Communications Syllabus
2015-2016
Krissy Vick
Room F8
Phone: (434) 392-4131 X254
Email: vickkt@fuquaschool.com
Mrs. Vick's Class Webpage
Welcome to Communications! This class is designed to give you an opportunity to practice
oral and written communication skills with a particular emphasis on public speaking
instruction. Throughout the semester, you will master basic public speaking skills through a
variety of speech assignments and group activities.
In addition, you will sharpen your business communication skills by learning about the job
seeking process. You will create a professional resume, practice job search techniques, and
participate in a job interview with a local employer of your choice.
I am looking forward to a great semester with you in my class. Interim Reports will be issued
for all students for the first grading period. I encourage you to communicate with me if you
have any questions or concerns throughout the semester. I will always make time for you
and will value the relationships I will be building with each of you. Please feel free to see
me in person, email, or call me when you need to do so.
Required Materials
 2” binder with loose leaf
 1 pack of 3x5 lined index cards
 Flash drive (optional)
Required Text DK Guide to Public Speaking, Lisa A. Ford-Brown
Attendance
Attendance and punctuality are required as noted in the Fuqua School Handbook.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact me about missed work either prior to
your absence or immediately upon return. It is always YOUR responsibility to follow-up with
me regarding an absences.
Assignments
All work should be submitted on time for full credit. Assignments may be accepted one day
late with 10 point penalty. Regarding Absences: As stated in the Fuqua Handbook, students
should determine the work they have missed and “are required to complete and turn in all
make-up work within the number of days they have been absent from class. In cases of work
that was assigned prior to the absence, students should be prepared to complete the work
on the day they return to class.”
Class Rules
1. Have a positive attitude every day.
2. Be courteous to your classmates and teacher.
3. Be on time and on task.
4. Please no food or drinks in the classroom (water bottle is okay).
5. Abide by all policies outlined in the Fuqua School Handbook and the General Classroom
Practices.
Grading
Classwork/homework:
Tests:
Formal Speeches:
Informative
How-To
Persuasive
Special Occasion
Job Search Portfolio:
Resume
Cover letter
Job Interview
Thank you note
Impromptu Speeches:
25%
25%
25%
20%
5%
Classwork/Homework: Plan to take notes daily. Your binder should be kept neat and
chronological with materials clearly labeled and dated.
Tests: You will have Chapter Tests throughout the semester to demonstrate mastery of
concepts.
Formal Speeches: You will prepare and deliver 4 formal speeches during the semester. Sign
up sheets will be posted in the classroom for speech days. It is your responsibility to sign up
on a day that does not conflict with any other engagements you have scheduled (i.e. athletic
events or college visits which would cause you to be absent from class).
Job Search Portfolio: You are required to participate in a real interview with a local
employer in a field that interests you. We will spend plenty of time in class learning oral and
written communication skills to prepare you. Your finished portfolio will include your
professional personal resume, a cover letter, an employer critique of your interview
performance, a self critique of your experience, and a well-written thank you note to the
employer. We will work on this long-term assignment incrementally throughout the
semester. The final portfolio is due at the end of the semester.
Impromptu Speeches: Students will routine practice impromptu speaking, or speaking “off
the cuff.” These are useful exercises to practice thinking on your feet while articulating a
clear and concise message.
Extra Credit Opportunities: You have three opportunities to earn extra credit. First, you
may attend a formal speaking engagement and submit a one-page paper detailing your
observations as they relate to what you are learning in class about effective public speaking
practices. Second, if you have a formal speaking opportunity outside of class that requires
you to prepare a speech and deliver it to an audience, you may submit a one-page paper
detailing your experience along with your prepared remarks. Third, you may prepare a
formal speech and deliver it to the class. (*All extra credit is subject to approval by Mrs.
Vick).
Course Schedule
Week
Topic
Reading
1
General Classroom Information and Textbook Distributed and posted
Issue
online
Job Portfolio Semester Project explained
View Cornell note-taking clip
Note-taking tips
2
Exercises
Practice Cornell note-taking
Delivery Basics Lecture
Chapter 9
View “The Last Lecture”
The Creative Process of Public SpeakingOverview
Overview
Brainstorming speech topics
Informative Speech assignment
Getting to know your Audience and Situation Chapter 1
Selecting a Topic and Purpose
Chapter 2
3
4
5
6
Locating Supporting Materials
Chapter 3
Selecting and Testing Materials
Chapter 4
The Informative Speech
Chapter 13
Outlining your Speech
Chapter 5
Introductions and Conclusions
Chapter 7
Deliver first formal speeches
Movie: “The King’s Speech”
Peer Critique and Self Critique
of presentations
Using Presentation Aids
Chapter 10
Power of Positive Thinking
Resume Building Basics
Practice delivering using a
PowerPoint
Create video presentations using
Animoto
How-To Speech Assigned
8
Finalizing speech research and
outline
Informative Speech Week
Power of the Visual Image
7
On-going preparation of
Informative Speech
Excerpts from various
texts will be provided
Self-Analysis
Personality Tests
Resume Workshops
Create personal resume
How-to Speech Preparation
Speech prep on-going
Week
Topic
9
Cover Letters
10
Reading
Exercises
Using Language Successfully
Chapter 8
Cover letter practice (keep job
portfolio interview in mind)
Listening Effectively
Chapter 11
How-To Speech Presentations
11
Tools for Persuasion
Deliver formal speech #2 with
aids, peer critique and selfcritique
Chapter 14
Practice identifying and using
ethos/pathos/mythos/logos
Chapter 15
Practice using persuasion in
classroom mini-debates and ongoing work on Persuasive Speech
Persuasive Speech assigned
12
The Persuasive Speech
13
Persuasive Speech Presentations
Deliver formal speech #3
Peer critique and self-critique
14
Interview Skills
Mock interviews
Thank you notes
Practice writing business and
personal thank you notes
Blogging/Podcasting
Create your own blog
15
Speeches for Special Events
16
Special Occasion Tribute Presentations
Deliver formal speech #4
17
Job Portfolios Due
Prepare and submit final folder
of work
“This I Believe”
Chapter 16
Practice Toasts, Award
Presentation, Award Acceptance
Listen to various audio clips
from NPR series
Prepare a written manuscript
and podcast on this topic
18
Exam Preparation
First Semester Exam 1/11/16
Second Semester Exam 5/23/16
Graduation 5/27/16
May choose oral or written exam