Speech Communications, Fall 2014
Section #2277 Monday’s, 6:00 – 9:10 p.m.
Course Objectives:
I. General:
To improve one’s ability as a communicator
To improve one’s ability to evaluate the exchange of communication in the public arena.
II. Specific:
To develop an understanding of the intention of the speaker, message and audience in creating
meaning
in the public transaction.
To develop an awareness of the responsibility of the capable speaker and the critical listener in a
democratic society.
To develop an understanding of audience analysis and ability to adapt messages to audiences.
To develop the ability to analyze issues, research them, build arguments, support and refute them.
To develop an effective use of voice and body movement in public speaking.
To develop greater skill in evaluating the public speaking of others.
Attendance Policy:
Regular attendance is required and will be considered in your overall evaluation. You are allowed a maximum of
two excused absences; absences beyond this will result in deduction of 10-points for each missed class. Anyone
with excessive absenteeism (i.e. three or more) will be dropped. If the drop deadline has passed, excessive
absenteeism can result in a failing grade in the class.
Late Work:
Specific presentation dates will be assigned to all students. It is your responsibility to be prepared; any conflict with
speaking dates must be communicated to the instructor in advance. YOU have elected to take this course at this
designated hour of the day. You are therefore accountable and responsible to make every effort to budget your time
and plan your personal, family and work schedules to accommodate the class meetings and the preparation time
necessary to fulfill the speaking assignments. ANY speech not delivered on the assigned speaking date will
result in a ZERO for that assignment! ANY outline not turned in on the assigned speaking date will result in
a ZERO.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.
Demonstrate an understanding of the communication process through intention, organization, drafting,
revision, editing and presentation.
2.
Exhibit an understanding of listening skills and audience analysis techniques in the context of public
presentations.
3.
Differentiate methods used in different speaking occasions.
4.
Practice effective verbal and nonverbal delivery skills in the context of public presentations.
5.
Create outlines that illustrate effective research and writing skills.
6.
Present and participate in public presentations that reflect diversity in culture.
There will be NO tolerance for the disruption of class/speeches caused by cell
phones or text messaging!
Course Requirements / Evaluation Breakdown:
Oral Presentations and *Outlines:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Object Speech:
*Tribute Speech:
*Informative Speech:
*Persuasive Speech:
75 points
125
150
200
**Full-sentence Outlines 150 (50 points/speech; MUST be typed/word processed)
Topic Due Dates
50 (All submitted topics MUST be typed/word processed)
Attendance
(-10 points class meeting/>1 excused absence)
Total Possible Points:
750
**FULL SENTENCE OUTLINES ARE DUE PRIOR TO THE DELIVERY OF ALL SPEECHES
Final Exam
50 Points
Tribute Speech: Your goal is to introduce the audience to a person that has made a positive impact on your life
(someone you personally know or have known); or a person who has made a positive contribution to the world at
large (a public figure). 3 – 5 minutes.
Informative Speech: Your goal is to give your audience interesting and useful information on a subject or topic
that your listeners wouldn’t have known prior to your speech. Emphasis is on adapting information to this audience
and clarity of exposition. 4 – 6 minutes.
Persuasive Speech: This speaking exercise carries the most weight and should demonstrate the speaker’s strong,
personal interest in and conviction to a topic of their choice. The presentation should lead the audience to recognize
the existence of a significant issue, understand its cause and conclude with some resolution of the issue. Emphasis
will be placed on the quality of the evidence, reasoning and argument / delivery. This is not a speaking assignment
where we listen to the personal testimony concerning product endorsement! A minimum of 3 sources of
researched information must be cited in the body of your speech/presentation as well as in the full-sentence
outline. 5 – 7 minutes.
Note: Not delivering the persuasive speech will have a significant and negative impact on your final grade,
even if you complete the final exam.
Grading standards based on total points earned:
675 – 750 = A
600 - 674 = B
525 – 599 = C
450 – 524 = D
<450 = F
It is your responsibility to drop the class
Tentative Course Calendar
August
25:
Course Introduction; Ethics/Public Speaking; Speaker Anxiety; Object Speech assigned
September
1:
Holiday
8:
Object Speeches [75]; Small Groups formed
15:
Audience Analysis; Selecting a Topic/Purpose; Organizing/Outlining a Speech
22:
Introductions and Conclusions; Tribute Speech sign-up
29:
Tribute Speeches [125 + 50]
October
6:
Tribute Speeches
13:
Using Visual Aids; Speaking to Inform; Informative Speech sign-up
20:
Topics Due: Informative Speeches *MUST be word processed for full credit [25]
27:
Informative Speeches [150 + 50]
November
3:
Informative Speeches
10:
Speaking to Persuade; Persuasive Speech sign-up
17:
Topics Due: Persuasive Speeches *MUST be word processed for full credit [25]
24:
Persuasive Speeches [200 + 50]
December
1:
Persuasive Speeches
8:
Final Exam