Spch 1315
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North Central Texas College
SPCH 1315 Section 501
MWF Room 208
Fall 2013
Course Description:
The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Course Syllabus provides the following as required by the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB): (1) a brief description of the course including each major course
requirement, assignment and examination; (2) the learning objectives for the course; (3) a general description of the
subject matter of each lecture or discussion; and (4) any required or recommended readings. Contact information for
the instructor is also provided. The Course Syllabus also provides institutional information to indicate how this
course supports NCTC’s purpose and mission. Information specific to a particular section of the course will be
included in the Class Syllabus and distributed to enrolled students.
Instructor: Dianne Gravley
Contact Information: dgravley@nctc.edu (preferred contact method)
Phone: Extension 8502
Office Hours: MWF 11:00 am-12 & 1:00 pm -2:00; TR 8:00 am-10:00 ONLINE
Class Information
Section Number: 501
Meeting Times: MWF 12-12:50
Meeting Location: Flower Mound Room 208
Course Title: Public Speaking
Course Prefix & Number: SPCH1315
Term Code: 131S
Semester Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Lab Hours: 0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog):
This course focuses on the process of oral communication and its relation to communication. Emphasis is placed on
extemporaneous speaking in both individual and group formats.
Course Prerequisite(s):
Course Type: AcademicNCTC Core Curriculum Course
Required Texts and Materials
Esseentials of Public Speaking, 5th edition. Cheryl Hamilton (ISBN=9780495901136)
Scantron for Exam
Two (2) manila envelopes for Informative and Persuasive Presentations.
This syllabus is intended to serve as a guideline for SPCH 1315. Both NCTC and your professor reserve the right to
make modifications in content, schedule and requirements as necessary to promote the optimal educational
experience within prevailing conditions affecting this course.
PROGRAM PURPOSE STATEMENT: CORE CURRICULUM
NCTC seeks to implement its goal of offering quality general education curriculum in all associate degrees by
offering a core of general education courses designed to help students achieve academic, career and lifelong goals.
Acquiring knowledge, thinking critically, and utilizing the methodologies of various disciplines exposed students to
experiences that serve to advance their personal growth. The chief focus of the General Education Core Curriculum
at NCTC is to emphasize Exemplary Educational Objectives and Basic Intellectual Competencies.
DEPARTMENTAL PURPOSE STATEMENT
The Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language provides quality instruction to students pursuing their
academic and career goals.
STATEMENT OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE EXPECTED OF NCTC GRADUATES
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NCTC seeks to implement its goal of offering a core of general education courses designed to help students achieve
academic, career and lifelong goals. The chief focus of the General Education Core Courses at NCTC is to
emphasize basic intellectual competencies and broad intellectual perspectives.
CORE CURRICULUM COMPONENT AREA: COMMUNICATION
The overall objective of the Communication component area is to enable the student to communicate effectively in
clear and correct prose in a style appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
COMMUNICATION: EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (EEOs)
x (C1) To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through
invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing and presentation.
x (C2) To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select
appropriate communication choices.
o (C3) To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e. descriptive,
expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive, in written, visual and oral
communication.
o (C4) To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and
reflective thinking and responding.
x (C5) To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving,
and technical proficiency in the development of exposition and argument.
x (C6) To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or to give
an oral presentation.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
EEO
C1, C2
C5
C6
Student Learning Outcome
1. Demonstrate the ability to present information and opinion in formal fashion to an audience.
2. Create a coherent outline.
3. Defend and support controversial ideas.
4. Demonstrate the ability to make effective contributions to a small group discussion.
5. Report a lower level of communication apprehension.
6. Integrate credible source material in support of a speech topic.
7. Compose an appropriate Works Cited using APA format.
BASIC INTELLECTUAL COMPETENCIES FOR THIS COURSE
o READING – Reading at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed
materials – books, articles and documents. A core curriculum should offer student the opportunity to master
both general methods of analyzing printed materials and specific methods for analyzing the subject matter of
individual disciplines.
o WRITING – Competency in writing is the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to
purpose, occasion, and audience. Although correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation are each a sine qua
non in any composition, they do not automatically ensure that the composition itself makes sense or that the
writer has much of anything to say. Students need to be familiar with the writing process including how to
discover a topic and how to develop and organize it, how to phrase it effectively for their audience. These
abilities can be acquired only through practice and reflection.
x SPEAKING – Competence in speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and
persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience. Developing this competency includes
acquiring poise and developing control of the language through experience in making presentations to small
groups, to large groups, and through the media.
x LISTENING – Listening at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various forms of
spoken communication.
o CRITICAL THINKING – Critical thinking embraces methods for applying both qualitative and
quantitative skills analytically and creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and to
construct alternative strategies. Problem solving is one of the applications of critical thinking, used to address
an identified task.
o COMPUTER LITERACY – Computer literacy at the college level means the ability to use computer-based
technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information. Core-educated students should
have an understanding of the limits, problems, and possibilities associated with the use of technology, and
should have the tools necessary to evaluate and learn new technologies as they become available.
Last day to Withdraw: November 16
Student Rights & Responsibilities NCTC Board policyFLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that
each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations
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concerning student conduct. These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in
conjunction with the College Catalog. All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted
authority, and observe correct standards of conduct.
Scholastic Integrity Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is
punishable as prescribed by Board policies.
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Disability Accommodations: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for
students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a
learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on
tests, tests in a distraction reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.
On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the
Administration (100) Building or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online
campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD. North Central Texas College is
on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).
Course Policies
General Classroom Guidelines
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No cell phone or laptop use is allowed. This is strictly enforced. If anyone is seen with his or her
cellphone out, you will be asked to leave the class, and will be counted absent for the day.
No food will be allowed in the classroom.
You are required to maintain a respectful attitude toward peers and instructor.
All assignments are required by due date. No exceptions. Assignments will only be accepted as directed.
Contact information: If you have any questions or concerns, please see during my office hours or feel free
to contact me via email. I will make every effort to respond in a timely manner (no longer than 24 hours).
NOTE: This policy only applies during weekday hours. If you e-mail me during the weekend I MAY OR
MAY NOT reply during this time. However, I usually will check my e-mail on Sunday evenings.
24/7 rule: Please wait 24 hours (but no longer than 7 days) to contact me with questions regarding a grade.
Attendance and In-Class Participation
Attendance and participation in class is crucial. Students are expected to attend all class meetings, arrive when the class
begins, and remain until the class is dismissed.
Tardiness: If you are more than 5 minutes late, or if you leave early, you will be counted absent for the day. A signin sheet will be used to record attendance. If you are late, it is your responsibility AFTER CLASS to make sure you are not
counted absent. If the sign-in sheet has been passed and you missed it due to lateness, PLEASE DO NOT DISRUPT THE
CLASS BY ASKING/SEARCHING FOR THE SIGN-IN SHEET. Simply see me after class and I will record your
attendance. Point deductions for absences are as follows and will be enforced no matter the reason:
1. Three (3) absences are free. No point deductions.
2. For every absence over three (3), 30 points will be deducted from your final grade (out of 1000 points).
3. If you are absent seven (7) or more, you will receive an “F” for the semester.
Excused and unexcused absences will count the same in regard to deduction of points. I include three (3) free absences to
allow for illnesses or other emergencies, so please save your free absences only when you MUST miss class. *Note: This
point deduction does not impact your ability to make-up a major assignment with an excused absence. If you miss a class
during a major assignment, exam, or presentation, the following policy will apply:
Absences during Exams, Presentations, or Assignments
Failure to follow this policy will result in a Zero for the missed assignment/exam.
If you are absent for an exam, presentation, or assignment, you can request to make up the assignment. The only absences
that will be considered excused are death in the family, severe documentable personal illness, religious holidays, and
participation in college sponsored activities (e.g., intercollegiate sports). Any student wishing to have an absence excused
must provide appropriate documentation. An absence WILL NOT be excused if you do not contact your instructor
within 24 hours of the missed class. All doctors’ notes must be signed by the doctor on official letter-head/prescription pad.
(Routine visits to your doctor or dentist do NOT constitute an excused absence.) Notes that are not dated, signed, or
verifiable will not be accepted. I reserve the right to decide if documentation is acceptable. Please advise instructor prior to
missed class, if possible, and provide appropriate documentation. This policy is STRICTLY enforced. *Note: Providing
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documentation DOES NOT affect my policy on point deduction. For example, let’s say you become ill and you already have
3 previous absences. The day you are ill is also the day you are supposed to present your speech in class. You may request a
make up on the speech if you follow the above procedures. However, because this is your fourth absence, 30 points will still
be deducted from your final grade.
Angel:
Announcements and other communications will be administered through ANGEL. There is a link to
ANGEL on the NCTC homepage, www.nctc.edu., or you can access ANGEL by going directly to
www.angel.nctc.edu. For assistance with ANGEL problems call the NCTC ANGEL technical support staff in one
of the following ways:
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Directly at http://www.nctc.edu/eLearning_Department/Support.aspx
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Technical Support link and/or the eCampus Help Desk banner announcement at www.angel.nctc.edu
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From www.nctc.edu, click ANGEL & eLearning, then select Support from the drop down menu.
Angel will contain the following: syllabus, announcements, assignment descriptions, grading rubrics, and other helpful
resources. Additionally, grades will be posted online during the course of the semester. Please check Angel regularly.
Method of Evaluation
Presentations (60% of your grade) Grading rubrics will be provided before each speech.
You will present three major presentations and one introduction/identity speech.
Organization presentation 10% of your grade (100 points): You will be given the choice of
ten topics from which to construct your presentation. The purpose of this speech is to provide
opportunity for students to practice organizing a speech. The speech will be 3-5 minutes in length.
More assignment details will be provided in class. (SLO 1,5)
Informative Speech 15% of your grade (150 points): This is a speech in which you inform the
class/audience about some topic. Audience analysis matters here – pick a topic in which your
audience will be interested. You must use visual aids for this speech. You must cite at least 4
sources. Cite sources orally as well as in your outline. Be careful that this speech is
INFORMATIVE, not persuasive. More assignment details will be provided in class. Time limit: 57 minutes. (SLO 1,2, 5, 6, 7)
 Persuasive Speech 20% of your grade (200 points): This is a speech in which you persuade
the audience to DO something. This speech should include a call to action, telling us clearly and
specifically what you want us to do. You must cite at least 5 sources in this speech. Cite sources in
your outline as well as in the actual speech presentation. Visual aids are required. More
assignment details will be provided in class. Time limit: 7-10 minutes. (SLO 1,2,3,5,6,7)
 Narrative Speech 10% (100 points) with PowerPoint, 3-5 minutes. Extemporaneous delivery.
This speech will provide opportunity for students to focus on delivery. You will use a narrative to
explain how an experience has effected your life or view of life. You will choose from prompts
which will be provided to you. See assignment sheet in ANGEL.
 Impromptu Speeches 5% (50 points) 1-2 minutes. Each student will give 2 impromptu
speeches through the semester. These speeches will provide you with the opportunity to practice
what we have studied in class in order to help prepare you for major speeches. You will have no
prior notice of your day to speak. You will be given 2 minutes to prepare your speech. More
assignment details will be provided in class.
Note:
1.
Both your informative and persuasive speeches must include a visual aid. ONE OF THESE
MUST BE POWERPOINT.
2. Also, you must turn in a folder with all of the following on the day of your informative and
persuasive presentations:
(1) a typed full sentence outline, (2) a typed reference page using APA style, and (3) a copy of your visual
aids/PowerPoint slides. (SLO 2, 7)
Exam 200 points (20% of your grade)
There will be one exam given as a final. Exam will include objective (i.e., multiple choice, true-false, matching, etc.)
and essay question(s). The final exam will be comprehensive. Exams will only be given on the scheduled date. A
review sheet will be provided for exam. Students are required to bring a scantron and #2 pencil.
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Quizzes 100 points (10% of your grade)
You will have many opportunities this semester to demonstrate your superior understanding of the course material
and readings through 10 quizzes over the readings and classroom lecture. Reading is a critical component of this
class. You will be expected to keep up with assigned readings, as not all material in textbook will be discussed in
class. Questions will cover readings of the current week. The point of the quiz is to let your instructor know that
you have read the textbook and understand the concepts. NOTE: Quizzes cannot be made up. If you are absent that
quiz cannot be made up.
Speech Critiques 100 points (10% of your grade): 
Due Dates (SLO 4).
You will write critiques over your classmates’ informative and persuasive speeches. Taken as a set, the feedback
(critique) you provide on your classmates’ speeches will be worth 10% of your final grade in this class (50 points
per set). You may NOT submit a critique for a speech day that you did NOT attend.
• DESCRIPTION: When we listen to student speeches in class, you will provide feedback for each speaker. You
will be given a rubric from which to score your classmates’ speeches. You will turn in your critiques at the end of
the class, for each speech day. You will critique EACH of your classmates’ speeches. Your feedback must address
the following:
1. What were the speaker’s main points?
2. Were the sources cited good, high-quality, credible sources? Did the speaker cite them effectively?
3. Two things the speaker could work on to become a better speaker.
4. Two things the speaker is already doing well.
Spch 1315
Assignment
Presentations 500 points (50% of grade):
Organization Presentation
Overall Grading Summary
Point Value
100
Informative Presentation
150
Persuasive Presentation
200
Narrative Presentation
Impromptu Speeches
Exam 200 points (20% of grade):
Quizzes (10% of grade)
10 x 10 points each
Critiques (10% of grade)
Total
100
25
25
50 total
200
100 total
50
50
100 Total
1000
Final Grade Calculations
900-1000 A
800-899 B
700-799 C
600-699 D
0-599 F
Your Score
6
Spch 1315
SPCH 1315- Tentative Course Schedule
Readings should be completed before you attend class. Look ahead to see what readings are required.
Exam questions will come from classroom discussions, activities, & textbook readings. READING IS A
CRITICAL COMPONENT FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE.
Material
Week 1
August 26-30
Assignments Due
Day 1: Intro to Course
Syllabus
Day 2:
Icebreaker
Quick Start to Public Speaking.
Day 3:
Discuss Chapter 1-Communication Model
Week 2
September 2-13
Day 1: Labor Day, College Closed
Day 2:
Tuesday: Discuss Chapter 2, Speaker
Confidence
Day 3:
Discuss Chapter 7 Organizing a Speech
Lecture on Basic Speech Organization
Assign Organization Speech
Week 3
September 16-20
Day 3: Read Chapter 1
Day 2: Read Chapter 2
Day 3: Read Chapter 7
Day 1: ORGANIZATION SPEECHES
Day 2: ORGANIZATION SPEECHES
Day 3: ORGANIZATION SPEECHES
Week 4
September 23-27
Day 1:
Discuss Chapter 3, Listening
Day 1: Read chapter 3
Day 2: Discuss Chapter 4, Audience
Day 2: Read Chapter 4
Day 3: Continue Audience
Week 5
September 30October 4
Day 1:
Introduce Informative Speeches; Assign
Informative Speech Assignment
Day 2: Discuss Informative speeches; Topic,
Purpose, Main points
Day 3: Discuss research/support.
Day 1: Read Chapter 11
Day 2: Read pages 102108(CHAPTER 5)
Day 3: Read 111-119(chapter 5)
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Spch 1315
Week 6
October 7-11
Day 1:
Continue Research/Support
Day 2: Review Organizing a successful speech.
Discuss Outline for Informative Speech.
Day 3: Discuss Delivery of a Speech
Short workshop for rough outline.
Week 7
October 14-18
Day 1: Continue Delivery of a Speech.
Critique Speeches for practice. Short outline
workshop.
Day 2: INFORMATIVE SPEECHES
Week 8
October 21-25
Day 3: INFORMATIVE SPEECHES
Day 1: INFORMATIVE SPEECHES
8
Day 1: 124-127(chapter 6)
Day 2: Review chapter 7
Day 3: Read chapter 8
Rough outline due.
Day 1. Final outline due.
Day 2 & 3: Turn in critiques at the
end of each class period.
Day 1 & 2: Turn in critiques at the
end of each class period.
Day 2: COMPLETE INFORMATIVE
SPEECHES
Day 3: Visual Aids
Day 3: Read Chapter 10
Week 9
Oct 28-Nov 1
Week 10
November 4-8
Week 11
November 11-15
Day 1: Introduce Persuasion. Assign
Persuasive Speech; Discuss critiques of
Informative speech
Day 2: Continue Persuasion
Day 3: Continue Persuasion
Day 1: Continue Persuasion
Day 2: Continue Persuasion
Day 3: Workshop for Persuasive speeches.
Day 1: PERSUASIVE SPEECHES
Day 2: Read Chapter 12
Day 3: Rough Outline Due
Day 1,2,&3: Turn in critiques at the
end of each class period.
Day 2: PERSUASIVE SPEECHES
Week 12
November 18-22
Day 3: PERSUASIVE SPEECHES
Day 1: PERSUASIVE SPEECHES
Day 2: PERSUASIVE SPEECHES
Week 13
November 25-29
Day 3: COMPLETE PERSUASIVE
SPEECHES/Discuss critiques
Day 1: Discuss Perfecting Language Style,
Chapter 9.
Day 2: Assign Final Presentation.
Week 14
Dec. 2-6
Day 3: THANKSGIVING BREAK—NO
SCHOOL
Day 1: FINAL PRESENTATION
Day 2: FINAL PRESENTATION
Dec 10-13
Final Exams
Day 3: FINAL PRESENTATION
Review for Final Exam
See schedule for final exam time
Day 1, 2, & 3: Turn in critiques at the
end of each class period.
Day 1: Read Chapter 9