SYLLABUS--CIS 256 MACHINE TRANSCRIPTION

Instructor: Jean Logan Quarter: Winter 2010

Office: 34-118 Section: IHY--Hybrid
Hours: 11:00 – 11:50 daily Class Days: Tuesday/Thursday + online
Phone: 596-5279 Class Time: 1:15-2:05 p.m.
Email: jlogan@spscc.ctc.edu Location: 34-100

Course Description

Detailed instruction and practice in transcription techniques, vocabulary building and

language skills—punctuation, spelling, word division, capitalization, number styles and
hyphenation. Includes production keyboarding skills—letters, forms, memorandums,
enumerations, agendas and minutes—using a personal computer.

Prerequisites

CIS 106 Business English, CIS 136 Word Processing I, CIS 150 Formatting I, and the
ability to type 40 wpm by touch.

Course Materials

• Workbooks for Units 1 – 4 – available from instructor

• The Gregg Reference Manual, current edition, William A. Sabin, Glenco/McGraw-
Hill.
• One ream of laser or copy paper.
• USB drive or other storage media

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

01. Correctly operate and control a transcription foot pedal and software.
2. Display organizational skills in arranging work area, prioritizing and coordinating
assignments, and producing documents.
3. Develop smooth and efficient operation of transcribing equipment; increase speed
and accuracy of document production.
4. Transcribe from unstructured dictations, inserting paragraphs and punctuation
correctly.
5. Transcribe letters, reports, memorandums, news releases, tabulated material,
enumeration, and minutes from dictation, using proper business formats.
6. Proofread transcripts for accuracy; use proofreaders’ marks to mark copy for
editing.
7. Work from rough draft to edit finished copy.
8. Display excellent language skills by interpreting and applying rules for word
division, capitalization, number usage, abbreviations, punctuation and spelling.

College Wide Abilities

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Think logically and critically

Course Content
0A. Building Transcription Skills
1. Transcription equipment operation
2. Preparing for transcription
3. Business letters
a. attention, subject and reference lines
b. closing lines: carbon copy, blind carbon copy, company name, post
scripts, and enclosures
c. mailing notations
d. formatting letters with tables
e. letters with enumerated items
f. two-page letters
4. News releases and newsletters
5. Enumerations
6. Interoffice memorandums
7. Agendas and minutes
8. Form letters
B. Subject Matter of Practice Recording
1. Personnel
2. Insurance
3. Airline and tourism
4. Banking
5. Education
6. Automobile agency
7. Public relations
8. Real estate
C. Building Language Skills
1. Capitalization
2. Number usage
3. Abbreviations
4. Quotation marks
5. Apostrophes
6. Hyphenation
D. Building Vocabulary Skills
E. Preparing Reports
1. Bound and unbound
2. Sideheadings
3. Multipages
4. Single-spaced
5. Enumerated items
6. Footnotes
7. Embedded table
F. Preparing Tables
G. Preparing Forms
1. Invoices
2. Credit memorandums
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3. Statements

Evaluation

10% Participation
30% Two Production Tests at 15% each
60% Four Theory Tests at 15% each

Grading Scale

95 – 100 = A
92 – 94 = A-
90 – 91 = B+
85 – 89 = B
82 – 94 = B-
80 – 81 = C+
75 – 79 = C
72 – 74 = C-
70 – 71 = D+
65 – 69 = D
62 – 64 = D-
Below 62 = F

Participation: Each week several grammar review questions will be posted in the online
classroom. A correct response to the question will earn two points, an incorrect answer
will earn one point, and no answer will earn zero points. The final participation score
will be a percentage of the points earned divided by the total possible points.

Tests: There will be four theory tests and three production tests throughout the quarter.
The third production test is optional and can be used to replace a missed or low test score.
Each test will be worth 15 percent of the final grade. Theory tests will be scored on a
straight percentage basis. Production tests will be assigned grades based on a net
production rate. Scoring process and grading scale for production tests will be discussed
in class. If a student is absent on a test day, he or she can either make up the test or take
the optional final production test. A make up test MUST be taken within a week of the
scheduled test.

Daily Work: Daily work for each unit must be completed by the due date (see calendar).
Fill out the work log/error analysis sheet, attach transcripts and submit by due date. One
point will be deducted from the theory test for each document not completed. Ten points
will be deducted from the unit theory test if daily work is not submitted.

Extra credit/bonus points will be available for each unit for accurate proofreading of daily
work. One document from each unit will be randomly picked and graded for proofreading
accuracy. Students can earn up to 5 extra points for each unit, which will be added to their
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theory test score. Extra credit points are only available when daily work is submitted
completely and on time.

General Course Information

Allow 5 - 10 hours per week to complete the course. As a hybrid class, we meet in the
traditional classroom setting twice a week. You are responsible for scheduling an
addition 5-10 hours of your time either in the computer lab or at home to complete the
course work.

You will be working with digital audio files. You MUST use a transcriber footpedal and
its operating software to control the audio output. The correct equipment is available in
the computer lab for students to check out. You can do your transcribing at home if you
purchase a UBS transcriber footpedal, however, proofreading must be done in the
classroom or in the lab. Information on purchasing a footpedal and downloading
software is available in the External Links folder.

Be aware of all due dates. Make sure to submit your completed unit work to the
instructor on or before the due date or points will be deducted from your test grade and
you will lose the opportunity for extra credit.

Work Procedures

Go to the Lessons folder and select the folder for the unit you are working on. All the
materials you will need for each unit are in this folder.

At the beginning of each Unit, print a copy of the Work/Log Error Analysis Sheet and the
Language Skills Prepsheets for the unit. These will need to be submitted with your
completed Unit work. You may also wish to print a copy of the Spelling List and the
Workbook for the unit—alternately you can read the information in these documents from
the computer screen.

I. Read the Workbook first to get instructions for the dictation. There will also be
review topics for grammar and formatting.

II.Complete the appropriate Language Skills Prepsheet that is assigned to the dictation
BEFORE typing the dictated document.

III.When you are ready to transcribe from the dictated files, use the following
procedures for producing daily work:

1. Set up the equipment and audio files as described in the Digital Dictation
folder/handout.

2. Open Word, key in your work, save, and use spell check. Use the letterhead
template provided for letters. Transcribe memos and reports on plain paper. Use
the Gregg Reference Manual whenever you are uncertain about grammar rules.
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3. Print out your document with a heading label. Work must be labeled with name,
unit, day, and item number.

4. Then proofread your printed document against the key that is provided for you.
Mark any errors you discover with proofreader’s marks.

5. Record the type of error on the Work Log/Error Analysis Sheet. Use your
reference manual for rule application.

6. Attach the printed copy with the proofreader’s marks to the Work Log/Error
Analysis Sheet to submit to your instructor. NOTE: Do not make corrections on
the computer and reprint. You will receive credit for completing daily work only
if you submit the original copy that shows the proofreader’s marks. You will
submit your work after the entire unit’s transcription and prep sheets are
completed.

I. Log on to Angel everyday to check for Grammar Review Questions. Answer the
questions. Each question will only be available for 24 hours and if you miss it, you
lose out on the points.

II.Also check the discussion board each day to see if there is anything being discussed
that will pertain to you. Add to the discussions if you like.

Incompletes: Because of extenuating circumstances, the instructor may consider issuing

an Incomplete. The student is eligible if the student is at least 75 percent through the
course, is earning at least a C, and is able to complete the course by working with the
instructor no later than the subsequent quarter.

Financial Aid: Students receiving financial aid should always check with the Financial
Aid office prior to withdrawing, signing an incomplete contract, changing to an audit, or
receiving an F or V grade in a class.

Academic Honesty: All work is to represent student’s own efforts rather than to be
copied from another. Cheating will result in an F grade for the assignment or test. For
the academic honesty policy, refer to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities
found on the college’s website.