SYLLABUS

SPA 4112
Clinical Phonetics (+
Transcription Lab)
(4 credits)
Spring 2014
INSTRUCTOR:
Toby Macrae, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Office: Room 513A Warren Building, 201 West Bloxham Street
Phone: (850) 645-9620
Email: toby.macrae@cci.fsu.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday 1-3pm
Class Hours: Tu + Th 8:00-9:15am
Class Location: Room HCB 215, New Classroom Building
Lab Hours: M 11:15am-12:05pm (Kristina Katopis)
M 12:20-1:10pm (Christine Carrier)
M 1:25-2:15pm (Bianca Rickman)
M 2:30-3:20pm (Jillian Eiland)
M 3:35-4:25pm (Kelsey Miller)
Lab Location: Room DIF 0018A, Diffenbaugh Building
Students may utilize office hours or contact the instructor via email. Furthermore, Florida State
University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs,
facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age,
marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTS:
Kristina Katopis (kak10c@my.fsu.edu)
Christine Carrier (clc12d@my.fsu.edu)
Bianca Rickman (bdr10d@my.fsu.edu)
Jillian Eiland (jce10@my.fsu.edu)
Kelsey Miller (kkm12@my.fsu.edu)
Rachel Sulzer (rds10c@my.fsu.edu)
COURSE MATERIALS:
Required Text:
Small, L. H. (2012). Fundamentals of Phonetics: A Practical Guide for Students (3rd Edition).
Boston, MA:
Pearson.
Recommended Materials:
Small, L. H. (2012). AUDIO CD for Fundamentals of Phonetics: A Practical Guide for Students (3rd
Edition).
Boston, MA: Pearson.

Students are expected to access Blackboard regularly and utilize the resources made available
through the course site throughout the semester. By enrolling in the course students are
automatically entered into the Blackboard database. To access Blackboard, go to
http://campus.fsu.edu.
Required Phonetic Font:
You are required to follow the link and download the Doulos SIL phonetic font onto your
computer in order to be able to read the phonetic symbols used in the lecture slides. You also
will need to be familiar with the font, including being able to find and insert all the symbols
covered during the semester, so that you can complete the exams on a computer in the testing
center.
http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=DoulosSIL_download
Required Materials:
A pair of headphones is required for the labs.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
From the 2009-2010 FSU General Bulletin: This course focuses on the phonetic transcription of
the spoken language. Students learn and frequently practice transcription of vowels and
consonants at the levels of isolation, syllables, words, phrases, and connected speech. The
course also covers relative materials about phonetics as a science, the similarities and
differences between spelling and sound, the anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism,
clinical phonetics, and dialectal variation in the spoken language.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge
outcomes, as they relate to ASHA standards:
III-A: The applicant must have prerequisite knowledge of the biological sciences, physical
sciences, mathematics, and the social/behavioral sciences.
General anatomy and physiology
III-B: The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of basic human communication and
swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological,
developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases.
Basic communication processes
Impact of cultural and linguistic diversity on communication
III-C: The application must demonstrate knowledge of the nature of speech, language, hearing,
and communication disorders and differences and swallowing disorders, including the
etiologies, characteristics, anatomical/physiological, acoustic, psychological,
developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates.
Articulation
Voice and resonance, including respiration and phonation
III-D: The applicant must possess knowledge of the principles and methods of prevention,
assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders,
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including consideration of anatomical/physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic

and cultural correlates of the disorders.
ASSESSMENT:
Exams:
The 4 exams (75%) are designed to reflect course content covered in class lectures and readings,
as well as phonetic transcription. The exams will include multiple question formats, including
multiple choice, true/false, fill-ins, short answer, and transcription of live or pre-recorded voice. In
the event that a student is unexpectedly unable to attend an exam at the scheduled time/date,
he/she must contact the instructor prior to the exam, schedule a make-up exam, and provide
documentation of the reason for the absence. The only acceptable reasons for sitting exams
outside of the scheduled times are those covered by the University Attendance Policy (see
below). Options for contacting the instructor on an exam day include email and office phone. A
grade of zero will be entered for missed exams due to unexcused absences. The instructor
reserves the right to offer an alternative form of the exam for make-ups to protect the fidelity of
the exam.
Half of the class will sit the first exam in the FSU Center for Assessment and Testing (CAT)
(University Center C, Suite 1200, 296 Champions Way) using one of the centers desktop
computers. The remaining students will sit a paper version of the exam in the classroom. The
students who sit the first exam in the classroom will sit the final exam in the CAT. The remaining
students will sit the exam in the classroom. All students will sit the second and third exams in
the classroom. For those students sitting exams in the CAT, please make note of the following:

You MUST take your FSU I.D.; otherwise, you will not be able to sit the exam
Please do not take your laptop or any large objects the centers lockers are very small
You may take small items such as a wallet, purse, and keys
Headphones and scratch paper will be provided for you in the CAT; therefore, please do not
take your own

Potential Change in Final Exam Time: Due to scheduling restrictions at the CAT, I have
requested that the final exam time be changed from 7:30-9:30am to 8:00-10:00am. This change
request is pending review by the FSU Undergraduate Policy Committee at their January 15 th
meeting. I will alert you as to their decision regarding this potential change.
Lab:
The purpose of the lab is to allow students the opportunity to discuss class, homework and quiz
content with the lab instructor and other students and complete the lab quizzes under ideal
listening conditions. The lab instructors role is to facilitate discussion about course content and
help students complete the transcription quizzes. Credit earned from the lab is based on
transcription quizzes taken in the lab (15%) and completion of homework assignments from the
textbook (5%).
At the start of each lab meeting, homework assignments will be checked for completion (but not
accuracy). Handwritten assignments are acceptable. However, if you have an excused and
documented absence from lab, you are required to type your assignment using Microsoft Word
and email it to your lab instructor before the lab. Late assignments submitted by students without
an excused and documented absence from lab will not earn credit. Given the cumulative nature
of the course content, it is imperative that you complete homework assignments on time.
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Two make-up quizzes are scheduled during the semester. Students who miss a scheduled lab
quiz, whether due to excused or unexcused absences, will need to take a make-up quiz. Students
may also take the make-up quizzes in an attempt to boost their quiz grades. The 10 highest quiz
scores will count towards students final grade at the end of the semester.
Grading:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Exam 4 (Final)
Transcription Quizzes (10)
Homework Assignments (10)
Class Attendance

15%
15%
15%
30%
15%
5%
5%

Grading Scale (in %):

F < 60 D- < 63 D < 67 D+ < 70 C- < 73 C < 77 C+ < 80 B- < 83 B < 87 B+ < 90
A- < 93 A
* I do not round students grades so please dont ask
COURSE POLICIES:
University Attendance Policy:
Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented
crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University
activities. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize
students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose
dependent children experience serious illness.
Course Attendance Policy:
Class attendance is required for the course. Lectures involve presentation and discussion of
material that is critical to you meeting the course objectives. In the event that a student misses
class, he/she is responsible for obtaining missed information. Whenever students have a
problem that would prevent them from attending a class or exam, they are required to notify the
instructor in advance and provide documentation. Whenever students have a problem that
would prevent them from attending lab, they are required to notify their lab instructor in advance
and provide documentation.
Class attendance counts for 5% of your final grade. Attendance will be taken on five occasions
during the semester, selected at random by the instructor. For those students who are present,
and for those students who have excused and documented absences, 1% will be earned
towards your attendance grade (X 5 occasions = 5% total for attendance). Students who do not
have excused and documented absences will not receive attendance credit.
Attendance will be taken using 3 X 5 index cards. Students are responsible for bringing their
own cards to every class, in case attendance is taken. These are readily available at minimal
cost (e.g., $1.99 for 50 from Amazon.com). On the index card, you will be required to print your
name and the date and sign under your printed name to acknowledge that you are present. You
will need to include one question for the instructor about content that you do not completely
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understand. Common questions will be reviewed at the beginning of the next class. Students
are not permitted to turn in cards for other students. The instructor will take a head count on
attendance days and match this to the number of cards received before students are excused
from class.
Cellphone and Internet Policy:
In-class cellphone use and internet browsing (except for accessing lecture slides from
Blackboard at the beginning of class) are prohibited. Please turn your cellphones to silent. If you
are expecting an emergency call, please advise the instructor before class and take the call
outside of class. Cellphone and laptop use in exams is prohibited. Please turn these off before
exams. Please be warned that if your cellphone goes off while sitting an exam in the CAT, you
will be removed from the exam, as per CAT policy.
Mandatory First Class Meeting Attendance Policy:
Effective Fall 2003, University-wide policy requires all students to attend the first day of class
meeting of all classes for which they are registered. Students who do not attend the first class
meeting of a course for which they are registered will be dropped from the course by the
academic department that offers the course. This policy applies to all levels of courses and to all
campuses and study centers. It remains the student's responsibility to verify course drops and
check that fees are adjusted.
Revised Attendance Policy for Spring, 2014: In keeping with the FSU First Day Attendance
procedures, all Spring Semester students should alert their instructors ahead of time if they will
not be able to return to campus by January 6, 2014. If no instructor is listed, students should
contact the department offering the course. If instructors are not contacted ahead of time,
students missing the first day of classes on January 6 and 7, 2014 will be dropped from those
classes.
Class Notes:
Lecture notes and supplemental materials will be posted on Blackboard prior to class. These are
intended to help students follow instruction but do not provide all of the important class content.
Students must attend class to obtain the content necessary to pass the course and to integrate
the information.
Incompletes:
Incomplete Grades: An Incomplete ("I") grade may be assigned by an instructor if you are
passing a course, and you miss a portion of the course work (for example, an exam, a course
project or assignment, etc.) due to an excused absence that cannot be made up until after the
semester is over. An "I" grade must be removed in a timely manner by completing that portion of
the course work you missed. You must complete the work by the instructor's deadline, but no
later than the end of the next semester in which you are enrolled. You should not register for a
course in which an "I" grade has been assigned; doing so results in the "I" grade being changed
to an "IE" grade, which is calculated as an "F" in your FSU GPA.
Conduct Code:
Students are expected to abide by the Student Conduct Code, which may be viewed by the
following link: http://srr.fsu.edu/conduct_code.html. It is recommended that students familiarize
themselves with their specific rights and responsibilities as FSU students at the web address
provided.
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Academic Honor Code:

Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in The Florida State
University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The Academic Honor System of The Florida
State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility (1) to uphold
the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate
violations of academic integrity in the university community, and (3) to foster a high sense of
integrity and social responsibility on the part of the university community.
Please see the following web site for a complete explanation of the Academic Honor Code.
http://www.fsu.edu/Books/Student-Handbook/codes/honor.html
http://www.fsu.edu/Books/Student-Handbook/
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and
provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the
instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the
first week of class. This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format
upon request.
For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact:
Student Disability Resource Center
874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
SDRC@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.fsu.edu/~staffair/dean/StudentDisability/
SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY: Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of
the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to
change with advance notice

COURSE OUTLINE:
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***Complete assigned readings prior to class during which they are scheduled to be
discussed***
***Complete homework assignments prior to lab for which they are assigned***
Week

Topic

Lab

Reading/Homework Assignment

Week 1
January 7, 9

Review Syllabus
Core Concepts and
Terminology

None

Reading: Ch. 1

Week 2
January 14, 16

Core Concepts and

Terminology
Anatomy & Physiology

LAB INTRO

Reading: Chs. 2 + 3
Assignments 2-1, 2-2

Week 3
January 21, 23

Jan 20: No Lab MLK

Day
None
Review
Jan 23: Exam 1

Ch. 2 Review Exercises: B, C, E, F, G, H, I

Week 4
January 28, 30

Vowel Transcription

QUIZ 1
Counting phonemes,
morphemes, graphemes,
syllables

Week 5
February 4, 6

Vowel Transcription

QUIZ 2
Reading: Ch. 4 (pp. 73-99)
Analyzing stress and syllables Assignments 4-1 (CD), 4-2 (CD)

Week 6
February 11, 13

Consonant
Transcription

QUIZ 3
Front vowels

Reading: Ch. 5 (pp. 115-139)

Assignments 4-3 (CD), 4-4 (CD)

Week 7
February 18, 20

Consonant
Transcription

QUIZ 4
Back & central vowels &
diphthongs

Reading: Ch. 5 (pp. 139-162)

Assignments 5-1 (CD) (1-15, 41-50), 5-2 (CD) (1-15,
41-50), 5-3 (CD) (1-10, 41-50)

Week 8
February 25, 27

Review
Feb 27: Exam 2

QUIZ 5
Consonants

Assignment 5-4 (CD)

Week 9
March 4, 6

Connected Speech

QUIZ 6
Consonants

Reading: Ch. 6
No Assignment

Week 10

Spring Break March

10-14

Week 11
March 18, 20

Connected Speech

MAKEUP
QUIZ

Ch. 6 Review Exercises: A, B, C (CD), D, E (CD), G

(CD), H (CD)

Week 12
March 25, 27

Review
March 27: Exam 3

QUIZ 7
Connected speech

No Assignment

Week 13
April 1, 3

Dialectal Variation

QUIZ 8
Connected speech

Reading: Ch. 8
Assignments 6-1 (CD) (1-7), 6-2 (CD) (1-10)

Week 14
April 8, 10

Dialectal Variation

QUIZ 9
Connected speech

No Assignment

Reading: Ch. 4 (pp. 49-73)

Ch. 3 Study Questions

Week 15
April 15, 17

Clinical Phonetics

QUIZ 10
Dialectal variation

Reading: Ch. 7
Ch. 8 Review Exercises: J (CD) (1-2), K (CD) (1-2),
L (CD) (1-3), M (CD) (1-3) (American dialects), N
(CD) (1-3), O (CD) (1-2), P (CD) (1-2), Q (CD) (1-3),
R (CD) (1-3) (foreign dialects)

Week 16
April 22, 24

Clinical Phonetics
Review

MAKEUP
QUIZ

Ch. 7 Study Questions: 2, 3, 6, Assignments 7-4

(CD) (1-6), 7-5 (CD) (1-9), 7-7 (1)

Exam Week
April 28 May 2

Exam 4 (Final):
Wednesday April 30, 810am