PRE-REQUISITES: NONE
This 3-credit course may fulfill the General Education Program requirement for "Cultural and Historical Foundations" (Item #2). Consult the GEP section of your catalog, your major degree requirements, and with your advisor.
TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS (used copies of the specified edition are acceptable):
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to American Popular Music since about 1950 (or what is commonly called "Rock Music") through about the early 1980s. No music skills of any kind are expected or assumed. Topics for study and discussion will include (1) musical instruments and performance techniques, (2) singing styles and related vocal techniques, (3) genres and forms, and (4) aspects of culture, society, history and geography as they relate to the music of the United States (and parts of Western Europe) from about 1950 to the 1980s and beyond. In addition to learning about the history of this music and its stylistic traits, you will also improve your critical listening skills and acquire a basic vocabulary for describing music.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: By the end of this course you will:
COMMUNICATION: It is your obligation to read, follow, and complete all assignments and other instructions (verbal or written) given to you in the course of this semester. You are responsible for any information or instructions given out in any of the following ways:
TESTING AND GRADING: Your grade in this course will be determined by your performance in the following:
| Test | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Test One - Chapter 1 | 10% |
| Test Two - Chapters 2-3 | 15% |
| Test Three - Chapters 4ff. | 15% |
| Test Four - Chapters TBD | 15% |
| Single Best Score of Tests Two, Three or Four (Score Counted Twice) | 15% |
| Final Exam - Cumulative | 30% |
Testing Procedures: All tests will be given in PSY 108 during the normal one hour class meeting time. Each test will consist of a series of multiple choice and/or True/False questions, and listening items will likely be included on all tests. Students must bring a recent photo ID and a scantron form ("strawberry" color, 100 answers for a-b-c-d-e questions) to every test. In addition, be sure you know your university-asigned PID number to identify your answer sheet. Failure to follow instructions in the testing procedures will result in penalties, including reductions in grades.
Policy for Make-up Exams and Quizzes: Make-ups will be allowed only in the four following cases, all of which require documentation:
No other excuses of any kind, including work, travel, car problems, child care issues, etc., will be accepted. If your work or other personal issues do no allow you to attend class at the scheduled times, you should consider withdrawal from the course.
Failure to appear at an announced test will result in a grade of "0" (zero) for that test. Late arrivals at tests will not be given any additional time to complete the test, nor will instructions or audio portions of the test be repeated.
Make-up Exams must be scheduled as soon as possible after the missed exam. Ms. Denham will handle all make-up exams (following my approval), and you should contact her to schedule your make-up at a mutually convenient time (Ms. Denham's decision). Under no circumstances will a make-up be allowed more than two Fridays after a missed exam. A missed Final Exam must be made-up within 24 hours after the final class meeting (no exceptions).
The following numeric equivalents apply to all grades (both individual tests & final course grade):
| 100.00 - 92.00 | = A |
| 91.99 - 90.00 | = A- |
| 89.99 - 88.00 | = B+ |
| 87.99 - 82.00 | = B |
| 81.99 - 80.00 | = B- |
| 79.99 - 78.00 | = C+ |
| 77.99 - 72.00 | = C |
| 71.99 - 70.00 | = C- |
| 69.99 - 68.00 | = D+ |
| 67.99 - 62.00 | = D |
| 61.99 - 60.00 | = D- |
| 59.99 - 0.00 | = F |
Final course averages are calculated to the nearest 1/100 of a point.
No extra credit work will be accepted in lieu of or in addition to the tests listed on this syllabus.
Dates for all tests will be announced at least one week in advance.
The Final Examination for MUH 2017 (Fall 2009) is scheduled for:
ATTENDANCE: Regular class attendance is expected of all enrolled students, and you are responsible for all materials covered and all announcements made in every class, whether you are present or not. Because of the size of this class, however, attendance will not be taken and will not be a factor in your grade.
CLASS DECORUM: As a matter of respect to others in the classroom, you are not to engage in any conversations, use cell phones or other electronic communication devices (turn off such items before entering my classroom), or work on anything unrelated to MUH 2017 (assignments for other courses, newspapers, puzzles, etc.) during class time. Individuals engaged in such activities will be told to leave the classroom. Anyone ejected from the class will not be allowed to return to the classroom until AFTER the next test, and a grade of "0" will be entered for that missed test. Repeat offenders will be expelled from the course, with a grade of "0" entered for all remaining work. (See Golden Rule 2.F.3.a,e,h,i) Additionally, you are asked to remove any trash (especially empty food containers and wrappers) when you leave. Please keep the room clean for yourselves and others.
CLASS PROCEDURES AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES: This course will generally follow the textbook (Covach) roughly in order. You should read the relevant pages before they are discussed in class (see the Daily Assignments on a separate web page). Even if you do not understand some materials, you should attempt to complete the reading and listening before the scheduled class meeting.
You should carry your textbook and notebook to all class meetings. You should take notes about any information presented in class.
Following the class, you should re-read the relevant passages in the textbook and re-listen to the recorded items. In addition, sometime after each class meeting the PowerPoint slides may be posted to the course web site. Do not assume, however, that you can skip class and simply read the slides, as they may not be posted for several days.
Similarly, lists of songs that you must know will be either sent to you or posted on the course web site. It will be your obligation to acquire copies of the song (noting any particular requirements about the performers and/or the performance) through any means that you choose. Links to YouTube and other appropriate web sites are provided on the course home web page. Please note that it is your responsibility to acquire the music studied in this course, and no excuses about your inability to find or otherwise acquire the relevant songs will be accepted. In short, you are responsible for all songs discussed in class or assigned for tests.
QUESTIONS about any unclear materials should be sent to me via email, and these may be answered individually or at the beginning of a subsequent class (as appropriate).
CHAPTER REVIEW SHEETS will be posted on the course web site after each chapter has been completed. These items will help you to organize your notes and guide your studies. Additionally, you may want to use the publisher-maintained web site as an additional source of review information.
In preparing for each class meeting you should allot a minimum of 2-3 hours daily (= 6-9 hours total per week for the duration of the semester). You may find it useful to form study groups so that you may help one another in your preparations for class and for tests. You are not, however, allowed to collaborate on any graded assignments in this class. (see the following item on "Academic Integrity")
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: All graded work, i.e., tests, in this class must be your work alone. You are never to collaborate with anyone on tests in this class, and you are not allowed to use your text, notes, or other aides of any kind when you are testing. Violators will be referred to the appropriate UCF authorities for prosecution (see the latest edition of The Golden Rule for more details).
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABILITIES: Any student with a documented disability may receive a special accommodation to complete any requirements of this course. Any student requesting such an accommodation must contact the Office of Student Disability Services (SRC 132; phone 407-823-2371), where such requests are processed. The SDS will ask for documentation of the disability, and they will then notify the instructor of the appropriate accommodations that may be allowed. NB. You cannot simply tell me of your situation, nor can you make requests after the fact, e.g., after you have taken a test or completed the course.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: A rough outline of the course readings and tests wil be posted on the course web site, however, that is not a guarantee of the precise topics to be discussed in any class. Rather you should assume that we will work chronologically through about 10-15 pages of the text book during every hour of class meeting time. See the "Daily Assignments" page if you ever miss a class or are otherwise unsure of what you should be reading or doing.
NB. This syllabus may be revised, if circumstances warrant. You will be notified formally if any changes are made.