Miami-Dade College – Kendall Campus
SPC 1017 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
Fall Term (2010): Thursday
Professor Marie L. Knepper
Phone: (305) 237- 0308
Email: mknepper@mdc.edu
Website: faculty.mdc.edu/mknepper
Office: M213 Office Hours: TBA; also by appointment
Textbook: Essentials of Human Communication. Joseph DeVito.
6th edition. ISBN# 0-205-49146-4
Materials: Small package of 3 x 5” index cards
COURSE OBJECTIVES: To develop and improve the following communication skills:
Public Speaking: your ability to select, organize, and effectively deliver information in a
professional, confident manner.
Small Group Communication: your ability to enhance critical problem-solving, conflict
management, and listening skills in a small group setting.
Interpersonal Communication: your ability to understand the types and stages of
interpersonal relationships, and to communicate more effectively one-on-one.
MDC LEARNING OUTCOMES:
#1. Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
#3. Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.
#4. Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.
Course Policies:
to ensure your success in this course, please read carefully!
Instructor Assistance:
If you have any questions about an assignment, or need
help with your presentations, please contact me. I can be reached through telephone, e-mail,
during office hours and by appointment. Keep your syllabus handy; answers to many of the
questions that will come up during the semester appear in your syllabus.
E-mail:
Consider your e-mail to be received and read by me when you have received an
e-mail answer. You must have a “working” e-mail account on file with MDC, as there may be
times when I will need to contact you about important issues.
Attendance:
Because this is a performance-based course, to receive credit for
having attended class you are required to:
1) arrive on time to class
2) remain in the classroom until class is officially dismissed, and
3) come prepared to participate intelligently in class activities.
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Miami-Dade College – Kendall Campus
SPC 1017 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
Fall Term (2010): Thursday
Red Dots and What They Mean: Please read carefully:
If you are not in class at the time I take attendance, you will be marked with a “red
dot.” If tardiness, leaving class early, or absenteeism are a problem, then this is not
the class for you!
1
red dot : no penalties
2
red dots: lose one-half letter grade from final grade
3
red dots: lose one letter grade from final grade
4
red dots: lose two letter grades from final grade
5
red dots: fail the class
Assignments, Presentations and Examinations:
Assignments: You are responsible for all class assignments whether you attend class for
that day or not. If you are absent, find out what you missed, either from a classmate, or from
me.
Please keep the following in mind:
1) Late and/or missed assignments will result in a grade of 0 for that assignment.
2) No assignments will be accepted through e-mail.
3) No hand-written assignments will be accepted.
Presentations: If you are absent on the day you are scheduled for a presentation, you will
lose all points associated with that project. It is your responsibility to know when you are
scheduled to give all of your presentations.
Please keep the following in mind:
1) There are no provisions for missed presentations.
2) If you arrive late on a day you are scheduled to do a speech, you may not be
permitted to deliver your presentation. If you arrive late for the group discussion
meeting or the final presentation, you may not be allowed to participate!
Examinations and Final Presentations: There will be one midterm examination,
and a final presentation. Final presentations cannot, under any circumstances, be made up.
Miss the final, and you fail the class.
Other Important Issues:
Cell Phones:
Cell phones are not allowed to be on in the classroom. Anyone using a
cell phone during class time will receive a red dot for that day. In this course, your full
attention as an observer and evaluator is crucial. Turn off all cell phones before class begins.
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Miami-Dade College – Kendall Campus
SPC 1017 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
Fall Term (2010): Thursday
Dress Code:
On the days you are scheduled to make a presentation, you are expected
to dress professionally. The clothes you would wear to a corporate job interview are typically
regarded as professional dress. Appearance, professional or otherwise, will affect your
presentation grade.
Academic Dishonesty: academic dishonesty of any type is always a serious matter and
will result in sanctions ranging from a grade of zero for assignment to failing the class, and
possibly, suspension or expulsion. If you are having difficulties with any materials in the
course, see me! Also, there are other resources available on-campus to assist you (see
Labs/Tutorials/Learning Resources below).
Grading:
Your final grade will be determined by total points you earned during the
semester, divided by the total number of graded assignments for that semester. Missed or
incomplete presentations, assignments and examinations will receive grades of zero (0),
which will be computed in your final average grade. Also, attendance affects your final
grade.
Grading Scale:
90- 100 points = A
80 – 89 points = B
70 – 79 points = C
60 – 69 points = D
Below 60 points = F
Labs/Tutorials/Learning Resources:
1) Speech Lab, Room M221 at http://www.mdc.edu/kendall/english/speechlab.asp
2) Writing Center, Room 2207 at http://www.mdc.edu/kendall/english/writing_center.asp
3) Kendall Campus Library, Building 2, Second Floor at
http://www.mdc.edu/kendall/library/about.asp
4) Kendall Campus Computer Courtyard, Building 2, First Floor
athttp://www.mdc.edu/kendall/kendallcourtyard/
Study Suggestions:
The textbook contains a Summary of Concepts and Skills and Key Word Quizzes at
the end of each chapter. Read these carefully. You should also log on to
www.mycommunicationlab.com for a variety of study aids. Keep up with the reading
assignments! And start preparing and rehearsing your presentations well in advance
of due dates. The projects in this course are doable, but they involve time and effort.
Don’t fall behind!
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Miami-Dade College – Kendall Campus
SPC 1017 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
Fall Term (2010): Thursday
OVERVIEW OF POSSIBLE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE SEMESTER:
1. Speech of Introduction: (handout):
a. You will have one minute to introduce a classmate to the class, using the
format provided in the handout. Although this is a non-graded presentation,
you will receive written feedback. It is expected that this practice will help you
deliver better presentations in the future.
2. The Old Bag Speech: (handout): 100 points possible.
a. You will have 3 to 4 minutes to introduce yourself to the class, using directions
shown in the handout. Instructor will supply evaluation form.
3. The Persuasive Speech: (handout, pp. 293-306 and pp. 318-330 in textbook):
100 points possible.
You will have 4 to 5 minutes to deliver a speech to persuade your audience to
change their beliefs, opinions, and/or behaviors. Consult the handout, which will
be thoroughly discussed in class, and pp. 293-306 in the texbook for guidelines for
visual aids. Instructor will supply evaluation form for this project.
4. Participation in a Group Problem Solving Discussion: (handout, and pp. 181-194
and 200-211 in textbook): 100 points possible
Your group will have 50 minutes to address a problem using the problem-solving
strategy described in the handout, based on John Dewey’s Reflective Method.
After the discussion concludes, group members will participate in a Question and
Answer session with the audience, as time permits. Evaluation forms will be
supplied by the instructor.
5.
Group Discussion Notes: (handout ): 100 points possible.
7.
Midterm Examination: (study guide handout will be discussed in class).
100 points possible.
8.
Final Presentation: (handouts): double grade.
Students are to create and display a poster that summarizes an area of content or
significant concept from the textbook. Students can work alone or with one other
partner, and will be provided with an easel or table to display their poster exhibits in
class. Poster topics will be discussed and selected in class. Instructor will supply
evaluation form.
Note: This is your final exam, and represents a double grade! It cannot be made up.
9. Teachers for a Day Communication Assignments: (100 points possible, each).
You and your group members will be asked to prepare/present mini- presentations
related to the textbook. To receive credit for these assignments, you must participate
in the preparation and be in class for the delivery of the activity.
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Miami-Dade College – Kendall Campus
SPC 1017 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
Fall Term (2010): Thursday
Date
August 26
Activities
FIRST DAY OF CLASS!
Introduction to Course; Discussion of
Syllabus; Assign Group Letters;
Teambuilding Activity
Reading Assignments
Film: Speaking to 1 or 1000
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Guidelines for Old Bag Speeches
Guidelines for Walk of the Matador
Lecture: Chapter 1
Lecture and Film: Public Speaking
Apprehension
Lecture: Public Speaking Delivery
Walk of the Matador Activity
Final Review: Old Bag Speeches
Read Chapter 1
Read pp. 218-221;
252-260; 267-273;
Old Bag Speeches Due: Entire Class
Guidelines for Persuasive Speech
Read pp. 293-306
and 318-330.
Teachers for a Day: work on Assign.#2
Sept. 16
Teachers for a Day: Assign.#2 Due
Lecture: Persuasion
Persuasive Speeches: In-Class Activities
Sept. 23
Persuasive Speeches Due: Entire Class
Lecture: Small Group Communication
Guidelines for Group Problem-Solving
Project
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Group Work
Wrap-up of Group Work
Review of Guidelines for Final Presentations
Oct. 14
Group Projects Due: Groups A & B
Review for Midterm
5
Read Chapter 8; and
pp. 200-211
Miami-Dade College – Kendall Campus
SPC 1017 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
Fall Term (2010): Thursday
Oct. 21
Group Projects Due: Groups C & D
Review for Midterm
Oct. 28
MIDTERM EXAM
Wrap-up of Guidelines for Final
Presentations
Nov. 4
Lecture: Interpersonal Communication
Teachers for a Day: work on Assign. #3
Nov. 11
Read p. 130
and 138-142.
Holiday. MDC Closed.
Teachers for a Day: Assign. #3 Due
Nov. 18
In-Class Activity: work on Final
Presentations
Nov. 25
Holiday. MDC Closed
Dec. 2
Final Presentations Due: Groups C & D
Dec. 9
Final Presentations Due: Groups A & B
Congratulations!
Last Day of Class!
You Made It!
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