intercultural communication, how
culture affects one’s identity, how culture influences communication style,
language, and non-verbal communication, and how to improve their own
intercultural competence.
The
following learning outcomes will be attained upon completion of this course:
1. explain how environmental
factors affect and make cultures different,
2. explain
how cultural variables influence intercultural competency in an oral
communication context,
3. explain
why appropriateness and effectiveness are critical in constructing oral
intercultural messages,
4. explain
how individualism and collectivism affect the oral communication in an
intercultural communication context,
5. demonstrate
how Hofstede’s Cross-cultural Orientation model affects status oriented and
person oriented oral communication styles,
6. define
prejudice and discrimination. Provide examples to demonstrate your
competence in applying the concepts,
7. apply
the E.T. Hall’s Context of Meaning Model to explain high and low context and
direct and indirect oral communication styles.
Format:
You will be
engaged in activities and discussions designed to aid your understanding of the
concepts explored in this class. This course combines
classroom and online learning. Computer use is required. This course also includes a group
project. Lectures by the instructor will
be kept to a minimum. Given this format,
students need to commit to being active participants in this class. In addition, this area of study contains
complex theories and difficult social science jargon. I will do my best to assist you, but a college
reading level and college writing level in English is needed to succeed in this
course.
Required Assignments:
Class
Participation – in class & online discussions 200 Points
Attendance
– both in class & online 100
Points
Group
Project - Presentation & Individual
Performance 200 Points
Group
Project Outline & Bibliography 100
Points
Cultural
Identity Analysis Paper (6 – 10 pages) 100 Points
Exams (3) 300
Points
Tracking
My Grade…
|
ASSIGNMENT |
MY GRADE
ON THIS ASSIGNMENT |
|
Group
Project Outline & Bibliography |
|
|
Group
Project (presentation portion |
|
|
Cultural
Identity Analysis Paper |
|
|
Exam 1 |
|
|
Exam 2 |
|
|
Exam 3 |
|
|
Absences
(List the dates of all absences
both face-to-face as well as online.) |
|
Directions: Add all assignment scores. This is the total number of points achieved
in the class out of 600. Note…Class participation, attendance,
and individual performance in the group project (i.e. the remaining 400 points)
will be evaluated by the instructor and added in to the final grade
calculation.
Please note: Specific guidelines and details
regarding all assignments can
be found on the course website using
Assignment Descriptions (Condensed):
Class
Participation (200 Points): Students will be evaluated on
the quality and substance of their contributions to class discussion both in
class and online. Students are expected
to come to class (as well as meetings online) prepared, having read all
required reading assignments for that meeting; bringing to each class meeting
the course textbook; ready to share relevant and constructive information with
the class. With regard to their overall
course grade, students will be evaluated on their constructive, meaningful
and substantive participation in face-to-face and online class discussions
of course material. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, blackberries (and
the like), ipods (and the like) etc. before class begins.
Attendance
(100 Points): This
course utilizes the Arts and Humanities policy on attendance. Students are required to attend all
class meetings (both face-to-face as
well as online discussions and assignments). More than three unexcused absences
will result in a reduction in points for class attendance. Students who miss 10 or more classes
(including online discussions and assignments) will fail the course. See
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information. Students are expected to come to face-to-face
classes on time. Arriving late to
class or leaving early is disruptive and inconsiderate to those who are on
time. Chronic tardiness will result in a
reduction in points for class participation.
Students are required to spend at least 30 minutes 3 days a week
on-line, completing any work by the due date.
If a
student misses a class (face-to-face or online), he/she is responsible
for any material covered in class during his/her absence.
Exams (3
@ 100 points each): There will be a total of three exams worth
100 Points each. Two of the exams will
be administered online and one will be administered in the classroom. Each exam will consist of multiple choice and
true and false questions. For the
classroom exam, a Scantron form, available at the campus bookstore, is
required. Prior to each exam, an exam
review will be posted on the course web site.
Cultural
Identity Paper (100 Points): Students will write a Cultural Identity paper exploring their cultural
identities and practices. The paper must
be typed, double-spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font (or similar) with 1”
(one inch) margins. Detailed
instructions for the paper will be made available on the course website.
Group
Project (200 Points): Students will be assigned to a small
group. Each group will choose a culture
to explore from a list provided by the instructor. The goal of this assignment is for each group
to enlighten the class regarding their chosen culture’s: worldview, cultural patterns, values
and practices in a presentation before the class. Students will be given adequate time to meet
in class or online in order to complete this project. The entire project grade consists of three
parts: group performance and
effectiveness on the presentation (100 pts.), student attendance at group
meetings (both in class and on-line and the student’s contribution to his/her
group (100 pts.). Presentations will be
begin the 9th week of the quarter.
More details regarding this assignment will be posted on the course
website on a later date.
Note: Students who contribute little or inadequately
to their group project (or group meetings) can be voted out of their group at
any time during the quarter. If a
student is voted out of his/her group, he/she will research and write a 15 page
research paper on an Intercultural Communication topic of the instructor’s
choice. The research paper will have a
minimum of 15 cited journal sources and a comprehensive bibliography. The student will present his/her paper and findings
to the class in a 30 to 45 minute presentation.
Group
Project Outline & Bibliography (100 Points): Each
group will hand in a formal, typed outline of their group project with an
attached Bibliography containing credible sources.
Grading Scale:
A = 940 – 1000 A - =
900 - 939
B+ = 860 – 899 B =
830 – 859 B
- = 800 – 829
C+ = 760 – 799 C =
730 – 759 C
- = 700 – 729
D+ = 660 – 699 D =
600 – 659
F = 0 – 599
Expectations and Policies:
This course combines
classroom and online learning. Computer
use is required.
How to succeed in this class…
Success in this class is
dependent on:
1. your motivation and desire to explore and learn,
2. your competence using
3. keeping up with the assigned readings by the due
dates,
4. your ability to read and write in English at the
college level,
5. the ability to learn from written materials,
including lectures, e-mails, and on-line discussions,
6. meeting the attendance policy (both in class and
online) and contributing in a relevant and constructive manner to class
discussions (both in class and online),
7. a good working knowledge of your computer and your
Internet Service Provider (ISP), including e-mail,
8. self-discipline to focus, set goals, and complete
assignments on time without daily face-to-face contact with an instructor.
Should a student experience any technical computer
issues (software or otherwise) anytime throughout the quarter, he/she should
contact Distance Education: 425.564.2438
or toll free 1.877.641.2712, http://distance-ed.bcc.ctc.edu/startvista.asp,
Room N209, landerso@bcc.ctc.edu.
Student Conduct…
The division policy on
classroom and on-line conduct applies to this course.
Plagiarism
and cheating are serious offenses. The division’s
policies on plagiarism and cheating are clear.
Students caught plagiarizing papers or projects or cheating on exams
will receive an “F” (0 points) for the assignment and will be reported to the
Dean of Student Programs and Services.
See http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information.
Assignments
are due on the designated due dates by the end of the class meeting time. Late
work will not be accepted by the instructor unless prior arrangements have been made (that is, before the due
date).
In order to receive credit
for this course, students must complete all the assignments and examinations as
well as meet the attendance requirement.
Essential
to a liberal arts education is an open-minded tolerance for ideas and modes of
expression which might conflict with one’s personal values. By being exposed to such ideas or
expressions, students are not expected to endorse or adopt them but rather to
understand that they are part of the free flow of information upon which higher
education depends.
To this
end, you may find that class requirements may include engaging certain
materials, such as books, films, and art work, which may, in whole or in part,
offend you. These materials are equivalent
to required texts and are essential to the course content. If you decline to engage the required
material by not reading, viewing, or performing material you consider
offensive, you will still be required to meet class requirements in order to earn
credit for this class. This may require
responding to the content of the material, and you may not be able to fully
participate in required class discussions, exams, or assignments.
The
college's "Affirmation of Inclusion” is posted in each classroom and sets
forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with respect and
dignity regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically.
This expectation is in line with the principle of free speech in a free
society: we have the right to express unpopular ideas as long as we don't
show disrespect for reasonable people who might believe otherwise. In a
hybrid course, you will be expressing ideas through the medium of the course
site in addition to face to face in the classroom. As such, these
expectations also refer to the courtesy with which you communicate with one
another through e-mails and e-discussions.
Part of this respect involves professional behavior toward
the instructor, colleagues, and the class itself. Disruptive behavior is disrespectful
behavior. The Arts and Humanities Division honors the right of its
faculty to define "disruptive behavior," which often involves such
things as arriving late, leaving early, leaving class and then returning,
talking while others are trying to hear the instructor or their group members,
doing other homework in class, wearing earphones in class, bringing activated
beepers, alarm watches, or cellular phones into class, inappropriate comments
or gestures, etc. In on-line courses, “flaming’ anyone in the class is
also considered disruptive behavior. Such behavior interrupts the
educational process. When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult
your instructor during office hours as the judgment of the instructor is the
final authority in these matters.
Suggestions Regarding Online
Discussions:
Be careful
about your tone of voice. In a written discussion a slightly critical comment
can seem like a crushing condemnation because readers can't see the facial
expressions and body language that tell them how serious you are. On the other
hand, it's not a good idea to write
"smiley-face" comments all the time. Those kinds of comments don't
add anything substantial to the discussion. If you question or disagree with
something someone has said, you need to say so—tactfully.
One way to express a disagreement tactfully is to couch your comment as a
question: "Do you think we should
consider...?" Another way is to use tentative language: "But I wonder if we couldn't look at
it from another angle..." These kinds of comments invite others to
join the discussion and give their ideas. Remember—our purpose is to generate
ideas, not to win verbal battles.
Furthermore, it is not appropriate to be disrespectful in anyway – either
online or face-to-face. Part of your
success in this class is from your developed skill of dealing with people who
are different than you. The difference
may be in worldview, beliefs, and values.
We will respect one another in all of these ways.
Students with disability and/or Special Needs:
If you
require accommodation based on a documented disability, have emergency medical
information to share, or need special arrangements in case of emergency
evacuation, please see me as soon as possible.
Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to
meet with the Director of Disability Resource Services (B132) to establish
their eligibility for accommodation.
Disability Resource Services is in B132, and can be reached by phone at
425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110. Students
are encouraged to review their accommodation needs with each instructor during
the first week of the quarter.
If you have
any mobility issues, please come talk to me.
Students
who need extra help in college writing should go to the BCC Writing Lab located
in D204 for assistance.
Students
who need access to a computer can utilize computers in the BCC Computer Lab
located in the N building.
Communication is key!
Please come talk to me if you have any concerns or issues.
The following quotes illustrate my teaching philosophy:
If I am walking with two other men,
each of them will serve as my teacher. I
will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points
of the other and correct them in myself. - Confucius
What we have to learn to do, we
learn by doing. – Aristotle
The wise teacher does not bid you
enter the house of wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own
mind. – Kahlil Gibran