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Spring 2015
Fundamentals of Public Speaking COM115
Class time: Blue 2
9:31-10:58
School 816-850-4444 X7150
Home 217-891-6795
lroberts@holden.k12.mo.us
Laurelyn Roberts
150
Office Hours:
Block 3B: 11:02-12:56
Block 1W: 8:00-9:27
and by appointment
Text
Beebe, S.A. & Beebe, S.J. (2015). Public Speaking: An Audience-Centered Approach, 9th Edition. Boston: Pearson
(Allyn & Bacon). With MyCommunicationLab access.
Course Description:
Instruction and practice in researching, composing, and delivering formal and informal speeches in a variety of
public contexts. Representative topics include: ethics in public speaking; listening; library research; outlining;
delivery; writing in an oral style; evaluation of public address; and analyzing and adapting to audiences. The course
emphasizes informative and persuasive speaking.
Student Learning Outcomes:
With appropriate effort and practice, at the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Understand and appreciate the role of public communication in public affairs and personal development.
2. Analyze an audience and choose topics appropriate to the audience, occasion, and purpose.
3. Exercise ethical decision-making in speech research and preparation.
4. Access information using a variety of search strategies and relevant sources.
5. Distinguish between common knowledge and ideas requiring attribution. Correctly choose between paraphrasing,
summarizing, or quoting when incorporating citations.
6. Employ supporting materials (e.g., explanations, examples, illustrations, statistics, analogies, and quotations from
relevant authorities) in a manner that establishes the speaker’s credibility/authority on the topic.
7. Organize, synthesize, and communicate information from sources so the intended purpose is achieved.
8. Demonstrate clearly and consistently an organizational pattern (specific introduction and conclusion, sequenced
material within the body, and transitions) within the presentation.
9. Create and evaluate arguments in speeches and other forms of public discourse.
10. Employ interesting and effective delivery techniques (e.g., posture, gesture, eye contact, and vocal
expressiveness).
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
There are four main categories of assignments in this class: speeches, exams, written work, and
participation/activities/quizzes.
Speeches
Students will give a minimum of four major graded speeches during the course of the semester. Your instructor
may add other speeches as time permits, for the purpose of developing your skills in low-risk situations. All major
speeches will be delivered extemporaneously. See your text for more information on extemporaneous
speaking.
Exams
A midterm and comprehensive final will be given in the class. Prepare to do more than memorize facts – you will
also be asked to apply what you’ve learned, make judgments, critically evaluate ideas, and draw conclusions. You are
required to take each exam at the scheduled time.
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Outside Speech Analysis
The written Outside Speech Analysis will be over a live speech the students have observed outside of the public
speaking class. It should be approximately 2-3 pages in length and will reflect a specific emphasis as determined
by the instructor. This experience provides students with an opportunity to improve listening, analysis, and
synthesis skills as they observe, report, and evaluate speech elements.
Class participation, activities, homework, and quizzes:
Instructors may choose to assign class work, homework, or quizzes in addition to those assignments listed above.
Your instructor may assign up to 300 points for additional assignments and activities.
GRADES
Final grades are based on a point and percentage system, where your final grade will be determined by dividing the
number of points earned by the total number of points possible. Plus/minus grades will be assigned using the
following scale:
A
93100%
A9290%
B+
8987%
B
8683%
B8280%
C+
7977%
C
7674%
C7270%
D+
6967%
Assignments
Speech 1: Introduction
Speech 2: Demonstration
Speech 3: Informative
Speech 4: Persuasive
25 points
75 points
100 points
150 points
Outline 1: Demonstration
Outline 2: Informative
Outline 3: Persuasive
20 points
25 points
25 points
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
100 points
100 points
Outside Speech Analysis
20 points
Class participation, activities,
homework, and quizzes
Maximum points possible
300 (max)
940 points (550 is assessment)
Classwork/Homework/Quizzes
Mid-term
Speeches
Final Exam
D
6760%
F
Below
60%
Assignment will be scaled as follows:
25%
10%
50%
15%
Although I will meet with each of you to conference on your speeches throughout the term during tutorials, I hope
you will meet with me during office hours if you have concerns about your work.
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Course Policies
Attendance.
Because class attendance and course grade are demonstrably and positively related, the University expects
students to attend all class sessions of courses in which they are enrolled. In keeping with university’s official
attendance policy, your instructor will make available (in hardcopy and/or online) a written statement of the
specific attendance policy for his or her specific class. This will be done on the first day of class. The University
expects instructors to be reasonable in accommodating students whose absence resulted from participation in 1)
university-sanctioned activities and programs; 2) severe personal illness; or 3) family and/or other compelling
circumstances. Please be prepared to provide documentation verifying the basis of any absences resulting from
the above factors. Students are expected to read all assigned text materials, attend all class meetings, to
participate in class discussions and activities. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period.
Students who are absent are still responsible for material discussed in class and should contact the instructor
regarding adjustments to the schedule or changes in reading assignments.
Missed Speeches and Exams
Students are expected to give speeches and take exams on the day scheduled. Being unable to speak or take an
exam on the assigned day should be a very rare occurrence that results from truly extraordinary circumstances
beyond your control.
In the event of such an emergency, it is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor before class time on
the date of the scheduled speech or exam. There is NO guarantee that a student will be able to give a speech or
take an exam on a date other than that originally scheduled. Please be prepared to document your emergency
circumstances, should your instructor ask for documentation. Your instructor, in consultation with the Basic
Course Director, will determine if your circumstances and documentation warrant a makeup speech. If your
instructor arranges for a make-up speech or exam, he or she may choose to impose a grade penalty, and may ask
you to give your speech or take your exam outside of class, at a time convenient for the instructor, in front of an
alternate audience (for speeches).
No speeches can be made up after the class has completed the cycle of a speech. For example, you may not give
the Demonstration Speech after the last day scheduled for Demonstration Speeches. You are still required to
submit an outline for every speech, even those you miss.
Academic Integrity
All students who enroll in COM 115 are responsible for reading and understanding the university’s policy on
academic integrity. It can be found here: http://www.missouristate.edu/academicintegrity/policies.htm. If you
have questions, your instructor will be happy to clarify.
Any student detected participating in any form of academic dishonesty in this course will be subject to sanctions
as described in the Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures. It is not an acceptable defense to claim,
“I didn’t know I was plagiarizing,” or, “I didn’t know plagiarizing was prohibited.” All members of the University
community share the responsibility and authority to challenge and make known acts of apparent academic
dishonesty.
Given the nature of a public speaking course, it’s particularly important for students to understand what
constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional representation of another person’s ideas or
words as your own. It is plagiarism to:


Turn in any portion of someone else’s paper, speech, or outline as your own
Use any portion of a speech from a “file” of previously used speeches and present it in class as your original
work
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



Take passages from someone’s work (published or unpublished) and include it in a speech, paper, or outline
without citing the original author
Copy (word-for-word, or with some words changed or rearranged) another person’s work without using
quotation marks and appropriate citation
Knowingly allow another student to use your work as their own
Work with another public speaking student to essentially create one speech, with each student giving a
version of that speech in his/her own class
This is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully gives you some concrete examples of what plagiarism means.
All material submitted for evaluation must be the original work of the student and be produced in the current
semester. It is a form of academic misconduct to submit any speech, outline or paper written for another course
or competition for a grade in COM 115 without your instructor’s knowledge and permission. This includes all work
produced as a high school student or used in high school competition.
If you are in doubt about whether an activity violates the academic integrity policy, it is your responsibility to ask
your instructor ahead of time.
Written Work
Your written work will be graded on both content and form. It should be typed and conform to the latest edition
(6th) of the American Psychological Association Style Manual. A good online reference for APA Style is here:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Dress
Appropriate dress is required for speeches. At a minimum, this means business casual dress. Your instructor will
share more information about dress as the first major speech approaches. Points will be deducted for not
following these guidelines. If this requirement inhibits your demonstrative speech, consider changing your topic.
Mobile Phones
As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of
the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class (or leave class to respond), it
disrupts the class. This is especially problematic in a public speaking course, when other students may be
presenting their speeches when the mobile device goes off. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the
use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such
devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during
class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s emergency
notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When
this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the
case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may
be granted at the discretion of the instructor. You are required to turn off and put away all cell phones while class
is in session. Use of laptops or recorders as an aid to taking notes must be approved in advance by the teacher.
Kindles may be used in lieu of textbook.
Students with Disabilities
To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of the Disability Resource Center,
Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792
(TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability to the
Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource Center refers some types of
accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and
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psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic,
(417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.
Statement of Non-Discrimination
Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance
procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your
right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Institutional Equity and
Compliance, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of
concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be
brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website
at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.
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COM 115 Tentative Calendar
Spring 2015
All changes will be announced in class.
All readings should be completed before class.
As we have Holden High School snow days imbedded in the schedule, it will be up to the instructor to make
the appropriate changes to stay on track. Information will be posted on the instructor’s website, explained
in class or sent via email.
January
DATE
TOPIC
READING ASSIGNMENT DUE NEXT
CLASS (For example, Ch. 1 and 2 will be
assigned in class on Jan. 7 for homework;
therefore, you should be prepared to
discuss Ch.1 and 2 on January 9.)
7
9
13
15
20
22
27
29
2
4
6
11
13
16
18
20
24
26
2
4
6
10
12
16
18
24
26
Introduction/Syllabus
Speaking with Confidence and Presenting Your
First Speech; Assign Introduction Speech
Delivering Your Speech
Prepare for Presentation; Draw Names
Introductory Speech
Introductory Speech; Submit Evaluations
Analyzing Your Audience; Assign Demonstration
Speech
Developing Your Speech
February
Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
The Process Speech
Using Presentation Aids
Listening
Collect Outline 1; Speaking Freely and Ethically;
Prepare for Presentation; Draw Names
Make Up Day
Demonstration Speech (Business casual dress for
speakers)
Demonstration Speech
Demonstration Speech; Submit Evaluations
Speaking to Inform; Assign Informative Speech
March
Prepare for Presentation
Gathering & Using Support Material
Midterm Exam
Prepare for Presentation
Introducing and Concluding Your Speech
Make Up Day
Make Up Day
Prepare for Presentation
Collect Outline 2; Review Ch. 12; Prepare for
Presentation; Draw Names
Ch. 1 and 2
Ch. 11
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 8
[Ch. 15 from supplemental text]
Ch. 12
Ch. 4
Outline 1 Due; Ch. 3
Ch. 13
Ch. 7
Ch. 9
Outline 2 Due
7
30
1
7
9
13
15
17
21
23
27
29
1
5
7
11
13
Informative Speech (Business casual dress for
speakers)
April
Informative Speech
Informative Speech; Submit Evaluations
Understanding Principles of Persuasive Speaking;
Assign Persuasive Speech
Using Persuasive Strategies
Prepare for Presentation
Using Words Well: Speaker Language and Style
Prepare for Presentation
Collect Outline 3; Prepare for Presentation; Draw
Names
Persuasive Speech (Business casual dress for
speakers)
Persuasive Speech (Business casual dress for
speakers) Assign Final Exam
May
Persuasive Speech (Business casual dress for
speakers)
Persuasive Speech (Business casual dress for
speakers) Submit Evaluations
Prepare for Presentation
Final Exam
Final Exam
Ch. 14
Ch. 15
Ch. 10
Outline 3 Due
Outside Speech Analysis Paper due