Speech Com 212
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Spring 2008
Professor Jean Goodwin
goodwin@iastate.edu
Carver 308A, Mon 9-11, Thurs 1-3
and by appointment
Goal:
The goal of this course is straightforward. We are going to work together so that ten years from
now, you will be giving great speeches and presentations. In particular, this course promises that
by the end of the semester:
o You will recognize the responsibilities you undertake when you speak to inform, to
persuade, or to establish community.—Ethics.
o You will have a toolkit of techniques which will help you to figure out what you have to
say, how to organize it, how to word it, and finally how to present it.—Know-how.
o You will have a justified confidence in your ability to meet the challenges of public
speaking in a variety of settings.—Self-confidence.
Now, why should you want to learn these things? That's a good question—especially if you
think you're taking this class "only" because it's a requirement. Think about it. To advance in
your career, will you have to communicate with others, confidently and well? As a citizen, will
you speak out against injustice and for the causes you believe in? As a member of a club, a
fraternity or sorority, or religious organization, will you participate actively in decision-making?
At your best friend's wedding, will you stand up and honor her?
Key information at a glance:
Required texts:
Stephen E. Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 9th edition. McGraw-Hill,
2007, with Student CD-ROM Guidebook.
Amy R. Slagell, Speech Communication 212 Workbook, 10th edition.
McGraw-Hill/Primis, 2007.
Basic grading scheme (for more details and bonus opportunities, see the course WebCT site):
Major speeches (3)
500 points
Coursework assignments (19)
210 points
Tests (3)
150 points
WebCT Quizzes (7)
140 points TOTAL: 1000 points
Principles guiding us in this course:
Responsibility. Fundamentally, your learning is in your hands. Only you can do the
preparation, practice and performance necessary to become a skilled speaker. Therefore it’s up
to you to take advantage of the opportunities this class will offer.
Accommodation. Everyone learns differently. Therefore everything in this class can be
changed—if you ask, in advance, and demonstrate to me that it will help you learn.
Respect. In this class, students do much of the talking. Therefore it's vital for you to show
respect for each other, when speaking and also when listening to speeches.
Overview of the semester:
o Unit 1: Introductions: Introduction to the course and basic principles of speech
preparation, practice and performance; two short speech assignments as warm ups.
o Unit 2: Informative Speaking: Focus on organizing and presenting complex
information; major assignment: Informative Speech (6 minutes/150 points).
o Unit 3: Persuasive Speaking: Focus on appealing to reason, character, and emotion to
influence decisions in the communities you belong to; major assignment: Persuasive
Speech (8 minutes/200 points).
o Unit 4: Speaking on Special Occasions: Focus on using language to express community
values; major assignment: a Special Occasion Speech (4.5 minutes/150 points).
What to expect in each unit:
No matter how it appears on the Registrar's computer, you have to show up to one, but only one
class meeting each MWF for the next fifteen weeks: either this lecture session, or your lab
section. See the Schedule later in this syllabus for exact details of where you will be each day.
Here is the approach we will be taking to learning within each unit:
o You will gain a knowledge and understanding of concepts by studying the required
readings and videos, primarily from the Lucas Public Speaking textbook and CDs.
Quizzes on WebCT will give you an opportunity to test your basic understanding of these
materials prior to coming to class.
o In lecture, you will apply the concepts you have learned by analyzing real speeches,
observing how speakers go about their tasks. Tests at the end of each Unit will give you
an opportunity to assess your abilities to analyze.
o You will also begin applying the concepts to develop your own speech. You will select a
topic, research it, organize your ideas, put them in appropriate language, and practice
delivering the "draft" speech. Coursework assignments (primarily handed in on WebCT)
will allow your lab instructor to give you feedback on your ideas as they progress.
o In your lab section you will have the opportunity to experiment with the concepts,
participating in exercises which will prepare you to speak. Finally, you will have the
opportunity to deliver the speech you have created, and to listen to and evaluate the
speeches of other students.
How to succeed in this course:
Attend class. It's our job to help you learn, but you need to be present for us to do it. Attending
class will also give you the opportunity to practice being a good listener—the other half of
public speaking. Excellent attendance will help you succeed numerically as well.
o If you have no lab absences, you will earn a ten point bonus.
o With only one absence, you will earn a six point bonus.
o With only two absences, you will earn a three point bonus.
Because these are points for attendance, they cannot be "made up" even if the absence is
excused.
Poor attendance will hurt your potential for success. First, you will miss the ideas and
experiences you need to do well. You will also lose classwork points, or in grievous cases, fail
the class.
o For every lab absence beyond four you will lose five points per day, in addition to
whatever points you failed to earn from the activities that class session.
o Students who are absent seven or more lab sessions will fail the course.
Do assignments on time. The smaller exercises and WebCT assignments aim to help you
develop the skills you need to complete the major assignments successfully. Keep up with your
daily work and reading and you can do very well.
It wouldn't be unheard of, however, if at least once in the semester you fall behind in an
assignment. Although unexcused late written or WebCT assignments will not earn classwork
points, you should turn them in anyhow in order to get the feedback from your lab instructor
which will help you succeed on your major speeches.
The major speaking assignments are carefully scheduled to give everyone an equal amount of
speaking time during the semester. To be fair to all students, speeches must be delivered on the
day assigned. (You will sign up for dates for all speeches in the semester on 1 February.)
o Failure to show up on your speaking day can result in an "F" on the speech.
o Should extraordinary circumstances arise and you decide you cannot speak on the day
assigned, you must be in contact with your lab instructor before class to discuss
arrangements and their consequences. The penalty for allowed late delivery is typically a
full letter grade deduction for each class period the speech is late, regardless of the
reason.
o Note that if you encounter a scheduling conflict, you can arrange to give a speech early
without penalty.
o Students who fail to deliver any one of the three major speeches (Informative, Persuasive
and Special Occasion) will not pass the course.
Focus on improving your skills with integrity. Short cuts won't help you develop the skills you
need in the long run. Nor can you fulfill your responsibilities as a speaker when you take
another's words. Therefore, there is a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism in this class. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty or plagiarism will meet with their lecture and lab instructors,
and the case will be turned over to the Dean of Students office.
Some plagiarism happens by mistake, when students don't know how to cite their sources. We
will be studying and practicing how not to commit plagiarism at several points in this course.
The temptation to cheat often comes from being overwhelmed by demands on our time,
sometimes from a lack of self-confidence, and occasionally from a lack respect for the
assignment. If you find yourself facing any of these causes, talk to your lab or lecture instructor
before the assignment is due so we can point you to more constructive solutions. We are
seriously committed to the broad goal of helping you become a great public speaker.
Schedule in Detail
Note: T=Textbook: Lucas, 9th Edition
W=Workbook, 10th Edition
CD=Student CD-ROM Guidebook, version 5, disks #1 and #2
WebCT=Online reading
All quizzes & assignments are due on WebCT by 9:00 a.m. the day of the class
Wk
Unit 1: Beginnings
1
Mtg
Mon
1.14
Lec
Wed
1.16
Lab
Fri
1.18
Lec
Description
2
3
4
Bring to Class
Intro to public
speaking & the course
Background survey (due on WebCT, by
9:00 a.m.)
Intro to the lab
Speaker's
responsibilities, and
the intro speech
Mon
1.21
Wed
1.23
Lab
Fri
1.25
Lab
Mon
1.28
Lec
Wed
1.30
Lab
Fri
2.1
Lab
Mon
2.4
Lab
Prepare Before This Class
This Syllabus; T pp. 4-16, 34-41; W pp. 4-6,
9; CD#1 Video clip A1.5; CD#2, Speech 1
QUIZ 1 (due on WebCT, by 9:00 a.m.)
No Class: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Introductory Speeches
T pp. 73-83
Introductory
Speeches; the Paired
Perspectives Speech
Orienting your
audience; listener's
responsibilities
T chap. 4, pp. 263-269, 300-304; W 12-15,
29-31
QUIZ 2
T pp. 226-251, 219-222, 47-50; CD#1 Video
clips 5.2, 9.6. 8.1, 8.2; W p. 36
QUIZ 3
Experiments with
speech intros
Paired Perspectives
Speeches; sign up for
all speaking times
Paired Perspectives
Speeches
Workbook
Workbook
Each day:
Speakers hand
in outline and
W p. 96
Wk
Unit 2: Informative Speaking
4
5
6
7
8
Mtg
Description
Prepare Before This Class
Wed
2.6
Lec
Responsibilities of the
informative speaker;
selecting a great topic;
how not to plagiarize
T chap. 14, chap. 5, pp. 41-47; W pp. 7-8, 1622, 37; CD#1 Video clips 6.1, 7.6; CD#2
Speech 14; "About Test 1" (on WebCT).
QUIZ 4
Fri
2.8
Lec
Organizing and
outlining; Test 1 prep
T chap. 8, chap. 3, pp. 254-263; W pp. 21-34;
"How to give feedback" (on WebCT).
Mon
2.11
Lec
Involving your
audience; using visual
aids; Test 1 prep
T chap. 13, pp. 383-391; W p. 35; CD#1
Video Clips 7.5, 14.1, 14.3, 14.5, 13.2, 13.3,
13.5, 13.8; Informative Speech Topic due
(on WebCT, by 9:00 a.m.)
Wed
2.13
Lab
Fri
2.15
Lec
Mon
2.18
Lab
Wed
2.20
Lab
Fri
2.22
Lab
Mon
2.25
Lab
Wed
2.27
Lab
Fri
2.29
Lab
Mon
3.3
Lec
Wed
3.5
Lec
Fri
3.7
Lab
Experiments with
delivery
Bring to Class
T chap. 12
TEST 1
Workbook and
2 copies of
prep outline
Workshopping the
Informative Speech
Informative Speeches
SPEAKERS
bring 2 copies
of your
preparation
outline and W
p. 97
Informative Speeches
Informative Speeches
PEER
REVIEWERS
bring W p. 99
Informative Speeches
Informative Speeches
Responsibilities of the
persuasive speaker;
about test 2
Building a case;
What web sources can
you trust?
Experiments with
building persuasive
cases
T chap. 15; W pp. 46-48, 76; CD#1 Video
Clip 5.3; CD#2, Speech 15; "About Test 2"
(on WebCT)
T pp. 414-416, chap. 6, pp. 41-47; W 46-58;
CD#1, Video Clip 15.3, 15.2
QUIZ 5
Workbook
Wk
Mtg
9
Mon
3.10
Lec
Wed
3.12
Lab
Fri
3.14
Lec
Description
Prepare Before This Class
Bring to Class
The force of character, T chap. 16, chap. 7; CD#1 Video Clips 16.1,
reason, and emotion; 16.3, 16.4, 7.1, 7.4
supporting your case QUIZ 6 & Persuasive Topic/Analysis due
Experiments with
persuasive appeals
Workbook
Ethics and persuasion
in the presidential
campaign; Test 2 prep
Unit 3: Persuasive Speaking
Spring Break!
1
0
1
1
1
2
1
3
Mon
3.24
Lec
Wed
3.26
Lec
Fri
3.28
Lab
Mon
3.31
Lab
Wed
4.2
Lab
Fri
4.4
Lab
Mon
4.7
Lab
Wed
4.9
Lab
Putting it all together
T pp. 416-423; W 61-69, 76
Researching the Persuasive Speech due
TEST 2
Workbook and
2 copies of
prep outline
SPEAKERS:
2 copies of
prep outline &
W p. 103
REVIEWERS:
W p. 105
Workbook and
2 copies of
prep outline
Workshopping the
Persuasive Speech #1
Persuasive Speeches
Persuasive Speeches
Workshopping the
Persuasive Speech #2
Persuasive Speeches
SPEAKERS:
2 copies of
prep outline &
W p. 103
Persuasive Speeches
Fri
4.11
NO CLASS:
Enjoy VEISHEA!
Mon
4.14
Lab
Persuasive Speeches
T chap. 17, pp. 301-305; W pp. 78-82, 84, 8990, 94, 119; CD#2, Speech #8; "About Test
3" (on WebCT).
QUIZ 7
PEER
REVIEWERS:
W p. 105
Unit 4: Speaking on Special Occasions
Wk
1
3
1
4
Mtg
Description
Wed
4.16
Lec
Fri
4.18
Lab
Mon
4.21
Lab
Wed
4.23
Lec
Fri
4.25
Lab
Crafting language,
celebrating our
cultures
1
5
Mon
4.28
Lab
Wed
4.30
Lab
Fri
5.2
Lab
E
X
A
M
TBA
Prepare Before This Class
T chap. 11, pp. 17-27
Special Occasion Speech Topic due
Experiments with
language
Impromptu Speeches
Bring to Class
Workbook
W p. 118
TEST 3
Final evaluations of
lecture
Workshopping the
Special Occasion
Speech
Special Occasion
Speeches
Last day to submit all bonus assignments.
Workbook & 2
copies, speech
manuscript
Special Occasion
Speeches
SPEAKERS:
2 copies of
manuscript and
W. p. 109 or
111
Special Occasion
Speeches; final
evaluations of lab
PEER
REVIEWERS:
W p. 113
Optional cumulative final exam (substitutes for the total quiz grade)
at exam time scheduled by the Registrar for the Lecture session