Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to…

• Identify and analyze essential aspects of personal cultural identity.
• Apply appropriate theories to analyze intercultural communication.
• Communicate more effectively in intercultural communication situations.

Textbook

Yes, you really do need to get a copy of the text.  We will work through the first 10 chapters, and I expect you to reference the vocabulary and concepts in your work.  

• Martin, Judith N. and Thomas K. Nakayama. Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction. McGraw Hill, 2014, 5th edition. ISBN-13: 978-007803692-7. Copies of the text are available at the reserve desk at the Doyle Library. Bring your text to class.

Also bring to class:  Binder or notebook with note paper and storage for handouts; ALWAYS come prepared to write in class. 

Overview of Assignments

Guidelines for assignments are linked to these pages and will be discussed during class. 

Writing

You will be writing five papers for this class and submitting them electronically to Turnitin. Use MLA style whenever you cite sources in your work. If you are unfamiliar with MLA style, attend a Noodlebib workshop (it’s free!) at the Library and learn how to do it. If your reading/writing skills are not at the English 100A level, consider visiting the Tutorial Center or the Writing Center to get help if you need it. I am happy to review your work and offer advice before it is due. Contact me to make an appointment.

Turnitin:

Turnitin is an online program that screens for plagiarism and allows me to grade your work electronically. I can give you much more comprehensive feedback using this software, plus you’ll be able to read my writing!  If your work is plagiarized you will not receive credit, and your academic standing will be in jeopardy.  

Visit Turnitin.com, click on “create account” or log in using existing account information. Please be sure to join the correct section!

Section 5813 M/W 12-1:30 pm:  Class ID: 14422558   Password: 5813

Section 5990 T/Th 12-1:30 pm:  Class ID: 14422567   Password: 5990

Film Analysis (30 points)

Your first assignment is to watch a film or documentary that depicts the experiences of immigration to the United States for a particular ethnic group or individual.  I will provide a list of films to choose from; they are available for viewing in Media Services on the first floor of Doyle Library.  Most are also available online so you can view them at home.  You will write a 2 to 3 page response paper answering a few questions about the film and using it as an example to discuss a few concepts from the first 2 chapters of the textbook.

Self-Analysis Paper (50 points)

One of the keys to intercultural communication is self-understanding. Based on work we will do in the first part of the semester, you will write a 5-6 page “autoethnography,” a kind of analysis of your own historical and social identity and how it affects your communication. Using your textbook as a guide, consider your family history, beliefs and values. You many also consider how race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability or socioeconomic status have affected your behavior. 

Intercultural Encounters (150 points)

Essential to your understanding of intercultural communication is your ability to experience it. I will give you a list of several potential experiences you can have on your own outside of class to earn credit. I want you to stretch yourself and select activities that you would normally find a bit uncomfortable because of the lack of familiarity with the culture represented. Examples: interview someone who represents an unfamiliar culture; attend a service for a religious service that is unfamiliar to you; volunteer some time at a soup kitchen serving the homeless; check out a wheelchair from the Disability Resources Department and spend a day on campus experiencing how fundamentally your life is changed from this perspective. You will describe your experiences in 3 page response papers. 

Group Project: Travel Plans, Cultural Analysis and Class Presentation (80 points)

Toward the end of the semester, you will be divided into small groups to select an unfamiliar travel destination somewhere in the world. You will research your destination and develop a 30 minute presentation for the class that will help us imagine adapting our communication style to interact successfully with the locals--or with people in the United States who are from that part of the world. Explore the communication barriers you need to overcome, including language differences, nonverbal behavior, manners and etiquette. If a different language is spoken, give us a lesson and help us learn necessary phrases. What kind of beliefs and values are we likely to encounter? Much of the world’s population lives with a much lower per-capita income than we enjoy in Sonoma County; what kind of adjustments will you have to make to live as the locals do (and not in a fabulous hotel)? Will you be treated differently because of your gender or ethnicity? Will your physical disabilities be accommodated? Have fun putting together a creative presentation for the class that addresses these issues and applies the skills learned during the semester to a specific culture we might visit one day. 

Extra credit: Extra points may be given for outstanding work on any assignment.  

Exams

You will have five quizzes based on readings and class discussions. Attend class, take notes, read the text; I will orient my presentations around key ideas that will help you focus your studying but there is no substitute for quietly reading and thinking about the material in your textbook.  Questions will include a combination of true/false and multiple choice based on key ideas from the text. Be sure to learn the vocabulary highlighted at the beginning of every chapter, and emphasized in the glossary at the end of the book. Notes are not allowed during exams and you must be in class to take them. 

Late Policy

You must be present in class to take the quizzes, and make-up exams are not allowed.  Written work must be submitted to Turnitin.com by midnight on the due date.  If you miss the deadline, contact me as soon as possible; late submissions may be accepted for up to 48 hours but are subject to a 20% penalty.  Submissions after 48 hours will not be accepted.

Grading Policy

Your grades will be posted to online.  Click the “Grades” link in Canvas to keep track of your grades and my personal comments to you.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.  You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.  Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade.

Dropping the Class

I hope you enjoy the class and want to stay through the semester!  But... life happens.  If you need to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it.  I will drop you if your absences exceed ten percent (10%) of the total hours of class time, which is 6 classes.  If you need to miss more than one class/assignment deadline in a row that you let me know to avoid being dropped from the class.

Attendance: only 3 absences allowed!

Much of your learning experience will be based on what happens during class, so I expect you to attend every class on time and without leaving early. Attendance in this course is required. If you must be absent, it is a good idea to contact me and let me know how you plan to catch up. You can miss 3 classes without affecting your grade, but work missed during class cannot be made up and it is not my responsibility to summarize what you missed. I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. Missing more than 20 minutes of any class period will count as an absence for that day. Each absence after 3 will result in an automatic 10 point deduction from your final grade. According to SRJC District policy, if you miss more than 10% of the total hours of class time (6 days) you must be dropped from the class.   Thank you for taking this seriously!

Standards of Conduct

Classroom exercises throughout the semester are designed to strengthen your communication skills. For this reason, your active participation is required. I will keep track of your participation in my gradebook and give you points at the end of the semester based on your contributions. Being late or absent to class, leaving class early, disrupting another student’s presentation, having your phone vibrate or ring, looking at your phone, texting during class, not being prepared, displaying a bad attitude, doing homework for another class, napping, or being disrespectful to any student or to me at any point in the semester will lower your participation grade substantially. Here’s how you build your participation points throughout the semester: 

• Come to class every day, well-prepared, alert, and on time
• Speak up during class discussion
• Bring a positive attitude to the work we are doing together
• Stay on task during classroom activities; challenge yourself to excel
• Actively and respectfully listen to everyone else in the class (including me!)
• Approach group work with an open-mind and willingness to do your share
• Behave in a respectful, professional manner in accordance with the SRJC Student Code of Conduct.

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. Students are encouraged to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's statement on Academic Integrity

Special Needs

Every effort is made to conform to accessibility standards for all instructor-created materials. Contact me as soon as possible if you find that you cannot access any course materials. Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278).

Spring 2017 Schedule

Read assigned chapters before they are to be discussed and review them as needed throughout the semester. Changes to schedule will be announced in class.