SYLLABUS
Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3 credit hours)
SPH 106-03, SPH 106-04, SPH 106-09, SPH 106-10, SPH 106-11
Spring, 2015
Course Information
Prerequisite(s)
Course
Description
Student
Learning
Outcomes
Successful completion of ENG 092 or asset placement in ENG 093.
Students are required to complete prerequisites for this course. Students who enroll without
completing prerequisites for this course may be withdrawn by the College and may not qualify
for a refund of tuition. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all course
prerequisites are completed and documented at the College.
This is a performance course that includes the principles of human communication: intrapersonal,
interpersonal, and public. It surveys current communication theory and provides practical application
The five general education areas for the college are mathematical skills, computer skills,
writing skills, oral communication skills, and critical thinking skills.
Students will:
· Demonstrate understanding of the elements of interpersonal communication.
· Demonstrate understanding of the elements of group communication
· Develop writing, research, and organizational skills by adapting to a diverse audience and learning to
produce a formal sentence outline for an extemporaneous speech.
Demonstrate the ability to effectively use eye contact, facial expressions, voice, posture and movement,
clarity of message, and use of presentational aids by presenting a speech extemporaneously.
Class
information
Required
textbook and
Course
Materials
Last Date of
Withdrawal
Make-up
policy
Daily
Activities
Final
Examination
SPH 106-03
SPH 106-04
SPH 106-09
SPH 106-10
SPH 106-11
MW
MW
TR
TR
TR
8:30am-9:45am
11:30am-12:45pm
10:00am-11:15am
11:30am-12:45pm
1:00pm-2:15pm
Martin 2930
Martin 2831
Fredd 101
Fredd 101
Fredd 101
Adler, Ronald B., and George R. Rodman and Athena du Pre. Understanding Human Communication. 12th ed.
New York: Oxford UP, 2012.
Scan-trons
Full Term: April 7, 2016
A student is allowed to make up missed work, tests, or to submit an assignment ONE WEEK past
the due date if the absence is excused. After this time, no work will be accepted. The absence will be
considered excused ONLY if the instructor determines extenuating circumstances are present and
DOCUMENTED. A student MUST be able to verify such extenuating circumstances as sickness,
death in the immediate family, military, or certain legal obligations. Weather is not an extenuating
circumstance if the school is still open. Work-related circumstances will not excuse an absence.
Students should make every effort to be present at examinations and speeches. Since students have
sufficient time to complete certain assignments given a “no later than” due date, no late assignments
will be accepted, regardless of excuse. Therefore, even if a student has a legitimate, documented
excuse, he/she will not be allowed to make up the assignment. A student who is more than 15 minutes
late to class will not be given a test without documentation of an extenuating circumstance. It is the
student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor to make up missed work within one
week after returning to class. If a student misses a speech due to extenuating circumstances, he/she
must be prepared to present the speech the day he/she returns to class. Any missed material will not
be re-taught by the instructor. If the student does not have a legitimate, documented excuse, he/she
will not be allowed to make up missed work and will receive a failing grade (0) for the assignment.
If the student misses a speech and does not have a legitimate, documented excuse, he/she may give
the speech upon returning to class with a 15% grade deduction per class day missed.
The class will have several group activities and opportunities for class participation including selfcritiques, journal readings and discussions, and pop quizzes.
SPH 106-03 Wednesday, May 4 (8:00am-10:00pm)
SPH 106-04 Wednesday, May 4 (10:30am-12:30pm)
SPH 106-09 Tuesday, May 3 (10:30am-12:30pm)
SPH 106-10 Thursday, April 28 (10:30am-12:30pm)
Tutors and
Office of
Specialized
Student
Services
Emergency
Preparedness
and Sexual
Misconduct
SPH 106-11 Tuesday, May 3 (1:00pm-3:00pm)
See also SSCC final exam schedule at:
http://www.sheltonstate.edu/faculty_staff.aspx
“Shelton State Community College is dedicated to the success of its students. To further that
goal, free tutoring is available to all currently enrolled students. If you need additional
assistance to succeed, contact Annette Cook at acook@sheltonstate.edu. If you have a disability
and need accommodations to help you be successful, contact Michele Minor at
m.minor@sheltonstate.edu or visit her in the Office of Specialized Student Services.”
Shelton State Community College continues to be committed to a safe teaching and learning
environment for students and employees. In an effort to further strengthen efforts at keeping
the College Community free from weapon related violence and to eradicate sexual misconduct
crimes and infractions, SSCC has recently enacted the following policies that address these
areas specifically. Sexual misconduct is an often underreported crime and victims should be
aware that SSCC has a confidential process in place for reporting such actions and for helping
victims identify resources for assistance. Links to these policies and other important emergency
preparedness related topics may be found on the college website:
http://www.sheltonstate.edu/discover_sscc/emergency_preparedness.aspx.
Instructor Information
Instructor
Instructor’s
E-mail and
phone number
Student hours
and location
for Student
Hours
Website
Division
Chair
Angela Gibson
agibson@sheltonstate.edu
205-391-2937
Monday/Wednesday:
9:30am-10:00am and 11:15am-11:30am (classroom 2930)
12:45pm-1:15pm (classroom 2831 / office 2714)
Tuesday/Thursday
9:30am-10:00am and 11:15am-11:30am (classroom 101)
12:45pm-1:15pm (classroom 101)
http://www.sheltonstate.edu/faculty_staff/faculty_website_directory/gibson_angela.aspx
Jim Wilson
205-391-2998 / jwilson@sheltonstate.edu
College Policy Information
Academic
Misconduct
Policy
Attendance
Policy
Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically-related matter and any
knowing or intentional help or attempt to help or conspiracy to help another student commit an act of
academic dishonesty. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, each of the following acts
when performed in any type of academic or academically-related matter, exercise, or activity.
1. Cheating: The use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, study aids,
answers of others, or electronical information.
2. Plagiarism: Claiming as one’s own the ideas, words, data, computer programs, creative
compositions, artwork, etc., done by someone else. This includes improper citation of
referenced works, use of commercially available scholarly papers, failure to cite sources,
and copying another’s ideas.
3. Misrepresentation: The falsifying, altering, or misstating the contents of documents or other
materials related to academic matters, including schedules, prerequisites, transcripts, and
medical or military excuses.
Whether or not academic misconduct has occurred and what classroom sanctions, if any, are to be
applied are matters to be determined by the respective instructor. A student who opposes the sanction
imposed by an instructor may appeal the matter to the appropriate Associate Dean.
SSCC Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are
registered, to be prompt and to remain in class/lab for the entire time. Attendance will be
recorded at every class/lab meeting. On the final grade report, instructors are required to
identify the last day of attendance for all students who receive a grade of “F” or “U.” Students
who are unable to attend class regularly, regardless of the reason or circumstance, should
withdraw from the class. Withdrawal from class can affect eligibility for federal financial aid.
If a student is unable to attend at least 80 percent of class meetings, regardless of the reason or
circumstance, it is recommended that the student withdraw from that class; excessive absences
interfere with the student’s ability to successfully complete the course.
Students are expected to attend class and are expected to remain in class for the duration of the
published class time. DO NOT ENTER THE CLASSROOM WHILE SPEECHES ARE IN
PROGRESS. Because this class relies heavily upon audience participation, the teacher has the right
Standard
College
Policies
Student Email
(Bucs Mail)
Quality
Enhancement
Plan
to deduct points from the student’s grade if he/she enters late and disturbs another student’s
performance.
The college catalog and website detail standard college polices for all teaching and learning
activities. It is also available from the College website, www.sheltonstate.edu. It is the
responsibility of the student to have a copy of these policies and to abide by them. This class
syllabus is intended to give further detail about the policies and expectations in this class.
College policies are also published in the Schedule of Classes and the SSCC College
Catalog/Student Handbook. Students are expected to be aware of and abide by College policies
in every class.
All students who are or have been registered for classes at Shelton State Community College
are provided an e-mail account. Students who are currently registered must have an e-mail
account. Electronic mail is the official method of communication for delivery of information.
Shelton State designated communicators may use this e-mail account to send official
communications to the student body. Student -email addresses will be recorded in the college’s
electronic directories and records. To activate/sign in to your Bucs Mail account, visit the Bucs
Mail icon at www.sheltonstate.edu.
Shelton State’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
Improving Student Success in Online Classes
Grading:
Course Requirements:
Students will complete the following:
1. Major tests: You will be tested on your knowledge of the information in the textbook, as well as
information discussed in class. You will be given three exams, which consists of multiple choice,
matching, short answer, and essay questions. Each exam will be comprehensive. You may be
required to have a scan-tron to take the exam.
2. Speeches: You will required to present several speeches. Additional requirements for each
speech will be discussed at a later time. (ALL speeches should be extemporaneous. Reading a
speech from a manuscript will result in a failing grade.) Points will be deducted for not
meeting time requirements.
3. Group Assignment: You will participate in a task group assignment, experience group behaviors,
and learn problem-solving strategies. You will record group experiences and submit a group
assessment paper. Additional instructions and requirements will be discussed at a later time.
4. Participation: You will be required to participate in positive class participation, which will consist
of completing in-class and homework assignments and other daily activities. Self-critiques and
introduction speeches are considered part of participation. Audience participation during speeches
is also considered part of participation.
Activities and Material covered by that Activity
Percentage of Grade
Or Number of Points
Exam One
Exam Two
Group Activity/ Speaker Critique Assignment
Informative Speech
Persuasive Speech
Participation
Final Examination – Comprehensive
50 points (12.5%)
50 points (12.5%)
50 points (12.5%)
75 points (18.75%)
100 points (25%)
25 points (6.25%)
50 points (12.5%)
400 points (100%)
Student’s
Score
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following:
Percentage Grade
Letter grade
90-100 (360-400 points)
A
80-89 (320-359 points)
B
70-79 (280-319 points)
C
60-69 (240-279 points)
D
59 and below (0-239 points)
F
Notes Regarding Evaluation:
1. Students are responsible for computing grades independently of the instructor.
2. Writing skills are of utmost importance. Grades on essays and examinations will reflect quality of writing.
Plagiarism:
Students who deliberately use the work of others without proper referencing or who fail to give credit others will be
severely penalized at my discretion. Note: Plagiarism may result in failure of the course and dismissal from
the college. A general guideline is to do your own work and cite ALL SOURCES! (See academic misconduct)
The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its admissions,
programs, and services in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972,
and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. - See more at:
http://www.sheltonstate.edu/discover_sscc/eeoc_statement.aspx#sthash.ZEfKOVpJ.dpuf
Due Dates:
Late work is not accepted without a documented excuse. However, when an assignment is due “no later than” (a
date determined in advance), no late assignments will be accepted. Students may submit assignments any
time prior to the determined date. No emailed assignments will be accepted. Please make an effort to submit
assignments in advance to avoid you receiving no credit for an assignment (see make-up policy).
NO CELL PHONES IN CLASS! Standard College Policies: “To ensure an uninterrupted
atmosphere of learning, cellular telephones, pagers, etc. must be turned off during class, labs, in the library,
in the Learning Center, or the Career Center.”
SPH 106-03 and SPH 106-04
Last day to withdraw from classes is Thursday April 7, 2016
Date
Wednesday, January 6, 16
Monday, January 11, 16
Wednesday, January 13, 16
Monday, January 18, 16
Wednesday, January 20, 16
Monday, January 25, 16
Wednesday, January 27, 16
Monday, February 1, 16
Wednesday, February 3, 16
Monday, February 8, 16
Wednesday, February 10, 16
Monday, February 15, 16
Wednesday, February 17, 16
Monday, February 22, 16
Wednesday, February 24, 16
Monday, February 29, 16
Wednesday, March 2, 16
Monday, March 7, 16
Wednesday, March 9, 16
Monday, March 14, 16
Wednesday, March 16, 16
Monday, March 21, 16
Wednesday, March 23, 16
Monday, March 28, 16
Wednesday, March 30, 16
Monday, April 4, 16
Wednesday, April 6, 16
Monday, April 11, 16
Wednesday, April 13, 16
Monday, April 18, 16
Wednesday, April 20, 16
Monday, April 25, 16
Wednesday, April 27, 16
Monday, May 2, 16
Topics
Introduction to course
Chapter 1 Human Communication: What and Why?
Chapter 1 Human Communication: What and Why?
Martin Luther King Day (No Classes)
Group Assignment
Chapter 2 The Self, Perception, and Communication
Chapter 2 The Self, Perception, and Communication
Chapter 2 The Self, Perception, and Communication
Chapter 4 Language
Chapter 4 Language
Test One (Chapters 1, 2, and 4) Group assessment paper due no later than the conclusion of class
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication
Chapter 13 Informative Speaking / Introduction to Informative Speech
Chapter 7 Understanding Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 7 Understanding Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 8 Improving Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 8 Improving Interpersonal Relationships
Spring Break (No Classes)
Spring Break (No Classes)
Chapter 13 Informative Speaking / Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches
Test Two (Chapters 6, 7, and 8)
Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches / Chapter 12 Organization and Support
Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches / Chapter 12 Organization and Support
Informative Speeches
Informative Speeches
Chapter 14 Persuasive Speaking / Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches
Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches / Chapter 12 Organization and Support
Chapter 12 Organization and Support / Speaker Critique due no later than conclusion of class
Persuasive Speeches
Persuasive Speeches
Final Review / Catch-up
Exams
*** This course outline and the dates established therein are tentative, and the instructor reserves the right to change them.
SPH 106-09, SPH 106-10 and SPH 106-11
Last day to withdraw from classes is Thursday April 7, 2016
Date
Thursday, January 7, 16
Tuesday, January 12, 16
Thursday, January 14, 16
Tuesday, January 19, 16
Thursday, January 21, 16
Tuesday, January 26, 16
Thursday, January 28, 16
Tuesday, February 2, 16
Thursday, February 4, 16
Tuesday, February 9, 16
Thursday, February 11, 16
Tuesday, February 16, 16
Thursday, February 18, 16
Tuesday, February 23, 16
Thursday, February 25, 16
Tuesday, March 1, 16
Thursday, March 3, 16
Tuesday, March 8, 16
Thursday, March 10, 16
Tuesday, March 15, 16
Thursday, March 17, 16
Tuesday, March 22, 16
Thursday, March 24, 16
Tuesday, March 29, 16
Thursday, March 31, 16
Tuesday, April 5, 16
Thursday, April 7, 16
Tuesday, April 12, 16
Thursday, April 14, 16
Tuesday, April 19, 16
Thursday, April 21, 16
Tuesday, April 26, 16
Thursday, April 28, 16
Tuesday, May 3, 16
Topics
Introduction to course
Chapter 1 Human Communication: What and Why?
Chapter 1 Human Communication: What and Why?
Group Assignment
Chapter 2 The Self, Perception, and Communication
Chapter 2 The Self, Perception, and Communication
Chapter 2 The Self, Perception, and Communication
Chapter 4 Language
Chapter 4 Language
Test One (Chapters 1, 2, and 4) Group assessment paper due no later than the conclusion of class
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication / Review
Chapter 13 Informative Speaking / Introduction to Informative Speech
Chapter 7 Understanding Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 7 Understanding Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 8 Improving Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 8 Improving Interpersonal Relationships
Spring Break (No Classes)
Spring Break (No Classes)
Chapter 13 Informative Speaking / Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches
Test Two (Chapters 6, 7, and 8)
Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches / Chapter 12 Organization and Support
Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches / Chapter 12 Organization and Support
Informative Speeches
Informative Speeches
Chapter 14 Persuasive Speaking / Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches
Chapter 11 Preparing Speeches / Chapter 12 Organization and Support
Chapter 12 Organization and Support / Speaker Critique due no later than conclusion of class
Persuasive Speeches
Persuasive Speeches
Final Review / Catch-up
Exams
*** This course outline and the dates established therein are tentative, and the instructor reserves the right to change them.