Voice and Diction

The primary objectives in Voice and Diction are specific improvement of the speaking voice and clear communication. With this aim in mind, we will analyze the physiology of vocal production and communication theory.  The speaking voice will be developed using phonetics to enhance and standardize clear diction and communication.   This work will be augmented with text analysis and vocal exercises to develop more flexibility with paralanguage.  Students will learn to use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to analyze and transcribe spoken English.

The course objectives for this class meet, in part or in full, the following Core Curriculum Learning outcomes:

·         Literacy (reading):  The student will determine main ideas and appropriately relate parts within a text.

·         Critical thinking:  The student will interpret, analyze, evaluate, and infer with purposeful, self-regulatory judgment.

·         Oral Communication:  The student will effectively organize, explain, and support information through the spoken word.

By the end of this course students should demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

A.   Control and management of performance anxiety.

B.    Demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing of the International Phonetic Alphabet to transcribe American English.

C.    Understanding of basic communication theories and the physiology of vocal production.

D.   Develop specific strategies for remediation of articulation errors and mispronunciations present in one’s own speech and the speech of others.

E.    Clear and specific improvement in vocal quality, diction, vocal variety, and clarity of communication.  Evaluations will be taken from performances in class and via recordings that will be turned in periodically during the semester.

F.    Students will also be expected to offer a clear and accurate analysis of their personal speech habits, vocal health, and improvement needs.
 

The Instructor reserves the right to adjust or cancel assignments as the course progresses.  If, for some reason, assignments administered total somewhat more or fewer than 1,000 points, the method for obtaining the final grade will remain essentially the same:  the total points achieved will be divided by the total points possible to obtain a percentage, and a grade will be assigned according to the percentage scale outlined below.

Assignments

Grading Scale:

A= 90%-100%

B= 89%-80%

C=79%-70%

D=69%-60%

F= Below 60%

Assignments will always be due at the beginning of class.  Any assignment not turned in at the beginning of class will be considered late.   Late work will not normally be accepted.  The instructor reserves the right to accept late work at his discretion, but will penalize students a minimum of 15 points per day on any late assignments. 

Grading Scale:

A= 90%-100%

B= 89%-80%

C=79%-70%

D=69%-60%

F= Below 60%

Assignments will always be due at the beginning of class.  Any assignment not turned in at the beginning of class will be considered late.   Late work will not normally be accepted.  The instructor reserves the right to accept late work at his discretion, but will penalize students a minimum of 15 points per day on any late assignments. 

Attendance is MANDATORY!!  Be on time to class.  Tardiness beyond ten minutes will be counted as an absence.  Excessive tardiness may result in a student being dropped from the course with an F.  We have a substantial amount of material to cover and a limited amount of time.  Since there will be considerable collaboration amongst students your absence will affect the progression and dynamic of the rest of the class.  You will receive a two-point grade deduction off of your final grade for each unexcused absence. After five absences you may be dropped from the class as per the university policy. 

If you have a university-sponsored function or a religious holiday that will keep you from attending class please see the instructor as early in the semester as possible to discuss the situation.  You will be expected to provide documentation for all university-sponsored events that will result in an absence.  All assignments will need to be turned in on or before the due date, no exceptions.  Late assignments will not be accepted, so please, don’t ask.

Assignments will always be due at the beginning of class.  Any assignment not turned in at the beginning of class will be considered late.   Late work will not normally be accepted.  The instructor reserves the right to accept late work at his discretion, but will penalize students a minimum of 15 points per day on any late assignments. 

Attendance is MANDATORY!!  Be on time to class.  Tardiness beyond ten minutes will be counted as an absence.  Excessive tardiness may result in a student being dropped from the course with an F.  We have a substantial amount of material to cover and a limited amount of time.  Since there will be considerable collaboration amongst students your absence will affect the progression and dynamic of the rest of the class.  You will receive a two-point grade deduction off of your final grade for each unexcused absence. After five absences you may be dropped from the class as per the university policy. 

If you have a university-sponsored function or a religious holiday that will keep you from attending class please see the instructor as early in the semester as possible to discuss the situation.  You will be expected to provide documentation for all university-sponsored events that will result in an absence.  All assignments will need to be turned in on or before the due date, no exceptions.  Late assignments will not be accepted, so please, don’t ask.

EXPECTATIONS AND CONDUCT

Students are expected to be on time to class everyday.  Respect will be given to everyone at all times.  If you are disrespectful to someone (especially during a presentation) the instructor reserves the right to ask you to leave the room and you will receive an absence for the day.

In this class, we will be reading aloud to each other for all of the presentations.  It is the hope of the instructor that each student will carefully consider the content of his or her reading material before presenting any speech to the class.  The instructor will provide each student with guidelines for choosing presentations.  In a university environment, an environment in which all are encouraged to grow and develop to their ultimate potential, it is not beneficial to present material that is derogatory to an individual or a group of people because of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, or sexual orientation.  For that reason, students should avoid anything that might be offensive to others in the classroom. 

Honesty is paramount.  Dishonest work on homework and tests will not be tolerated. Expect disciplinary action to be sought if the instructor discovers dishonesty or cheating of any kind.  The instructor reserves the right to drop any student engaging in academic dishonesty from the course with a failing grade.  Students dropped from the course by the instructor for failure to attend classes or for academic dishonesty may receive an F for the semester.  By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a “limited right” in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course.  The “limited right” shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and educational purposes.

Cell phone usein class is prohibited.  If your cell phone goes off during a class you may be asked to leave the classroom and receive an absence for the day.  No texting; Again, you may be asked to leave the classroom.  Please don’t make this an issue, just turn off your phone during our class.  If other commitments are so pressing that they can not wait until the end of the class session, it may be in the student’s best interests to reconsider the priority placed on being in this class.  In any case, the instructor reserves the right to ask you to leave immediately or to embarrass you mercilessly if your phone goes off during class.

Students with disabilities or special needs should see the instructor as early in the semester as possible to discuss an accommodations necessary.  Please note that in order to qualify for consideration of special accommodations, the student must be registered with the MSU Office of Disability Services. The instructor must receive a memo from the Office of Disability Services along with a Special Accommodations Request form for accommodations to be granted.

Please note that work, non-emergency medical and dental appointments, intramural games, and all other forms of personal engagements do NOT constitute an excused absence.

 PRIVACY POLICY
 

In accordance with Federal Privacy Laws a student’s personal information is protected.  As an instructor it is unlawful for me to share your personal information (including grades) with anyone unless I have written consent.  This means I will not be able to discuss your grades with parents.  If you have questions about your grades or have forgotten the grading policy for the course please come by during office hours.

 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

SAFE ZONE REQUIREMENTS

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor’s expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

X.  WRITING PROFICIENCY EXAM

All students seeking a Bachelor’s degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they’ve 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours.  You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113.  Please keep in mind that, once you’ve earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course.  If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")–whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.