SPCH 230 Intercultural Communication
Fall 2005 Course Syllabus
Item Number & Section: 1977 E
Meeting Time & Location: 12:30 – 2:40 P.M. Tuesdays & Thursdays B204
Instructor: Stephanie Hurst
Course Website: http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/materials
Office Hours & Location: M W 11:30 – 12:30 or by appointment R230L
Required Text: Communication Between Cultures by Larry A. Samovar & Richard E. Porter, 5th 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.
Format:
You will be engaged in activities and discussions designed to aid your understanding of the concepts explored in this class. This course also includes an extensive 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.
Grading:
Class participation and attendance 150 Points
Whale Rider Analysis Paper (2 - 3 pages) 75 Points
Journey of Man Essay (1 page) 50 Points
Hotel Rwanda Analysis Paper (2 – 3 pages) 75 Points
Group Project 100 Points
Cultural Identity Analysis Paper (5 – 7 pages) 100 Points
Exams (4) 400 Points
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:
Success in this class is dependent on: keeping up with the assigned readings by the due dates, being able to read and write at the college level, having competent verbal and written communication skills in English, meeting the attendance policy and contributing in a relevant and constructive manner to class discussions. The division policy on classroom conduct applies to this course.
Students who need extra help in college writing should go the BCC Writing Lab for assistance.
Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses. The division’s policies on plagiarism and cheating are clear. Students caught plagiarizing papers 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. In such an incident, student expulsion from the class will be at the instructor’s discretion.
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.
Attendance
and Tardiness:
This course utilizes the Arts and Humanities policy on attendance. Students
are required to attend all class meetings. More than two unexcused
absences will result in a reduction in points for class participation.
Students who miss 10 or more classes will fail the course. See
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information.
If a student misses a class, he/she is responsible for any material covered in class during his/her absence.
Students are expected to come to class 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 with disability:
Students with disabilities are required to meet with the Director of Disability Support Services to establish their eligibility for accommodation. Contact DSS at 425.564.2498 for more information.
Grades and Required Assignments:
Class Participation & Attendance (150 Points): Students are expected to come to class 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 and meaningful participation in classroom discussions of course material. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, blackberries, etc. before class begins.
Exams (400 Points): There will be a total of four exams worth 100 Points each. Each exam will consist of multiple choice and true and false questions. A Scantron form, available at the campus bookstore, is required for each exam. Prior to each exam, an exam review will be posted on the course web site.
Papers (300 Points): There will be four required paper assignments. Papers vary both in value of possible points attainable as well as length. All papers must be typed, double-spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font (or similar) with 1” (one inch) margins on white paper and include a Bibliography of references in MLA style. Detailed instructions for each paper will be made available on the course website.
Group Project (100 Points): As a class, we will decide on five (5) cultures that are currently misunderstood in Western society. Students will then be assigned to a group of 6-7 members. The goal of this assignment is for each group to enlighten the class regarding their assigned culture in a 30 to 40 minute class presentation. Students will be given adequate time to meet in class in order to complete this projects. Class presentations will be held the last week of the quarter. More details on this assignment will be posed on the course website on a later date.
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.
Quiz (50 Points): There will be one quiz given in class sometime during the first two weeks of class. The quiz will focus on information covered in class as well as in the course syllabus.
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