CMST 280 Intercultural Communication  (FORMERLY SPCH 230)
Fall 2012 Course Syllabus
Instructor:  Rachel Binns Terrill
Item:  0885 section HYC
Face-to-Face Meeting Time & Location:  Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:30 – 11:20 AM in R209

Course Website:  go to http://bellevuecollege.edu then log into MyBC and into Canvas.

Email:  Click on "People" ’ located on the left sidebar and then click on my picture and choose, "message Rachel Binns" to send me a course message.  If it is an emergency, you may also contact me using luvrofwrds@aol.com.

Office Hours:  Before and After Class or e-mail me to set up an appointment.

Important Recommendation:  Students are strongly encouraged to complete ENGL 101 before taking this course.

Required Text:  'Communication Between Cultures' by Larry A. Samovar, Richard E. Porter, Edwin R. McDaniel & Roy, 8th edition.  Note: It is important to use the 8th edition as it differs greatly from previous editions.

There is one copy of the course textbook on reserve in the Bellevue College Library Media Center. This reserved copy may be used in the library for 2 hour increments.

The text is available for purchase or rental at the Bellevue College campus bookstore ($134.00 to purchase or $54.94 to rent).  eTextbook options are also available at: http://www.cengagebrain.com:80/shop/ISBN/9781111349103?cid=APL1#viewChaptersModalContentFocus

Outcomes:

After completing this class, students should be able to:

• Explain how environmental factors affect and make cultures different.

• Explain how cultural variables influence intercultural competency in communication

• Explain why appropriateness and effectiveness are critical in constructing messages in intercultural contexts.

• Explain how individualism and collectivism affect the communication in intercultural communication contexts

• Apply various models of cultural values to intercultural interactions.

• Define ethnocentrism and social comparison. Demonstrate your competence in applying the concepts across cultures.

• Identify and analyze one’s own cultural identity.

Required Assignments:

1. Online Chapter Discussion Posts & Responses (6 total. Each is out of a possible 60 points Your top 5 will count toward your grade) worth 300 Points,

2. Cultural Identity Analysis Paper (6 – 8 pages) worth 150 Points,

3. Quizzes (3 @ 100 pts each) worth 300 Points,

4. Face-to-Face Attendance & Class Participation worth 100 Points,

5. Group Presentations worth 150 points,

Total Points Possible: 1000

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

Specific guidelines and details regarding all assignments can be found on the Canvas course website.

Assignment Descriptions (Condensed):

Chapter Discussion Postings (300 Points):  Students will be evaluated on the quality and substance of their contributions to online discussions. Students are expected to complete all required reading assignments by the designated due date and share in a relevant, constructive and meaningful manner with their colleagues via online discussions.  Both student responses to chapter discussion questions and comments to their colleagues will be evaluated.

Attendance & Class Participation (100 points):  Students are expected to attend all scheduled face-to-face classes as well as participate in all chapter discussions, and assignments online. 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 two 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://bellevuecollege.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 and attendance. Students can expect to spend between 3 and 5 hours per week online, completing assignments and reading course material. (Note: this estimate of online time does not include time for reading the text.)  Students are expected to log onto the course website at least four times per week to complete assignments as well as check the ‘Announcements’, ‘Discussions’, ‘Modules’, and ‘Calendar’ tools.  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.

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 each face-to-face class meeting 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.  Online responses will be evaluated on:  substance, demonstration of knowledge on the subject, grammar, spelling, and contribution to the learning of others (See ‘What Constitutes a Good Online Response’ on the course website).  Please silence all cell phones before class begins.  Any student caught using electronic means for communicating during class (such as:  text-messaging, instant messaging, e-mailing, ‘surfing’ etc.) will receive a ‘0’ for class participation and attendance that day and will be asked to leave class.  Please turn off all pagers, iPods, and the like, before class begins.

Cultural Identity Paper (150 Points):  Students will write a Cultural Identity paper exploring and analyzing elements of their cultural identity. 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. This paper will be submitted online using the Assignments Tool. Papers should be attached to the submission page in a .doc, .docx, or .rtf format.

Quizzes (3 @ 100 Points each):  There will be a total of three quizzes worth 100 Points each. Each quiz will be accessed on the course website and will consist of multiple choice and true and false questions.  I do not welcome argument over quiz questions as each question has been tested for reliability, and validity.  I do, however, provide an opportunity for extra credit early in the quarter to make-up for any quiz questions students may not like.

Group Project (150 Points): In groups of 4-6 students, you will put together a multi-media show of an assigned culture's communicative practices.  The goal of this project is to creatively and respectfully demonstrate to us how your assigned culture’s communicative behavior looks and sounds.  You will interpret the culture's communicative practices according to our course content, patterns and indexes. You will take us into that culture by showing us as many of the subject culture’s norms, values, and beliefs as possible. Don’t tell us, SHOW us your culture.

Tentative Schedule

Week	Date	Central Topic	Reading	Due
1	Sep 18, 2012	Course Overview and Syllabus
1	Sep 19, 2012			Introduction Post Due
1	Sep 20, 2012	Overview of Communication and Culture	Chapter One	Introduction Response Due
2	Sep 24, 2012
2	Sep 25, 2012	Communication and Culture and Group Project Overview	Chapter Two
2	Sep 27, 2012	Communication and Culture
2	Sep 28, 2012			Chapter 1/2 Post Due
	Sep 29, 2012
3	Oct 1, 2012			Chapters 1/2 Response Due
3	Oct 2, 2012	Deep Structure of Culture: Lessons from the Family	Chapter Three
3	Oct 3, 2012
3	Oct 4, 2012	Cultural History: Our Antecedents | Group Time	Chapter Four	Chapter 3/4 Post Due
3	Oct 5, 2012			Chapter 3/4 Response Due
4	Oct 9, 2012	NO CLASS Review Online and in Text: Worldview: Cultural Explanations of Life and Death	Chapter Five	**Quiz One (Chapters 1-5) available 10/8 until midnight on 10/14
4	Oct 11, 2012	Comm Techniques in High Stress Settings	Guest Speaker	Guest Speaker Response Due
5	Oct 16, 2012	Cultural Values: Guidelines for Behavior	Chapter Six
5	Oct 17, 2012
5	Oct 18, 2012	Cultural Values:Guidelines for Behavior
5	Oct 20, 2012
6	Oct 23, 2012	Culture and Identity	Chapter Seven	Chapter 6/7 Post Due
6	Oct 24, 2012
6	Oct 25, 2012	Culture and Identity		Chapter 6/7 Response Due
6	Oct 26, 2012			**Quiz Two (Chapters 6-7 and guest speaker) available 10/26 until midnight on 10/29
7	Oct 30, 2012	Language	Chapter Eight
7	Oct 31, 2012
7	Nov 1, 2012	Language		First Draft of Cultural Identity Reflection Paper
7	Nov 2, 2012
8	Nov 6, 2012	Nonverbal Communication	Chapter Nine
8	Nov 7, 2012			Chapter 8/9 Post Due
8	Nov 8, 2012	Nonverbal Communication
8	Nov 9, 2012			Chapter 8/9 Response Due
9	Nov 13, 2012	Cultural Influences on Communication Contexts	Chapter Ten
9	Nov 14, 2012			Chapter 10 Post Due
9	Nov 15, 2012	No Class: God Grew Tired of Us (Online Movie)		Chapter 10 Response Due
9	Nov 16, 2012			**Quiz Three (Chapters 8-10) available 11/16 through midnight on 11/20
10	Nov 20, 2012	Group Work (Classroom Available
10	Nov 22, 2012	HAPPY THANKSGIVING		God Grew Tired of Us Online Movie Post due (extra credit)
11	Nov 27, 2012	Group Presentations
11	Nov 29, 2012	Group Presentations
12	Dec 4, 2012	Group Presentations		Final Cultural Identity Reflection Paper Due by 11:30 AM

Please review the “Equipment and Skills” requirements at http://bellevuecollege.edu/distance/skills.asp. Students can expect to spend between 3 and 4 hours per week online, completing assignments and reading course material. (Note: this estimate of online time does not include time for reading the text.) This course also includes small group assignments. Given this format, students need to commit to being active participants online. 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.

Should you experience any technical computer issues (software or otherwise) anytime throughout the quarter, you should contact Distance Education: 425.564.2438 or toll free 1.877.641.2712, www.bellevuecollege.edu/distance, Room A140, disted@bellevuecollege.edu.

Distance Education Hours:  Monday – Thursday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Friday, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. To help, Distance Education will need your registered name, student number, course name and number, instructor’s name and details of the problems you are encountering. 

Student Conduct…

The division policy on classroom and on-line conduct applies to this course.  Please go to http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/policy.html for more information.

Academic Dishonesty…

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses. The division’s policies on plagiarism and cheating are clear. Students caught plagiarizing papers, discussions, or responses will receive an “F” (0 points) for the assignment and will be reported to the Dean of Student Programs and Services. See http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/policy.html for more information.

Late work and Assignment Completion…

Assignments are due on the designated due dates by the designated 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 as well as meet the attendance requirement.

Values Conflict…

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 articles 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 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 or assignments. Bellevue College upholds an "Affirmation of Inclusion” which states, “Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.”  This Affirmation 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 an online course, you will be expressing ideas through the medium of the course site. These expectations also refer to the courtesy with which you communicate with one another through e-mails and online 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 inappropriate comments or ‘flaming’. Such behavior interrupts the educational process. When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult your instructor via e-mail as the judgment of the instructor is the final authority in these matters.

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, please e-mail me as soon as possible. Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Director of Disability Resource Center (B132) to establish their eligibility for accommodation. Disability Resource Center is in B132, and can be reached by phone at 425.564.2498. Students are encouraged to review their accommodation needs with each instructor during the first week of the quarter.

Students who need extra help in college writing should go to the Academic Success Center’s Writing Lab located in D204 for assistance.

Students who need access to a computer can utilize computers in the BC Computer Lab located in N250.