NAME OF COURSE: Court Reporting Procedures
COURSE PREFIX: CRP 271
CREDIT: 3.0 Semester Hours – This three-semester hour lecture course will meet 2250 minutes per semester.
TEXT: Court Reporter’s and CART Services Handbook, Robert McCormick and Mary H. Knapp, Prentice Hall, Latest Edition.
Telephone: 822-7037
Email: sigwaldb@midlandstech.edu
OFFICE: SA 158
PREREQUISITES: CRP 151, 160 wpm or instructor approval
COREQUISITES: None
MATERIALS NEEDED: Textbook, Steno Machine, paper, books, tape recorder, 3.5” high-density
Diskettes, CDR’s or some other type of removable media.
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COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course includes a study of CAT, including transcript projects from actual circuit and family court cases, mock trials, and conferences. Emphasis is placed on decorum, ethics and appropriate dress.
NOTE: This course is taught through the use of lecture, live dictation, taped dictation, videos, textbook, supplemental materials, field trips, guest speakers, and court appearances.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, the student shall be able to:
1. Prepare and produce computer-aided transcripts to format as set out in the South Carolina Rules of Court
2. Demonstrate a knowledge of textbook material, handouts.
3. Identify library and reference materials used in transcript production.
4. Define and demonstrate a knowledge of legal and professional ethics.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of and involvement in professional associations
6. Demonstrate knowledge of the Court Reporting profession and related job opportunities.
7. Identify the need for confidentiality in business, professional, and personal matters
8. Explain the purpose and content of The Code of Professional Ethics of NCRA and apply the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics in simulated situations and case studies.
9. Demonstrate proofreading skills by producing accurate transcripts
10. Assume the role of the court reporter through simulated trials, depositions, (i.e. telephonic, discovery, perpetuation/evidentiary, and in aid of execution) and administrative hearings in performing the following functions:
a) Interrupt a speaker
b) Obtain spellings of proper names
c) Identify speaker in a multi-speaker situation
d) Swear or affirm witnesses and interpreters
e) Handle discussions off the record
f) Indicate nonverbal actions
g) Certify questions
h) Report with an interpreter
i) Sidebar discussions
j) Handle reading and signing of depositions
11. Identify appropriate reference sources used in transcript preparation such as the NCRA Journal, dictionary, city directory, telephone directory, encyclopedia, atlas, Physicians’ Desk Reference, Black’s Law Dictionary, slang dictionary, Merck Manual, Zip Code directory, and the Internet.
12. Prepare seven (7) transcripts from courtroom/classroom/deposition material; ten (10) pages each of different types of materials (i.e., colloquy, voir dire of the jury and/or witnesses, Q&A, opening and closing statements, polling of the jury, PCR’s, guilty pleas, probation revocations, and jury charge. One project will consist of transcription of an actual or simulated court proceeding. Transcripts are to be produced using Eclipse and all transcripts shall include:
a) Title page
b) Index
c) Direct and cross examination, where applicable
d) Jury charge/opening and/or closing statements, where applicable
e) Certification page
f) Parentheticals
13. Demonstrate knowledge of reporting techniques which shall include but not be limited to, when and/or how to:
a) Administering and oath/affirmation
b) Marking and handling exhibits
c) Indexing and storing notes
d) Exercising responsibility for reporting the proceeding
e) Interrupting a speaker
f) Obtaining spellings of proper names
g) Identifying speakers in a multi-speaker system
h) Handling discussions off the record and sidebar discussions
i) Indicating nonverbal actions
j) Certifying questions
k) Reporting interpreted proceedings
l) Report and transcribe voir dire of the jury and witnesses; and polling of the jury
m) Handle reading and signing of depositions
14. Identify the professional associations and related job opportunities including rapid text entry, scoping, networking, realtime and captioning
15. Develop a portfolio or resume
16. Recognize the value and importance of continuing education and lifelong learning
17. Project a professional image and dress
GRADING SCALE: 94-100 A
87-93 B
80-86 C
80-87 D
0-69 F
GRADING COMPUTATION: The Final grade will be based on 75 percent of Daily Grades and Tests; 25 percent of Class Participation
MAKE-UP POLICY: All make-up work/tests/quizzes given will be at the discretion of the instructor.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Assignments are to be turned in on or before the announced due date. Late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor.
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS: All dates on this course outline are estimated and assignments may be changed at any time at the discretion of the instructor.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: The departmental policy will apply. The number of absences allowed is equal to twice the number of times the course meets per week.
TEST COMPROMISE POLICY: There will be no test compromises in any class (i.e. cheating). All test compromises will be dealt with according to the student code. (See Student Handbook.)
NOTE: Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all of the courses offered within the Information Systems Department in order for the grade to be counted toward graduation.