Golden State College of Court Reporting & Captioning
BRIDGING SYLLABUS
COURSE MS 70
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
** 60 Hours
Bridging provides the transition from theory to speed development. Comprised of
dictation, gradual increases in speed take the student through 50, 60, 70 words per minute.
Emphasis is placed on the mastery of basic phrases, numbers, states, vowel combinations, and
consonant combinations. Common briefs and phrases not taught in theory are introduced.
Effective readback and transcription are emphasized.
Emphasis is placed on basic literary and jury charge material.
Student passes MS 70 writing 70 words per minute at a minimum of 95% accuracy.
Prerequisite: MS 40
**Machine Shorthand Hours Total 3010 Hours
**Because each person acquires this unique skill at a different pace, it is
impossible to predict the length of time each person will find necessary to meet
the requirements for course completion.
**These hours may be reduced if a student is able to pass the qualifier exam
defined in CCR Section 2412 before having completed these hours.
INSTRUCTOR:
Theory:
Office Hours:
E-Mail Address:
Nicole Common, CSR
Margie Villano
TEXTBOOK and OTHER MATERIALS:
Mandatory Textbooks/Materials:
 Shorthand Machine
Recommended Study Materials:
 Realtime Professional Dictionary – StenEd
 Theory Reinforcement Takes – StenEd
 The Ultimate Finger Drill Book – StenEd
 Briefs & Phrases - StenEd
 Real Time Coach
Golden State College - BRIDGING SYLLABUS
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COURSE OUTLINE:
Machine shorthand classes shall include:
1. Instruction in writing the spoken word with punctuation by means of a realtime
translation theory as approved by NCRA to provide instantaneous translation.
2. Theory instruction with the use of tutorial and/or realtime technology and teacher
interaction.
3. Speed and accuracy development.
4. Dictation, but shall not be limited to literary and jury charge.
5. Testing at incremental speeds on unfamiliar material. The same test shall not be
dictated more than once every six (6) months to the same student.
6. Read back and analysis of shorthand notes.
7. 3x/week transcription by all students from their shorthand notes. This may include
homework notes, projects, and so forth.
8. Course exit speed tests transcribed, monitored, and timed with an institutionally
approved supervisor. All copies (hard disk, RAM, etc.) of the tests shall be deleted
immediately in order to maintain test integrity.
9. A minimum grading criteria using the RPR guide, “What Is an Error?” (See
attached.)
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Instruction shall include vocabulary development at each machine speed level.
Individual dictation classes, other than theory classes, shall include only students
whose tested writing speeds are within the same 20-30 words per minute range
on similar dictation material.
Students will be provided the opportunity to read back from their stenographic
notes a minimum of one time each day to his or her instructor.
OBJECTIVES:
The successful student should be able to:
1. Write a realtime translation theory system.
2. Read aloud from shorthand notes, quickly locating portions to be read, maintaining
composure while reading, reading distinctly and with authority.
EVALUATION:
Mastery of machine shorthand is evaluated by the accurate transcription of dictation given at
increasing speeds. 95% accuracy is the standard on all tests.
MS 70 Bridging
Transcribe two 5-minute tests @ 60 and 70wpm each.
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ATTENDANCE/CLASS PARTICIPATION and ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:
Students are expected to be in the classroom for at least 70 percent of the time of any course or
term. Students who have been absent from all of their scheduled classes for 14 consecutive
calendar days, not including scheduled school holidays, may be dropped from the program. (See
“Scholastic Regulations” in the college catalog.)
Absences due to illness, injury or quarantine should be reported to instructor.
The student’s ability to read aloud from their stenotype notes and active participation in other oral
classroom activities are an integral part of classroom participation. It is, therefore, extremely
important that the student attend class on a regular basis, arriving on time and remaining until
dismissed.
It is the student’s responsibility to attend class for purposes of receiving, correcting and turning in
all assignments. Every absence prolongs the length of time required in school. If there are
continuing issues of absence, please consult with the faculty.
HOMEWORK:
Golden State College will provide students with the opportunity to record class dictation and
practice with a school-approved speedbuilding tape, or other assigned material, a minimum of
one hour per day after school hours as a homework assignment, and the student shall provide the
notes from this tape or lesson, keyed correctly, to their instructor the following day for review.
TESTS:
Test opportunities will be announced and/or posted in class.
All tests, including those used to qualify students to sit for the CSR exam, shall be transcribed on
campus under supervision.
(Typing Credit) One 5-minute timed writing 3x per week shall be typed and corrected from tape.
Minimum: Three (3) transcriptions per week. One must be at goal speed.
Five-minute tests must be typed and completed within 1 Hour and 15 Minutes.
Ten-minute tests must be typed and completed within 2 Hours and 30 Minutes.
Qualifiers must be typed and completed within 3 Hours.
Test Rules: All speed test notes are to be turned in to the instructor. All test notes must bear an
instructor’s signature to be considered valid for a pass.
Please refer to “Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy” listed under Student Life in College
Catalog.
Last Reviewed – 1/21/2015
Last Revised – 1/13/2015
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