COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
SPCH 1311– FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
SPCH 1311.1S1 8:00-10:00
I-215
Ralph Long
Spring Creek Campus
2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy
Plano, TX 75074
972-881-5982/5810/fax5629
rlong@ccccd.edu
Summer I 2008
Office: H215
Office Hrs: 7:00-8:00AM
Inst.Web http://iws.ccccd.edu/rlong/
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Survey of basic factors affecting human interaction through communication; emphasis on the
development of oral communication competencies; practice in delivering oral presentations.
REQUIRED TEXT
Adler, Ronald B., Russell F. Proctor. Looking Out, Looking In, (12th ed.). California: Thomson
Learning, 2007
Academic Functionality
The student is expected to:
1. possess the ability to read, write, speak, listen/comprehend information, and apply
critical thinking skills/research techniques in a clear, correct, concise, coherent manner
above the 12th grade level;
2. effectively use computer based technology to assist in achieving the skills cited above in
both the written and oral presentation mode;
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course the student is expected to:
1. Exhibit understanding of theories and principles pertaining to speech communication.
2. Demonstrate ability to compose and present an oral presentation effectively.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking ability by effectively applying communication theories in the
analysis and evaluation of communication interactions.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the value of listening skills as a component of human
interaction.
5. Demonstrate understanding of interpersonal communication skills.
6. Demonstrate ability to synthesize material/ideas generated by group members into an effective
group presentation.
7. Determine the relevance of cultural influences in communication situations.
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METHOD OF EVALUATION
All tests and assignments (the recitation assignments, the speech assignments, lab assignments,
etc.) are based upon a point system. You may earn points in the following manner:
Assignments
Test I
Test II
Test III
Point Value
50
50
50
Your Score
_________
_________
_________
Speech I Who Am I? /Informative
3-5 minutes
Speech II Culture/Informative 5-7 minutes
Speech III Reaction/Persuasive
4-6 minutes
*Group Symposium/Informative
2 components (Written & Spoken 4-6
minutes)
**Attendance
7 Lab Assignments at 20 pts
each, described in class calendar
100
_________
100
100
_________
_________
200
C.1______
C.2______
110
140
_________
L.1 ______
L.2 ______
L. 3 ______
L. 4 _______
L. 5 ______
L. 6 ______
L. 7 ______
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
900
YOUR TOTAL______________
 Refer to SPCH 1311 Group Symposium Section for more details on grading procedures and
activities. You must complete the Competency portion of the class assignments and the
speeches in order to pass the class. If the Competency assignments and the speeches
are not completed you will receive a grade of “F” for the course.
The final course grade will be determined as follows:
A
B
C
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
NOTE:
810-900
720-809
630-719
540-629
0-539
points & all assignments
points & all speeches
points
points
points
I do not discuss grades over the phone. This is true for specific assignments,
tests, and the final course grade. Therefore, please make an appointment
with me to discuss grades.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS

You will receive a thorough description of requirements for all formal assignments before
they are due. You should photocopy all assignments before they are turned in since I will
not be held responsible for lost or missing papers.

All tests will be taken in the Testing Center (Room J-232 SCC). Do not take tests during
the scheduled class period. If you do, you will be considered absent. Make-up tests will
be significantly more difficult than regularly scheduled tests, and only ONE make-up test
may be taken during the semester. If you miss 2 tests, you will receive "0" credit for the
second test, etc. Make-up tests will be given only in extreme emergency or illness.
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
"Incompletes" require that you have a minimum grade of "C" and have a minimum of 80% of
the course assignments completed. Incompletes are an option in cases of extreme
emergency only and given at the instructor's discretion.

ASSIGNMENTS SUBMITTED LATE WILL BE REDUCED BY ONE LETTER GRADE; i.e., if an
assignment is late and is of "A" quality, the highest grade you will receive is a "B". Late is
defined as within 24 hours of the original due date. (Example: Material is due at 2:30
p.m. Tuesday it must be turned in by 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. After this time no credit will
be given for the assignment. Turn in late assignments to the Division Office located in
Room B-189(SCC). The communication competency assignments are not covered
by this late assignment clause. These assignments are due on/at the date/time
specified on the class calendar.

All public speaking/student presentations will be videotaped.
*ATTENDANCE POLICY
I expect you to be present during each class meeting. This course covers a large amount of material in a
short period of time; therefore, absences will affect your grade. It is your responsibility to keep up with
information discussed in class when absent. (Do not call me for the missing information -- make a friend
in class and cover for each other.)
As an incentive to attend regularly, you will be able to earn attendance points to be a part of
your final grade accumulation as follows:
0 absences = 110, 1 absence = 100 points, 2 absences = 70points, 3 absences = 30 points
4 absences = 10points, 5 absences = 0 points,
Additionally, for each 15 minutes or portion thereof, you arrive late or leave early, 2 points will be
deducted from your attendance grade. The final class period, if missed, will result in a 30 point
deduction.
An excused absence will not deduct points from your attendance grade. These are defined as illness,
family death, CCCCD school-sponsored activity, or approved religious holiday - however, appropriate
documentation (ie. a physician’s return to school/work form, mortuary statement, field trip roster)
must be provided within two class periods of your return date to class! Note: a verbal explanation
is appreciated but will not suffice as documentation. Furthermore, a note from your parent, spouse,
partner, significant other, or roommate does not constitute proper documentation. Routine
dental/doctor visits, elective medical procedures, family vacations, and court appearances, resulting
from your own negligence, are not excused. Additionally, do not ask to complete assignments early
to accommodate travel plans you may have made or wish to make. The class schedule and dates
were provided to you prior to registration. Therefore, you should know the dates required for
attendance and fulfill them.
DROPPING A COURSE
If you are unable to complete this course, you must withdraw from it by July 3, 2008. Withdrawing from a
course is a formal procedure that you must initiate. I cannot do it for you. You may do this in the Student
Development area. The Student Development Office will issue you a drop form that you must complete and
have signed by the proper College personnel. You will retain a copy of the official form. IF YOU DO NOT
HAVE A COPY WITH THE APPROPRIATE SIGNATURES YOU MAY NOT HAVE COMPLETED THE
PROCESS! If you stop attending and do not withdraw, you will receive a performance grade--usually an "F."
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE
It is the policy of Collin County Community College to provide reasonable accommodations for
qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This College will adhere to all applicable
Federal, State and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable
accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's
responsibility to contact ACCESS, (the office for students with disabilities) at 972-881-5950 in
a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
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Academic Ethics: The College District may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student
accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to,
statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a
degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic
dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating,
plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, and/or falsifying
academic records.
Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit
to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an
examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying computer or
Internet files, using someone else’s work for the assignments as if it were one’s own, or any
other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty,
including but not limited to, providing a paper or project to another student; providing an
inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate during an
examination; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to
copy answers.
It is the student's responsibility to be aware of and to exercise all rights and privileges as
stated in the Student Code of Conduct.
RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS
In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code, CCCC will allow a student who is
absent from class for the observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an
assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time. Students are required to file a written
request with each professor within the first 15 days of the semester (by June 12, 2008) to qualify for
an excused absence. A copy of the state rules and procedures regarding holy days and the form for
notification of absence from each class under this provision are available from the Registrar's Office.
CCCCD Course Repeat Policy
You may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including W. If you drop the course
before the census date--(June 12, 2008)--you will not be penalized in regard to the repeat policy.
If you withdraw from the course after the census date, a grade of W will posted to your transcript
and count as one attempt toward the repeat policy.
DO NOT GO THERE CLAUSE: Because we are a “captive audience,” meaning that we are
not here purely by choice, but rather required to be here for a specific reason, some subjects are
inappropriate for class presentation. Topics which are off limits for this class are gun control,
abortion, legalization of drugs, lowering the legal drinking age, the death penalty, and religious
conversions (attempts to or sharing of own experience.) Sources that are off limits consist of
religious texts (Bible, Torah, Quaran, etc.) Remember, we are engaging in public speaking not
public preaching. Dictionaries and encyclopedias may be used as secondary sources but do not
count as one of your required source cites in any presentation. Furthermore, a maximum of one
(1) internet source (source is posted only on the web, no hard copy exists) may be used toward
your required minimum sources. Additionally, Wikipedia may not be used as a source for any
assignment in this class.
ALWAYS BE PREPARED!
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All students are to be prepared to give their speech on the first day designated for that genre
to begin presentations. If you are called upon to present and you are not ready you will
receive a zero for the assignment.
Class decorum: It is expected that you will conduct yourself in a respectful manner while attending
class. Therefore, while in class, the following is expected:
 If you arrive late you are to take the first seat available closest to the door. Do not walk all
the way across the room to get your favorite seat.
 Do not enter the room during a peer presentation. If you arrive late to class and a fellow
student is speaking wait quietly in the hall until the speech is over. Enter during the change
of speakers.
 You are not to spend class time text messaging friends. Phones should be turned off. If
you need the phone on for emergency purposes it must be on silent ring. Please sit by the
door if this is the case so that you may leave as unobtrusively as possible if needed.
 If you bring a laptop to class it is to be used for note taking. When your peers are giving
speeches you are to leave your computers closed. Your attention should be focused on the
speaker not on surfing the web or finishing your speech.
FYI: This syllabus is intended to be a set of guidelines for SPCH 1311, Fundamentals of
Speech. CCCC and I reserve the right to make modifications in content, schedule, and
requirements as necessary to promote the most effective learning possible within the prevailing
conditions affecting the course. Changes will be announced if they are to be made.
**The 24 hour late rule does not apply to the speeches or the communication
competency assignments. These assignments are due on the date specified on the
class calendar for each.
Communication Competency
Upon completion of SPCH 1311 you should be able to identify, understand, and demonstrate competence
in the concepts covered in lecture, class activities, and outside assignments.
The achievement/demonstration of this competency consists of two parts, a group presentation and an
individual written assignment. These are structured as follows:
Component I
Group Presentation of Communication Concepts: The text chapters for this component will be assigned by
the instructor. In a small group, students will develop a presentation, based on concepts selected from the
assigned chapter, which defines and demonstrates the chosen concepts in a more in-depth manner, such
as how the concept may be a factor in your success at work, in personal relationships, etc. than is covered
in the text and lecture. Each presentation is to be 25-30 minutes in length. The presentations will be
presented to the class during the time frame, cited on the class calendar, designated for that chapter. All
group members are required to:

Contribute to the organization and development of the presentation

Have speaking parts of equitable time length (approximately 4-6 minutes) If a student goes more
than a minute over she or he will be stopped and her or his grade will automatically drop to a “C”
as the highest possible grade

Present information from note cards

Each member will have two sources, other than your text, orally cited in your portion of the
presentation

Work on project during class time and out of class

Use computer generated visuals, such as Powerpoint, to help explain/support your presentation
This presentation is worth 100 points.
The distribution is as follows:
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*Overall group organization and development
*Individual skills/behaviors defined/demonstrated
*Individual presentation/delivery
Total
= 20 pts
= 20 pts
= 60 pts
= 100 pts
Component II
Research on the communication skills requires you to identify the concept(s) discussed in the text
which you are going to further explore. In your individual paper you will need to include an outline,
manuscript, and a works cited page, in MLA format, of all sources you used for your research and
presentation.
Your written assignment grade will be based, in part, on the following:
1. The thoroughness of definition, example, and research (breadth and depth) of the
concepts/skills identified in your presentation. In other words, you must fully research (reference
the outside sourcse) your chosen communication concept(s) and explain them in depth,
expanding on the text material, not simply restating the text. Each student’s portion should be a
“stand alone” presentation that blends with the other group members for a seamless, conclusive
whole when presented. Furthermore, each student will assist in compiling a final packet for the
entire presentation ie. group table of contents, which lists the entries by presentation order with
the concepts used in the entry and the chapter and page number from which the concept was
taken, individual research papers, outlines, works cited and a copy of any visuals used in the
presentation, This table of contents and the individual papers, with title heading, in order of
presentation, is to be placed in a large mailing envelope with a closure, and given to the
instructor, prior to presentation, on the specified day (refer to class calendar for the due date
of this packet.).
2. The quality of the written discussion of these identified skill/concepts. This addresses
grammatical structure, spelling, punctuation, etc. The writing center can help you with this
3. Write your individual names, in presentation order, group number, chapters, and class time on
the outside of the envelope.
Each individual assignment is to be typed or computer-generated, double spaced, and be of
college level writing skills. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted for credit.
This written assignment is worth 100 points.
Example: Analysis Table of Contents
1.
2.
Guidelines for Self-Disclosure, C.2, p. 40 - 43
Using Verbal Messages Effectively, C.5, p. 97-98
Helpful hints for success

For smooth flow of the presentation, it is suggested that the group decide, in advance how you all
will handle the introduction, internal transitions, and conclusions for the entire project.

Be sure that the group, as a whole, has rehearsed the presentation sufficiently prior to presenting
to the class. Trying to figure out who speaks first as you present is not a good idea.

Cover the chapters as individual units. Switching back and forth between chapters is confusing
and time consuming for the audience and presenters.
Each student is to research and present her or his specific chapter concepts. Just as in “chips &
dip”…NO DOUBLE DIPPING!
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SPCH 1311 COURSE CALENDAR
Summer I 2008
6-9 M
Get acquainted; Review syllabus
6-10 T
Basics of public speaking
Lab 1 Take MBTI in TC by 6-13-08 @ 2:00PM
6-11 W
Continue public speaking
Lab 2 Outline Activity
6-12 R
Complete public speaking
6-16 M
Ch. 1 & 7
Lab 3 Listening Activity
6-17 T
Ch. 2
Lab 4 “Self in a Bag”
Take Test I (Ch. 1, 2, & 7) by 6-20-2008 @ 2:00pm
6-18 W
Ch. 3 & 4
6-19 R
Ch. 4 & 5
6-23 M
Ch. 5 & 6 Take Test II (Ch. 3, 4, 5, & 6) by 6-27-2008@ 2:00pm
6-24 T
Ch. 6 Culture Worksheet
6-25 W
“Who Am I?” speeches 3-5 minutes with visual
Lab 5 Typed outline & manuscript w/WC stamp to receive
credit
6-26 R
Ch. 8 & 9
6-30 M
Ch. 10 & 11
7-1 T
Culture Speeches 5-7
Lab 6 Worksheet, typed outline,
manuscript, and work cited (2 sources)
Take Test III (Ch. 8, 9, 10, & 11) by 7-3-2008 @ 8:00pm
7-2 W
Complete Culture Speeches if needed
Group work
7-3 R
7-7 M
Reaction Speeches 4-6 minutes Lab 7 Typed outline,
manuscript, and works cited (2 sources)
7-8 T
Finish Reaction Speeches if needed Group work
7-9 W
7-10 R
Groups present ALL group packets due
Groups present Technologically generated visuals for group project
M–R
8:00 am – 9:00 pm
F
8:00 am – 3:00 pm
S
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
center one (1) hour prior to closing to be issued a test.
Testing Center - J232 - Hrs.
Must be in
testing
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