Course Syllabus
Voice and Diction
SPCH 1342
Semester with
Course
Reference
Number (CRN)
Fall 2011: Speech 1342
CRN: 52718
Instructor
contact
information
(phone number
and email
address)
Dustin McDunn
Dustin.mcdunn@hccs.edu
Office Location
and Hours
Felix Morales 124
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 10 am-1 pm
Course
Location/Times
Southeast: Felix Morales
Monday/Wednesday: 11 am-12:30 pm
Course
Semester
Credit Hours
(SCH) (lecture,
lab) If
applicable
Credit Hours
3.00
Lecture Hours
3.00
Laboratory Hours NA
Total Course
Contact Hours
48
Course Length
(number of
weeks)
16
Type of
Instruction
Lecture
Course
Description:
Training in the effective use of the voice and body. Includes study of the vocal mechanism and the
phonetic alphabet; improvement in enunciation, pronunciation, and articulation.
The course is designed to enable the student to improve the speaking voice through practical exe
and drill as well as through a better understanding of how vocal sounds are produced and delivere
guidance in pronunciation and articulation, the student will develop a more effective speaking voic
student will be introduced to the study of phonetics and given an individual voice analysis with tap
recordings and guided practice. It is an excellent preparation for other courses in Speech.
Course
Student
Learning
Outcomes
(SLO): 4 to 7
1. Name and define terms relevant to voice production.
2. Write phonetic symbols and demonstrate the sounds they make.
3. Articulate, enunciate, and pronounce words correctly.
4. Identify syllables in words, and determine which one receives the highest degree of stress, resu
proper pronunciation.
5. Express self with clarity and confidence.
6. Pause and phrase correctly.
7. Name and use all articulators appropriately.
Learning
Objectives
1. To introduce phonetic symbols, and provide techniques to recognize their sounds in words.
2. To explain key terms associated with voice production and pronunciation.
3. To practice different types of breathing.
4. To demonstrate how to enunciate, articulate, and stress words and syllables correctly.
5. To facilitate students understanding of consonants and vowels.
6. To help students speak with self-confidence.
HCC Grading
Scale
A = 100- 90
4 points per semester hour
B = 89 - 80:
3 points per semester hour
C = 79 - 70:
2 points per semester hour
D = 69 - 60:
1 point per semester hour
59 and below = F
0 points per semester hour
IP (In Progress)
0 points per semester hour
W(Withdrawn)
0 points per semester hour
I (Incomplete)
0 points per semester hour
AUD (Audit)
0 points per semester hour
IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must re-enroll to rece
credit. COM (Completed) is given in non-credit and continuing education courses. To compute gra
average (GPA), divide the total grade points by the total number of semester hours attempted. Th
"IP," "COM" and "I" do not affect GPA.
See "Health Science Program/Discipline Requirements" for grading scale.
Instructor
Grading
Criteria
Speeches, assignments and projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
 Adherence to all specific assignment guidelines/content requirements.
 Adherence to deadlines.
 Level of technical difficulty attempted and achieved. More sophisticated work may rec
higher scores.
 Creativity and Originality: Solving the assignments in an imaginative and unique way
to a higher score.
 Honesty: Submit your own work.
Late Work
Late written assignments will lose 10 points for each day that they are late. Late speeches
verifiable medical/HCC service excuse will lose 10 points for each day that they are late.
Missed Tests
You must notify the instructor within 24 hours and must provide verifiable medical/HCC servic
You may not make up a missed test without a verifiable, official, excused absence.
Instructor’s Final Grading Legend:
The final grade will consist of the following:
Written exams (100 points each):
Daily quizzes (10 points each):
Oral Exams (100 points each):
Participation:
Total points available:
200 points
200 points
200 points
50 points
650 points
Calendar
HCC Calendar:
Per specific Semester
Saturday, August 27
Classes Begin
Tuesday, August 30
Last day for drop/add
Monday, September 5 – Labor Day
Holidays and Breaks
Thur. Nov. 24- Sun. Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 3 @ 4:30 pm
Last day to drop classes with a grade of W
Sunday, December 11
Instruction ends
Monday, December 12 @ 11am
Final examination
Course Calendar:
Date
Week 1: Aug. 29 & 31
Week 2: Sept. 5 & 7
Week 3: Sept. 12 & 14
Week 4: Sept. 19 & 21
Week 5: Sept. 26 & 28
Week 6: Oct. 3 & 5
Week 7: Oct. 10 & 12
Week 8: Oct. 17 &19
Week 9: Oct. 24 & 26
Week 10: Oct. 31 & Nov. 2
Week 11: Nov. 7 & 9
Week 12: Nov. 14 & 16
Week 13: Nov. 21 & 23
Week 14: Nov. 28 & 30
Lectures / Topics / Assignments / Projects / Quiz
Exams
Introduction, why study voice and diction
Chapter 1
No class Sept. 5: Labor Day
Chapter 2
Chapter 3 – daily quizzes begin
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Review
Written exam (chapters 1-5)
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Oral Exam
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Week 15: Dec. 5 & 7
Week 16: Dec. 12 @ 1pm
Oral exam
Final Written Exam (chapters 6-11)
Please remember that this syllabus is subject to change.
All changes will be documented by the instructor.
Instructional
Materials
Speaking Clearly: Improving Voice and Diction, 6th edition, by Hahner, Sokoloff, and Salisch, McG
Boston. 2002
HCC Policy
Statement:
HCC Policy Statement: Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
According to federal and college guidelines, any student with special needs bears responsibility of
faculty accordingly. Official notification from Disabled Student Services must be received to provid
special consideration and accommodations. Any student with a documented disability (e.g., phys
learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations mu
the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty
authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services.
Contact Jette Lott at (713) 718-7218 for additional information.
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty
You are expected to be familiar with the College's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catal
student handbook. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in
course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System
against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
“Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion
Cheating on a test includes:
 Copying from another student’s test paper;
 Using materials during a test that are not authorized by the person giving the test;
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authority;
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the co
a test that has not bee administered;
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of t
in one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work off
credit.
Violations: Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of “0” or “F” on th
particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from
College System. A recommendation for expulsion will be referred to the College Dean of Student
Development for disciplinary disposition.
Students who wish to appeal a grade penalty should notify the instructional supervisor within 30 w
days of the incident. A standing committee appointed by the College Dean of Instruction (Academ
Workforce) will convene to sustain, reduce, or reverse the grade penalty. The committee will be co
of two students, two faculty members, and one instructional administrator. A majority vote will dec
grade appeal and is final.
Attendance Policy:
Research has shown that the single most important factor in student success is attendance. Roll w
taken each class period in the form of a sign-in sheet available to students during the first fifteen m
class. It is the students’ responsibility to sign the attendance sheet during the first fifteen minutes o
to be counted as present for the day. Due to unforeseen events or emergencies, four unexcused a
will be allowed for the semester. Students, who miss more than 4 days (6 hours) of class may be
Absent students are responsible for discovering what was missed and must be prepared for the n
For each absence over four, ten points will be deducted from the total grade at the end of the sem
Administrative drops are at the discretion of the instructor. If you are doing poorly in the clas
but you have not contacted your professor to ask for help, and you have not withdrawn by the offic
withdrawal date, it will result in you receiving a grade of “F” in the course
NOTE: LAST DAY FOR STUDENT/ADMINISTRATIVE DROP THIS SEMESTER: Thursday, No
@ 4:30 p.m.
Course Withdrawals:
If for any reason a student cannot complete this course, it is the responsibility of the student to wit
and receive a ‘W’ on their transcript. Otherwise, the instructor will assign the grade ‘F’. Internation
students: Receiving a ‘W’ in a course may affect the status of your student visa. “I” is reserved for
student who has an emergency the last week of class, or misses the final with extenuating circum
It is NOT for the student who has to make up 6 weeks of assignments.
Early Alert Program:
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert
by which your professor may “alert” you and HCC counselors that you might fail a class because o
excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your
or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – on
tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic
performance.
Repeat Course Fee:
The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed class
increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than twice, are required to
tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students to pass their courses and to
graduate. Effective fall 2006, HCC will charge a higher tuition rate to students registering the third
subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earni
passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits
and writing homework, test taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tut
other assistance that might be available.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary
improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short onli
of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be m
available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for t
survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term
Access
Student
Services
Policies on
http://hccs.edu/student-rights
their Web site: