1
Master Course Outline
SPCH 101
Fundamentals of Speech
Course Description: Principles of effective oral communication including delivery, organization, content,
and stress management. A functional approach to effective speaking with practical application in
informative, impromptu, and persuasive speeches. 5 lecture hours. Satisfies humanities distribution area
F requirement or specified elective for the AA degree.
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: None
Goals of the course: Desired Student Outcomes:
Understanding and developing strategies for solving problems/making decisions including using
prior knowledge, considering alternative courses of action, assessing potential consequences,
developing criteria for evaluating outcomes, refining strategies, and evaluating results.
Demonstrating behavior that shows attentiveness to others and understanding the impact of
attending skills.
Accurately observing details and drawing inferences and conclusions based on observations.
Listening for details, main ideas, facts/opinions, information/persuasion, and meaning while
suspending judgment.
Paraphrasing others’ ideas and checking for understanding.
Working cooperatively by conversing and encouraging communication.
Speaking and presenting ideas while attending to audience and purpose and considering cultural
differences.
Using technology and other resources to obtain information.
Organizing, integrating, and documenting sources of information.
Using a variety of media to communicate messages in presentations creatively and effectively.
Using delivery elements effectively, such as pitch, rate, volume, projection, posture, eye contact,
facial expressions, and body language.
Using oral English language effectively to engage the audience and adapt to the topic and
audience.
Communicating responsibly using accurate, truthful, and equitable language and ideas;
understanding the consequences of irresponsible communication.
Establishing criteria for effective and high quality presentations and using them to evaluate own and
others' presentations; using feedback to revise own work.
Developing ideas into written drafts.
Revising writing for ideas, language, audience, and conventions.
9/9/2013
2
Editing own writing for word choice, conventions, and sentence structure.
Using writing conventions (grammar, punctuation, and capitalization) effectively.
Using reading strategies to build understanding.
Using reading skills to develop vocabulary.
Text: The Speaker’s Guidebook, 4th edition, Dan O’Hair, Rob Stewart, Hannah Rubenstein
Academic Integrity: All forms of cheating, falsification, and plagiarism are against the rules of this course
and of Grays Harbor College. Students who are unsure what constitutes academic dishonesty are
responsible for asking the instructor for clarification. Instances of intentional academic dishonesty will
be dealt with severely.
Disabilities: Students who have documented disabilities that require accommodations in compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Disability Support Services coordinator as
well as the instructor of the course in order to ensure that together we create an optimal environment
for educational achievement.
W Day: W Day, the final day to officially withdraw from a course, is the Thursday of the seventh week
(Thursday of the fourth week for summer quarter). Students who do not withdraw by that date will
receive the grades they have earned, regardless of whether they are attending the course or completing
the work. Students who are considering withdrawal are strongly advised to consult with the instructor,
advisor and financial aid prior to withdrawing. The only withdrawals allowed after W Day are complete
withdrawals from all courses.
9/9/2013