COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
Summer I 2008
SPCH 1315 - PUBLIC SPEAKING - Rm. I-215
.1S1 10:10am-12:10pm
Spring Creek Campus
2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy
Plano, TX 75074
972-881-5982/5810/fax5629
email: rlong@ccccd.edu
Ralph L. Long
Office: H-215
Office Hrs:
7:00-8:00am
Instr. Web http://iws.ccccd.edu/rlong/
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Public speaking continues to be the number one fear of most Americans; yet, effective public speaking skills
are essential in promoting social change, social cohesion, and a common social purpose. For example, public
speaking skills are necessary when presenting proposals to business colleagues, offering opinions at school
board meetings and city council meetings, and giving sermons in places of worship. The SPCH 1315 course
will provide an opportunity for students to apply basic principles of effective public speaking through the
original creation of messages; will foster a desire in students to give and receive constructive criticism
regarding public speaking efforts; and will provide an opportunity for students to derive standards for the
critical appraisal of public address.
REQUIRED TEXT
Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking (9th edition) new York, NY. McGraw Hill. 2007
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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;
3. understand the importance of cultural diversity and its impact on effective communication, in both oral and written
form, and be able, through audience analysis, to create an effective message for the intended receiver(s);
Course Outcomes
As a student, you will:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
choose topics for four formal oral presentations that are appropriate for you, the audience, and
the speech occasion that you will deliver in class.
learn methods of controlling nervousness that work for you rather than against you.
learn the benefits of why good listening is important to effective speechmaking, both as a
speaker and an audience member.
distinguish between an informative speech and a persuasive speech.
research your speeches using various reference tools in the library.
demonstrate appropriate uses of various types of visual aids.
distinguish among the introduction, body, and conclusion of the speech, and demonstrate
correct application of each through your presentations in class.
make a correct, detailed formal outline for each of the speeches.
demonstrate effective body movement, eye contact, facial expressions, and vocal inflection in
your oral presentations.
participate as an effective, continuing member of a small group.
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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:
Graded Activities
Point Value
Informative Speech: 6-8 min. with VA
Persuasive Speech: 6-8 min. with VA
ADS/Story/Interp Speech: 5-7 min
100 pts
100 pts
100 pts
4 Tests @ 40 pts each
160 pts
Your Score
1.____ 2.____ 3.____ 4.____
Video/CDSpeech Analyses: 2 @ 30 pts each
Peer critiques:
2 sets @ 15 pts. each
60 pts
30 pts
1.____ 2.____
1.
2. ___
Self-Critiques
Reaction
10 pts
Extemporaneous
10 pts
Informative
10 pts
Persuasive
10 pts
All self-critiques are due 2 class periods after presentation date.
The questions on the critique sheet must be fully answered on your self-evaluation.
8 Labs @ 25 pts each
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
200 pts
Introduction speech (2-4 minutes)
Extemporaneous speech - outline (5 pts), manuscript (5 pts)
2 sources (3-5 minutes)
Informative outline (10 pts), manuscript (5 pts)
1.____ 2.____
works cited (5 pts): min. 6 sources, VA (5pts)
Reaction Speech - outline (5 pts) manuscript (5 pts)
3.____ 4.____ 5.____
2 sources (3-5 minutes)
6.____ 7.____8.____
Persuasive outline (10 pts), manuscript (5 pts)
works cited (5 pts): min. 6 sources, VA (5pts)
Impromptu Speech
Final Speech ADS: outline (5 pts), manuscript (10 pts)
works cited (10 pts): minimum 3 sources; Storytelling/Interp. copy of literature with introduction
Power Point presentation for at least one of the following speeches: informative, persuasive.
Attendance
110
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
900
The final course grade will be determined as follows:
A
B
C
D
F
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=
=
=
=
=
810
720
630
540
0
-
_______
_______
900 points & all assignments
809 points & all major speeches (informative, persuasive, ADS/story)
719 points
629 points
539 points
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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.

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 8:00 a.m. Tuesday it must be
turned in by 8:00 a.m. Wednesday. After this time no credit will be given for the assignment. There
will be no make-up speeches on the day of the final.

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. Any test that needs to be
taken after the normal test date will be given during the week prior to final exams. It is the student’s
responsibility to contact the instructor to arrange for the make-up exam.

All assignments done outside of class must be typed to receive credit (e.g., manuscripts, outlines, etc.).
Bibliography will be in MLA format.

Visual aids must be technologically generated; i.e., no hand-drawn posters or chalk/whiteboard. The
LRC has the computer programs to assist with the production of V.A.s. and the development of
speeches. You will utilize this technology in this class. Visuals are required for the Informative and
Persuasive speeches.

"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.

All tests will be taken in the Testing Center (Room J-232 SC). Do not take tests during the scheduled
class period. If you do, you will be considered absent.

Any speech in which the minimum number of sources is not used/cited will receive a grade of no higher
than a "C". This includes oral citing when presenting the speech as well as in written form in the
manuscript. This applies also to speeches read directly from notes.

Time limits need to be adhered to. Speeches more than 1 minute under or over will also receive a
grade of no higher than a "C".

Topics for the extemporaneous and reaction speeches will be taken from current newspapers. Topics
for the informative and persuasive speeches will be taken from a current issue of one of the following
magazines:
Time, Newsweek, or US News and World Report. Topic dates: May 1, 2008- July 3, 2008
Other sources may be used with prior approval.
NOTE: 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.
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*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 points
5 absences =
0 points
1 absence
=
100 points
2 absences =
70 points
3 absences =
40 points
4 absences =
10 points
Additionally, for each 15 minutes or portion thereof, you arrive late or leave early, 2 points will be
deducted from your attendance grade.
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. Additionally, do not
ask to give speeches 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.
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.
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 which you must initiate. I cannot do it for you. You may do this in the Student
Development area. If you stop attending and do not withdraw, you will receive a performance grade--usually
an "F." 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 drop form. If you do not have a copy
of the form with all the appropriate signatures, you may not have completed the process!
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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 the faculty member and/or the
Services for Students with Disabilities at 972-881-5950 in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate
accommodations.
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 (in Summer I, this equates to 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.
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, this is 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 two (2) internet
sources (source is posted only on the web, no hard copy exists) may be used toward your required minimum
sources. Additionally, Wikepedia may not be used as a credible, scholarly, research source for any
assignment.
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.
FYI: This syllabus is intended to be a set of guidelines for SPCH 1315, Public Speaking. 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.
All speeches for which a critique is due will be videotaped. The class tape will be placed in the media
center after the speeches are completed so that each student may view the tape and critique his/her
speech
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SPCH 1315 – Calendar –Summer I 2008
6-9 M
Get acquainted; Review syllabus
6-10 T
Ch. 1 & 2 Interview
6-11 W
Ch. 3 & 4 Interview Take Test 1 (Ch. 1,2,3 & 4) by 6-16-2008 @ 8:00 pm
6-12 R
Introduction Speeches Ch. 13 media workshop
6-16 M
Ch. 5
6-17 T
Ch. 6 & 7
Take Test II (Ch. 5,6,7 & 13) by 6-23-2008 @ 8:00pm
6-18 W
Ch. 8, 9, & 10
6-19 R
Ch. 11 & 14
Take Test III (Chapters 8,9,10 & 11) by 6-26-2008 @ 8:00pm
6-23 M
Ch.12
6-24 T
Extemp speeches
6-25 W
Ch. 15 & 16
6-26 R
Continue 15 & 16 if needed Informative peer critiques
Take Test IV (Chapters 12, 14, 15 & 16) by 6-30-2008 @ 8:00 pm
6-30 M
Informative Speeches
7-1 T
Media persuasion
7-2 W
Reaction Speeches
7-3 R
Impromptu practice
7-7 M
Impromptu
7-8 T
Complete Impromptu if needed Persuasive peer critiques
7-9 W
Persuasive Speeches
7-10 R
Final Speech
Chili Pepper Speech Analysis due
The Ultimate Gift Speech Analysis due
Speeches
ADS/Storytelling/Interp
Testing Center - J232 - Hrs. M – R
F
S
8:00 am – 9:00 pm
8:00 am – 3:00 pm
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Must be in testing center one (1) hour prior to closing to be issued a test.
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