K. Walker
Spring 2014
Angelina College
Fine Arts Division
SPCH 1315 – Public Speaking
Tentative Instructional Syllabus
I.
BASIC COURSE INFORMATION:
A. Course Description: SPCH 1315 – Public Speaking. Three hours credit. Application of communication
theory and practice to the public speaking context, with emphasis on audience analysis, speaker delivery,
ethics of communication, cultural diversity, and speech organizational techniques to develop students’ speaking
abilities. Three lecture hours each week.
B. Intended Audience: The intended audience of this course is any college student who desires to improve
his/her public speaking skills.
C. Instructor:
Name: Mrs. Kathleen Walker
Office Location: Classroom
Office Hours: Before or after class or email
Phone: 936-422-3025 leave message
E-mail Address: kwalker@angelina.edu Subject line: Your last name and Spch 1315
II. INTENDED STUDENT OUTCOMES:
A. Core Objectives Required for this Course (interim)
1. Critical Thinking: to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and
synthesis of information
2. Communication: to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through
written, oral and visual communication
3. Social Responsibility: to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical
decision making.
B. Course Learning Outcomes for all Sections - Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Recognize and understand the foundational models of communication.
2. Apply elements of audience analysis.
3. Demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills.
4. Research, develop, and deliver extemporaneous speeches with effective verbal and nonverbal
techniques.
5. Demonstrate effective usage of technology when researching and presenting speeches.
6. Understand how culture, ethnicity, and gender influence communication.
7. Develop proficiency in presenting a variety of speeches as an individual or group (e.g. narrative,
informative, or persuasive).
III. ASSESSMENT MEASURES
A. Assessments for the Core Objectives: (interim)
1. Critical Thinking: Students are assessed through questions embedded in exams, which reflects
evaluation of persuasive speeches. The questions embedded in exams will measure selection and
understanding of information, application of material, analyzing points of view and arguments, and
formulating solutions.
2. Communication: Students are assessed by means of a rubric which reflects evaluation of written,
oral, and visual communication skills in a speech that utilizes a visual aid. Students will be assessed by
means of the standardized AC rubric for Communication.
3. Social Responsibility: Students are assessed through questions embedded in exams. These
questions will reflect evaluation of intercultural competencies, civic responsibility, and community
engagement.
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K. Walker
Spring 2014
B. Assessments for Course Learning Outcomes (interim)
1. Students will demonstrate recognition and understanding of the foundational models of communication
through questions embedded in exams.
2. Application of the elements of audience analysis will be reflected through questions embedded in
exams.
3. Students will demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills through the presentation of persuasive
speeches.
4. Students will present four extemporaneous speeches evaluated by a grading rubric gauging verbal and
nonverbal techniques. Works cited pages will be submitted as well as an outline to evaluate research
and development.
5. Students will demonstrate the effective use of technology by using presentation software in at least one
presentation.
6. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how culture, ethnicity, and gender influence
communication through questions embedded in exams.
7. Students will demonstrate comprehension of presentation skills for a variety of speeches throughout the
semester.
IV. INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:
A. Methodologies common to all sections – Methodologies which are utilized in presenting course content
include, but are not limited to, lectures, class discussions, student presentations, audiovisual presentations,
role-play activities, and small group scenarios.
B. Methodologies determined by the instructor – Students will critique a live speech outside the
classroom using the rubric given in class. This observational report is equivalent to a test /major speech
grade. It will be typed in 10 or 12 font, double-spaced with correct headings and clear organization and
proofread for correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Written assignments: Students are expected to use MLA style on outlines, reports, and bibliographies.
Use 10 or 12 font and guidelines from examples you are given.
V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES:
A. Required Textbooks and Recommended Readings, Materials and Equipment
Text - The Art of Public Speaking (11e edition), Stephen E. Lucas: Chapters 1-17
Materials & Equipment - Marshal McCluan. THE MEDIUM IS THE MASSAGE
One USB mass storage device for speeches. Paper and pen for note-taking, activities, and tests.
Camera source to record speeches; camera or phone.
Resources – Smarthinking is an online tutorial service available in most subjects (accessible through
Blackboard).
B. Course Policies – This course conforms to the policies of Angelina College as stated in the
Angelina College Handbook.
1. Academic Assistance – If you have a disability (as cited in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) that may affect your participation in this
class, you should see Karen Bowser, Room 208 of the Student Center. At a post-secondary institution,
you must self-identify as a person with a disability; Ms. Bowser will assist you with the necessary
information to do so. To report any complaints of discrimination related to disability, you should contact
Dr. Patricia McKenzie, Administration Building, Room 105 or 936-633-5201.
2. Attendance – Attendance is required as per Angelina College Policy and will be recorded every day.
Any student with three (3) consecutive absences or four (4) cumulative absences may be dropped from
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K. Walker
Spring 2014
the class. Records will be turned in to the academic dean at the end of the semester. Do not assume
that non-attendance in class will always result in an instructor drop. You must officially drop a class
or risk receiving an F. This is official Angelina College Policy.
Additional Policies Established by the Instructor:
Tardies/Absences: If you arrive late for class make sure to follow-up with me at the end of the class
period. Frequent tardies may affect your final grade. Call me or the facilitator if you think you will be late to
class. Frequent tardies are a sign of disrespect to the rest of the class. Students who know about a
required absence should notify me by e-mail or during the previous class. Since this is a performance
class, attendance is considered a crucial element of the class. Participation is expected each class
meeting.
Cell phones: Correct etiquette is to be followed in class. Turn off all cell phones, beepers, pagers etc.
Do not text messages during class. During tests, cell phones will be turned off and placed on the desk in
front of you. . Respect your peers. Please silence all electronic devices. If you bring a laptop computer to
class, do not use it for anything other than classwork. The instructor can tell the difference.
Late Work: Late work will receive a letter grade reduction unless there is prior approval given by the
instructor.
Academic Honesty/Integrity – Academic honesty is a responsibility of all academic faculty and students.
Faculty members promote academic honesty by adhering to standards of honesty as outlined in the
Student Handbook pages 12-14. Students shall be expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in
the academic experience both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any
phase of academic work is subject to disciplinary action. Procedures for discipline due to academic
dishonesty shall be the same as in other disciplinary actions except that all academic dishonesty actions
will first be considered and reviewed by the instructor. If, after reviewing the case, the instructor
determines that the student is guilty of the charge, the instructor may then assess a penalty. My standing
policy: any cheating or plagiarizing on an assessment will result in a failing grade for the assessment, and
may, at my discretion, result in a failing grade for the course.
Food: No food and only capped drink containers are allowed in the classroom unless it is involved in an
assignment.
VI. COURSE OUTLINE: Description of the Course Activities including due dates, schedules, and
deadlines. The outline will be given out separately from the syllabus.
VII. EVALUATION AND GRADING:
A. Grading Criteria
Assignments will be evaluated according to the following scale:
A=90-100---Work that obviously exhibits the highest degree of excellence and overall mastery of concepts
B=80-89---Work that is above average in presentation and indication of understanding but which lacks
somewhat in attaining the highest degree of excellence
C=70-79---Work that is average in presentation and indication of understanding
D=60-69---Work that is below average in presentation and indication of mastery but which indicates enough
understanding to be considered acceptable
F=59 and below---Work that does not meet acceptable standards due to either incompleteness or failure to
properly address the specific criteria for the assignment
B. Determination of Grade
Grading Criteria - Grades are based on a total number of possible points for assignments divided into the
number of points the student has earned on completed assignments. Example: 785 earned/900 possible =
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K. Walker
87%
Spring 2014
C. Assignments
See course outline for details with due dates
Addendum: Class Cancellations – Notification of class closures due to inclement weather will be sent to
KTRE Channel 9 television and to the local radio stations by 6:00am on the day in question or by 3:00pm for
evening classes. You can also sign up to receive emergency alert notices on your phone or through e-mail by
going to getrave.com. You will be expected to attend if classes have not been cancelled, or you will be counted as
absent
The instructor may modify the provisions of the syllabus to meet individual class needs by informing the class in
advance as to the changes being made.
Revised: 1/13/14