Reedley College - Communication 1 – Public Speaking - Fall 2011

INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Graber-Peters		Office hours: by appointment
Email address: jenny.graber-peters@reedleycollege.edu or   rcspeechone@yahoo.com

The syllabus, assignments, grades, and all announcements will be posted on Blackboard. If you have any questions about using Blackboard, please see me the first week of class.

This course will cover theories and techniques of public speaking. It is designed to enhance fundamental public speaking skills which include research, organization, reasoning, listening and audience demographics. Particular emphasis will be on the logical organization, composition and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches.

COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
   A. Construct and deliver dynamic and competent presentations, adapted to the purpose and audience.
   B. Utilize research materials that incorporate sufficient, credible, and relevant evidence.	
   C. Choose appropriate organizational patterns.
   D. Analyze the effectiveness of communication through constructive critique.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
While taking the course, students will:
A. Gain communicative competence/confidence through the preparation, presentation, and analysis of oral messages. 
B. Gain an understanding of the communicative process.
C. Develop skills in informative, persuasive and ceremonial speaking.
D. Recognize the need for clear and concise organization of ideas.
E. Use supporting materials effectively.
F. Analyze and adapt messages to address audience attitudes, needs and demographics. 
G. Recognize the role of culture in the production and management of spoken interaction.
H. Develop skill in extemporaneous speaking (presenting at least three speeches in front of an audience). 
I.  Enhance vocal skills (projection, diction, inflection and volume). 
J. Improve listening skills.
K. Critique and analyze their own and others students' speeches. 
L.  Utilize practical assignments and exercises that will reinforce the theoretical concepts studied in class.

Last day to drop w/refund:				Final drop date: 

TEXT: Fraleigh, Douglas and Tuman, Joseph. (2011). Speak Up. 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

COURSE ADVISORY: It is recommended that you are eligible to take English 1A (already completed English 125) at the time you take this course. This course involves research and organization skills which may be a challenge for you if you are not eligible for this English level.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

	Attendance: is required. Attendance is crucial in a communication course. Not only does attendance count toward your participation grade, but it shows respect for the speaker and regular attendance has been shown to increase overall course grades. Excused absences are allowed for illness or documented, unavoidable circumstances only. Absences for any other reason may be discussed prior to class. It is your responsibility to notify me by phone or email if you will be absent and to make arrangements to get notes and/or turn in the days assignments. A grade of “0” will be assigned if you miss a speech without an acceptable excuse. Work related excuses are not acceptable. 
	More than a week of unexcused absences will result in a reduction of 2 participation points for each additional absence. In other words, if your class meets two times a week, you may only have two unexcused absences. You will also forfeit your right to complete extra credit if you have more than a week of unexcused absences. Any student who misses more than 6 classes before the final drop date will be dropped from the course.
	DO NOT BE LATE. Excessive tardiness will result in a reduction of participation points from your final grade. If you are late on a speech day, please wait outside until the speaker has finished. Failure to do so will result in a reduction of points from your speech that day.

	Participation: In addition to attending class, you are expected to actively participate in all classroom activities and group discussions. Therefore, plan on arriving to class on time and remaining until class is dismissed. Class participation is essential in a course of this nature where we work in groups, pairs, etc. You are expected to listen to both the instructor and your fellow classmates. You may also be asked to give peer evaluations on speech days. Disruptive and rude behavior will not be tolerated. Furthermore, please turn off all phones and pagers for the class period.

	Readings: You will be responsible for all of the readings assigned form the text. Weekly reading assignments are posted on the class schedule and should be read before class.

	Exercises: Weekly exercises will be assigned which correspond to the week’s readings/lectures. These assignments MUST be submitted on Blackboard, on the due date, before class.

	Quizzes: There are no exams! You will take true/false, multiple choice, short answer quizzes. Each quiz will cover information from the readings and lectures and will focus on two or three previous lessons. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. YOU MUST BE IN CLASS ON TIME IN ORDER TO TAKE THE QUIZ.  No make-ups will be granted for any reason. If you miss a quiz you may complete an extra credit assignment.
	
	Speeches: As with anything, “Practice may help you make perfect!” Therefore you will be given several opportunities to master your skills at public speaking (both graded and non-graded assignments). We will start small and build in length, quality, etc. as the semester progresses. There will be 4 minor and 4 major speeches. The minor speeches will include a toast, accepting an award, a eulogy, and a persuasive impromptu. Minor speeches will be 1 minute in length. Minor speeches may be graded by your peers. Further details will be given in class. The major speeches will consist of a “celebration of culture,” storytelling, an informative “How To,” and a persuasive speech. Major speeches will be 2-8 minutes long. A grade of “0” will be assigned if you miss a scheduled speech day. There are no make-ups for speeches without a physician’s verified medical excuse. Under extenuating circumstances, the instructor may grant an excuse. Make-ups for excused speeches will be on the next speaking date and may result in the reduction of one letter grade. Furthermore, make-ups are contingent upon available time.

Abstracts/Outlines: You are required to turn in an abstract for each major speech. Briefly, an abstract is a summary of your research materials. Abstracts MUST be submitted on their due date. Further details will be given in class. Outlines must be submitted along with your abstract.  Do not come to class with your disk/flash drive saying you were unable to print the file. Plan ahead and be responsible for your work. All work turned in face to face, must be typed.

“Me in a Bag” (Introductory speech): You will introduce yourself to the class in a fun way. Further details will be given in class.	

FINAL IMPROMPTU:  Your final exam will be an impromptu speech. It will be cumulative in the sense that you will utilize all of the skills you have learned during the semester. Further details will be given in class.

Extra Credit: There are several extra credit assignments listed in groups (by due date) on the syllabus. You may complete one from each group. This is your opportunity to make up any missed work. Further details will be discussed in class. Remember, extra credit means “extra effort, extra work, and extra care.” Late assignments will not be accepted for any reason. Additionally, if you have more than a week of unexcused absences, you will not be eligible for extra credit.

GRADES:
All grades will be posted on Blackboard.  
Quizzes (20 pts. Each)				280 points			A = 450-above
Exercises (20 points each)				120 points			B = 400-449
Major Speeches									C = 350-399
	(Storytelling = 40 pts) 								D = 300-349
	(Celebration of Culture = 50 pts)						F = 299-below	
	(How To = 100 pts)								
	(Persuasive = 150 pts)			340 points					
Abstracts						
	(20-40 pts each)				120 points
Minor Speeches					
	(5 pts each)					20 points
Participation (attendance/peer evals)			25 points
“Me In A Bag”						5 points
Final Impromptu					90 points

							Total points = 1,000

It is your responsibility to check Blackboard for instructor absences, announcements, schedule changes, grades, etc. Be sure to update your Blackboard account and check to see that your email address is correct. Many phones now allow you to link to blackboard and/or receive email. You may want to consider this option. 
Other Notes:
1.	If you are a member of a campus team or organization which will take you out of class this semester, please notify me the first week of class and provide me with a schedule of your events.
2.	If you have a physical challenge or condition that could impair your participation and/or performance in this course, please notify me immediately.
3.	Disagreements over grades should be resolved the day the grade is assigned. NO grade changes will be made after this time. There are no exceptions.
4.	The school’s policy on plagiarism will be strictly enforced. Plagiarism and/or cheating will not be tolerated and will result in an “F” on the assignment or in the course.
		Academic Dishonesty
Students at Reedley College are entitled to the best education that the college can make available to them, and they, their instructors, and their fellow students share the responsibility to ensure that this education is honestly attained. Because cheating, plagiarism, and collusion in dishonest activities erode the integrity of the college, each student is expected to exert an entirely honest effort in all academic endeavors. Academic dishonesty in any form is a very serious offense and will incur serious consequences.
Cheating
Cheating is the act or attempted act of taking an examination or performing an assigned, evaluated task in a fraudulent or deceptive manner, such as having improper access to answers, in an attempt to gain an unearned academic advantage. Cheating may include, but is not limited to, copying from another’s work, supplying one’s work to another, giving or receiving copies of examinations without an instructor’s permission, using or displaying notes or devices inappropriate to the conditions of the examination, allowing someone other than the officially enrolled student to represent the student, or failing to disclose research results completely.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating: the use of another’s words or ideas without identifying them as such or giving credit to the source. Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to, failing to provide complete citations and references for all work that draws on the ideas, words, or work of others, failing to identify the contributors to work done in collaboration, submitting duplicate work to be evaluated in different courses without the knowledge and consent of the instructors involved, or failing to observe computer security systems and software copyrights. Incidents of cheating and plagiarism may result in any of a variety of sanctions and penalties, which may range from a failing grade on the particular examination, paper, project, or assignment in question to a failing grade in the course, at the discretion of the instructor and depending on the severity and frequency of the incidents.

5.	Let’s make this a positive and fun experience. This means NO PUT-DOWNS or PERSONALITY ATTACKS. Honest disagreements are welcomed – challenge an idea, but never a person. Profane, obscene, or derogatory language is not acceptable.
6.	Keep an open mind, relax, and make some new friends!

Things to live by in Public Speaking
PREPARATION, THOUGHT, CREATIVITY, AND ENTHUSIASM!!!