4435 SPC-205 Course Outline: Introduction to Oral Communication 2011 Spring Term Mon - Wed – Fri: 9:00am – 9:50am Classroom: BACO 115 Kenton Anderson Email: kba2@buffalo.edu Telephone and Text: (917)557-6182 WEBLOG: kba2@wordpress.com NOTE: ALL emails, texts and emails MUST include your full name and phone number so I can find you quickly and easily to respond. Required textbook: Bruce G. Bryski and Timothy J. Brown, Public Speaking for Success: Strategies for Diverse Audiences and Occasions (3nd edition), Hayden-McNeil, 2010. Course Objectives: 1) Give students as much practical speaking experience as possible. 2) Help students gain speech confidence and/or reduce communication apprehension. 3) Help students gain speech outlining, topic selection, and delivery skills for the wide array of public speaking needs they may need in their careers or to meet their personal life goals. 4) Help students better critically analyze and evaluate their own and others’ speeches. 5) Help sensitize students to the need for gaining listening skills and behaviors which may help them reach life goals. 6) Help students better develop persuasion, group communication and interview skills. 7) Introduce students to the integration of theoretical skills with public speaking performance. Grading Policies % Equivalent Grade A AB+ B BC+ C 93-100 90-92.9 87-89.9 83-86.9 80-82.9 77-79.9 73-76.9 CD E 70-72.9 60-69.9 0-59.9 Achievement Point Value Total Points: 400 Excellent Very Good Very Good Good Above Average Above Average Average (Lowest passing grade for Comm Majors) Below Average* Below Average* Failing 4 3.67 3.33 3.0 2.67 2.33 2.0 372 – 400 360 – 371.6 348 – 359.6 332 – 347.6 320 – 331.6 308 – 319.6 292 – 307.6 1.67 1.0 0.0 280 – 291.6 240 – 279.6 0 – 239.6 1 Grading in this course follows the system laid out in the Buffalo State Handbook. “A” = 4.0, Excellent. “A-”=3.67, Very Good. “B+”=3.33, Very Good. “B”=3.0, Good. “B-”=2.67, good. “C+”=2.33, Satisfactory. “C”=2.0, Satisfactory. “C-”=1.67, Passing (for all but Communication Majors), but Unsatisfactory. “D”=1.0, Passing, but Unsatisfactory. E=0.0, Failure. The following assignment points are added together to get your grade in the course. Class Participation, Classmate Intro, Weblog Handouts Reactions, Rough Draft Outlines, Self-Evaluation Response Papers, Outside Speech Report = 100 points. Quizzes & Tests = 200 points. Informative #1 Speech = 100 points. Informative #2 Full Research Speech = 200 points. Group Project, Debate = 100 points. Persuasive #1 Speech = 200 points. Videotape Self-Development Project = 100 points Evaluation sheets for each assignment itemize the points further to detail each requirement of the assignment. CAREFULLY NOTE THE FOLLOWING: 1) Public speaking is a very demanding performance course, even though I do not have a midterm exam and/or final exam as long I see the class is keeping up to date on readings by passing quizzes and incorporating the book information into their speeches and outlines. Be sure to keep up on your readings, topics, outlines and quiz prep so you stay on track. 2) This is a speaking course, so the grading is heavily weighted toward reflecting student’s improvement in ability to SPEAK in public, in small groups, and intrapersonally as demonstrated in formal classroom assignments. The majority of your grade is determined by the skills you demonstrate in following instructions, organizing, carefully preparing and delivering your speeches. 3) CAUTION: Most of the points in this course are awarded in the second half of the semester. Be aware that your midterm average may NOT be realized in your final grade unless you continue to improve your skills and demonstrate continued mastery over the course material. Conversely, a low midterm grade CAN be improved by extra effort in the second half of the semester. Classroom Policies This is a performance class, so the following is the protocol, which is a mutual contract between all of us. Rude or discourteous behavior is not acceptable. Profane or vulgar language is generally not acceptable in formal speeches. Attendance is required at all class sessions, especially speech days. More than two unexcused absences will result in a final course grade lowered by ½ letter for each additional unexcused absence. Missed speech days are not allowed makeup without extreme circumstances documentation, as approved by instructor for performing on the first day returning, time permitting. Students are not to leave the classroom once class has begun. Please take care of all personal business before entering the room. If you leave the class before the class ending time, you will be marked absent or late. 2 Please do not enter or leave the classroom during a classmate’s performance. No cell phone calls, texting or holding cell phones or other devices in your lap or under the table during class. This distracts your classmates and instructor, affects your concentration, and is generally regarded as juvenile behavior in a pre-professional setting such as the college classroom. Cell phone calls are not considered by the Speech Department to be emergencies and are to be completed before or after class—not during it. (If your phone rings, please quietly turn off the sound and remain focused on the class). Laptops are only used for lecture note taking and speech visual aids. Students who abuse this privilege will no longer be allowed to use laptops in class. No Gum. Information Systems Literacy Requirements All students are required to be Information Systems Literate for this class. One specific requirement is that all students must check their college email DAILY. If Banner allows, you may have your Banner emails forwarded to your regular email. However, you are STILL responsible for any emails sent. Examples of such emails will be updates for class changes, printouts required for in-class participation, and other announcements. In addition, I will grade all possible written work, including rough drafts of outlines, online. In order to facilitate this, we must coordinate our software during the first week of class. Therefore, ALL students must send me–during the first week of class –an email from their preferred account, with a WORD.DOC attachment which lists their Name, Address, Phone Number, Email, Buff State ID, Level, AND PHOTO. I will mail it back with comments written in the margin. You are required to answer the questions in the margin and email it back before the next classtime. IF YOU PLAN TO CHECK YOUR CORRECTED, EMAILED ASSIGNMENTS FROM YOUR PHONE, MAKE SURE YOUR PHONE HAS SOFTWARE TO VIEW MY WRITTEN COMMENTS, WHICH ARE A SIDEBAR IN THE ATTACHED FILE I RETURN TO YOU. ALL assignments will have these comments if I say in my return email “See Attached.” Late Policy As part of their mutually understood contract with each other, students and teachers are both required to be on time for classes. Students who are repeatedly late will, after the second late, received a lowered final grade (1/2 letter). Each second late thereafter will result in a further ½ letter lowering of the final grade. Readings Students MUST keep up with the readings ON TIME to pass this course. Most of the specific speech requirements are described in detail in the textbook and are NOT gone into in depth in lectures. Class time is largely reserved for performances, instruction in delivery techniques and BRIEF lectures on book material. In order to give students time to properly absorb the material and prepare their speeches, book readings are assigned for dates comparatively early in the semester. Reading assignments are to have been read BEFORE coming to class on the day they are listed (with the exception of the first class day). Quizzes and exams will be given at beginning of class the day the readings are due. Detailed lectures will usually follow quizzes. All students are required to read my blog daily to check for updates clarifying readings or reserve materials. I also have some audio or video links and other examples you are occasionally required to watch and respond to online. These are found at kba2.wordpress.com. 3 All students are also required to fill out a short online survey during the first week of class. This is found at surveymonkey.com. Online Homework: Properly formatted rough draft outlines are required electronically emailed as Word.doc approximately one week before each speech (see schedule below). If I do not receive your outline by the deadline before speech day, you will not be allowed to speak and will forfeit the grade for that speech. I will make edits, suggestions, and return the draft for you to change and hand in on your speech day. You are required to hand in a final paper version of your properly formatted outline as you get up to speak on speech days. If you do not hand in the properly updated paper final outline, you will not speak and will forfeit the grade for that speech. Class Assignments Extemporaneous speaking means 5”x7”notecards are allowed for main points only—not word-for-word reading or memorization. Practice your timing: Speeches that are 10% over or under time limits receive “F.” No late speeches, tests or assignments. No unexcused makeups. It is usually impractical to schedule time for the class to listen to makeup speeches. It is not fair to penalize students whose assignments are on time or reward those whose are not. ANNOTATED Research Bibliographies are required for Informative and Persuasive Speeches. Each source must have 2-3 sentences minimum explaining its credibility level and value in your research. See the sample of an annotated bibliography on the weblog. The format followed must be the American Psychological Association (APA) style or MLA, the stylebooks for which can be found in the library or bookstore. All Outlines, Bibliographies, and other assignments are to be TYPED. CAUTION: DO NOT WAIT until the morning of class to do printing, since computer failure or non-last-minute-access is unpredictable and there are no late assignments accepted. Weblog Reaction Paragraphs Each student is required to view the weblog at kba2.wordpress.com early each week and respond to at least one new entry with a short, 2-3 sentence/1 paragraph statement explaining its use, value, or irrelevance. Self-Evaluation Response Essays For each recorded speech, you are required to write a one-page, double-spaced selfevaluation response describing the speech’s strengths, weaknesses, and your goals for improving the next speech. Please use the criteria in the book and lectures for critiquing your performance. These criteria will include the many aspects of delivery, organization, speech apprehension, critical thinking, and logic mentioned in Bryski & Brown (2010) and class lectures. These are due one week after the last performance day of each speech. Submit these electronically as Word.docs. Personal Development Video Each student will create a 5 minute video or movie to post on Youtube showing excerpts from their public speaking experiences in the class and showing how they have improved, learned, or gained from the class. This will be viewed and discussed by your classmates instead of taking a final exam during the evaluation period at the end of the semester. Humor is allowed. Outside Speech Viewing and Evaluation Paper Each student is required to watch a professional (makes their living as a speaker) speaker or rhythmic performer outside our classroom and write a one-page, electronically-submitted critique of the performance, using 5-6 textbook or lecture concepts as evaluation criteria. 4 Concepts may include delivery, organization, rhythm, or any others discussed in the text or class lectures. These are due on the last day of class the week before the evaluation period. Listening Educated speakers are required to be audience-centered. Therefore, the educated audience has its own responsibilities. Listening skills are a requirement of this course. Interrupting a peer’s speech or the professor’s lecture is not appropriate adult, academic behavior. If you are late for class, put your ear to the door, listen, and wait until the end of the student speech or an appropriate break in the instructor’s lecture before entering the room. Further, students are expected to respect the right of others to undistracted audience attention during speeches or lectures. Remember to sit up straight, keep your eyes open and focused on the speaker, smile and nod encouragingly, and otherwise support the speaker, or you are not giving full respect as a listener and your grade will reflect that choice. Plagiarism/Academic Honor Code Academic integrity is the foundation of a college education. It is assumed all student work is ORIGINAL and created solely by the student (unless in a group project). All speeches must provide proper credit to all resource sources, interpretations, ideas, and previously published or broadcasted documents (including the internet). Plagiarism on speeches such as repeating or buying previously performed speeches, cheating on quizzes, fudging research sources or statistics, etc. will not be tolerated. Faculty responses to dishonesty and violations of the honor code range from assignment/entire course failure to expulsion from college. DON’T cut corners with your speeches and your education. Each assignment deserves your best effort and honest attention. Academic Freedom Both the instruction and class atmosphere should encourage you to pursue new and creative paths to success in public speaking. Innovation and Humor are important keys to professional public speaking success. However, freedom of expression and action does carry with it responsibility. As such, everyone must be aware of the line of good taste and judgment that exists in American society and in choosing and presenting speech topics or discussion points. At no time shall work in or for class be considered acceptable or allowed if it puts an individual or group of individuals in physical, emotional, or psychological risk. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation, production, and/or articulation of any particular work or object, potentially harmful acts, and/or utterances, words, or statements that can be construed as abusive, insulting, profane or stigmatizing. Failure to respect the above-mentioned policy may result in your ejection from class and possibly the course. The instructor has final veto power on all speeches and speech topics. Library Research Becoming a credible speaker requires that you carefully choose research sources for evidence that is reliable and verifiable. Therefore, you will need to use find and use five (minimum) separate, discrete sources for each of the speeches (except the impromptus). You must use each piece of evidence gathered, cite it aloud during your speech as you use it, and cite it in written form in the outline—both at the end of the sentence referring to it (in parenthetical, APA form) and also in full citation form (APA) in the reference list at the end of the outline. You must also include the source information on your speaker cards so you remember to give the sources credit aloud. Acceptable sources will only be credible current newspapers, magazines, and scholarly peer-reviewed journals. I will only allow one online independent website citation per speech. 5 While you may use Google or Yahoo for your own preliminary research to become familiar with a new topic area, these are not considered credible scholarly sources and I do not allow them to be used as speech sources of evidence. I also do not allow citations from encyclopedias and dictionaries. I encourage you to go beyond the minimums listed here and do extra research for better grades and subject mastery. You may find The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Christian Science Monitor helpful for current topics of a general nature. Other databases such as Polling the Nation, Lexis/Nexus, or Sociological Abstracts may give you more evidence for specialized topics. Extra Credit In general, there is no standard extra credit opportunity in this course. AudioVisual Requirements Since this is a practicum class, all students are responsible for the complete viewing, analysis, and self-critique of their in-class performances. Each day of speeches will normally be uploaded to a private account on youtube, and will be available to our class for viewing for the entire semester. Each student is required to view each speech he or she gives, analyze it and critique the performance by writing a brief one-page discussion of its strengths, weaknesses, and improvement goals for the next one. (Please address issues of delivery, preparation, outlining, sources, critical thinking, and other topics we learn about in class. Short response papers are to be electronically submitted within one week after the speech is performed. Any speech without a response paper will lose 10% of its grade. Alternately, students notifying me in writing at the beginning of the semester may opt to bring their own recording devices and be responsible for saving the recordings thru the end of the semester. Completed forms for each type of speech are usually due one week after the last person gives that speech. Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities Any student who requires accommodations to complete the requirements and expectations of this course is invited to immediately make his or her needs known to the instructor and to the coordinator of services for students with disabilities, Twin Rise South Wing 120; 878-4500. Hints for Success in the Class Studies have shown repeatedly that communication skills correlate positively with others’ rating of your credibility and with career success. This class builds a skill base you can draw on for life. Best of all, you can start improving your skills and techniques from the very first week of class, if you work on them. Have fun building an investment you can see grow right before your eyes (and everybody else’s)! 1. Twice a week courses cannot be prepared for in a few hours before the class period! It is recommended that you spend at least six one-hour study periods per week (more as your first speech approaches) outside of class in order to succeed. Additionally, class work seems to EXPLODE after the fifth week (as you’ll be speaking very often after that). Please use the first month of this term thinking about multiple topics, reading the text, and starting initial research for your speech obligations. If a student allows this time to be non-productive, experience shows that they have a very difficult time catching up or benefiting from the course. 6 2. Students who find themselves overly concerned or consumed with nervousness are encouraged to seek me out and work briefly one-on-one with me. In these sessions, mock classroom experiences will be presented to alleviate jitters and provide useful survival strategies. So as to not offend any student, I ask that you take the responsibility to seek this free additional assistance, if desired. I GREATLY enjoy these times, so don’t be afraid to approach me! 3. While a personal home computer gives amazing access to a range of online materials, it is not the only way to develop a speech for this class. Get to know the Buff State campus library, its printed materials, and its computerized databases. USE the reference librarians online and ask them for help, if you need it. 4. For speeches that have a formal preparation outline due, the outline must be turned in to your instructor at the start of your speech presentation (which means you’ll need an extra copy for you at the lectern). It must be typed, stapled, printed on only one side, and placed in proper subset form, according to your text (I., A., 1., a., etc.). Response papers, outlines, and reaction paragraphs should be handed in on the date due electronically. Late work is never accepted by the instructor. 5. Different speeches affect people differently. In a mixed audience, such as our class, be sure to choose topics that appeal and to and challenge you and ALL members of the audience. Creativity is sometimes needed. The instructor does not assign or “give out” topics except for the group persuasive speech. Otherwise, check the text, your friends, the newspaper, or the world around you for inspiration. 6. Speech presentations are always scheduled at least one class in advance. However, external events, long-winded students, limited time, and instructor discretion does not a guarantee a speech date. It is best to be ready in ADVANCE of your date, as indicated on the course calendar. 7. Tongue and/or mouth piercings is strictly prohibited on speech days. On speech days, you should dress in neat, clean casual clothes that represent your “best look” (collared shirts, khakis/corduroy, no hats, jeans, flip-flops, or sunglasses). Ties and dresses are NOT necessary. All cellular telephones, palm devices, beepers, and pagers must be turned off at the start of each speaking day. Computers in class may only be used for taking class notes & not for electronic communication. 8. Grading for this course is inherently subjective. Emphasis is placed on information acquisition, organization, AND a continuous verbal and physical communication delivery style. In this way, someone who is not naturally gifted as a public speaker can aspire to the top range of grades while those who are more confident of their speaking skills will be encouraged to dig deeper and try harder to grow and excel with each presentation. 10. As a general guide, students who earn an “A” on their 7 first speech report working eight to ten hours in preparation, with each subsequent speech becoming easier. They also studied two hours per written chapter of the textbook. Reading the text in preparation of lectures and then reviewing it afterward is a very sound strategy for success in this course. Courtesy Reminders: As a courtesy to your peers and me, please be in your seat and ready for work by the beginning of class time (as found on the wall clock). Be ten minutes early on days you are scheduled to speak, and have all electronic media attached or uploaded in console before classtime. You are expected to remain in class until it is formally dismissed. To help the instructor better learn your name and be able to call upon you for discussion (which counts toward your grade), I ask that wherever you choose to sit the first day or two please sit in that same seat for at least the first month or so, using a large-print nametag that you will see on the desk today. This will help familiarize me with your name and face and help me better serve you. The name tags can be stored in your folder between class days and picked up there each day and placed on your desk so I can read it from the front. I also require you to email me before the end of the first week of class a photo of yourself that I can use to help memorize your name. It will not be available to others. Remember to include your name with the photo. (The foregoing Academic Honor Code, Academic Freedom, Library Research, Hints for Success and Courtesy Reminders have, by permission, been adapted in part from SUNY Professor Robert Armstrong’s materials.) 8 WHOOPS! CERTIFICATE This certificate is good for one missed quiz, evaluation response paper, or weblog response entry without a required excuse. Must be stapled to a note explaining which assignment is being replaced and handed in within one week after assignment due date. (May not be used for speeches, outlines, or self-development videos. Limit one per student.) 9 Course Schedule Week & Date: 1. Mon –Wed - Fri (1/24 – 1/ 26 - 1/28) Class Topic or Activity Course Introduction. Name Game. Watch Partner Intros. Explain Apprehension Survey. Lecture: 3 Broad Speech Types. 2. Mon –Wed - Fri (1/31 – 2/ 2 - 2/4) Lecture: Inform #1 Prep. (Lecture: “How To” Speeches Using VAs, Outlining.) Chs. 1 Nature of Communication, 2 Overcoming Speech Anxiety. 3. Mon –Wed - Fri (2/7 – 2/9 - 2/11) Lecture: Chs. 3 The Listening Process, 4 Audience Analysis Review Topic Exercises (Inclass activity.) Assign Topic Exercise Handout. Assign Projected Topics for Semester. Lecture: Chs. 5 Disabilities and Public Speaking, 6 Topic Selection and Research Read Chapters 3&4 Handouts: (Wkbk Selections.) Due: Topic Exercise Worksheet and Projected Topics Sheet. Quiz 1: Chs. 1, 2, 3, 4. Sign up for Dates for ALL speeches. (See sheet) 4. Mon –Wed - Fri (2/14 – 2/16 - 2/18) Happy Valentine’s Day! Assignment & Readings Due Electronic Handouts: Syllabus; Weblog Journal Reactions; Inform Packets. Assign Partner Intro Speech Weblog “Handout”: Partner Interviews. Assign: Student Surveys (Blog: CA & Monkey Survey.com). Explain Weblog Reactions weekly requirement. Hand in: Student CA Questionnaires. Blog Surveys Due. Students check email and blog for printouts. Quiz Study Guide. Read Chapters 1& 2 Lecture, Cont’d. Chs. 7 Using Support Material, 8 Organizing Your Message. Final Topics Due. Assign Rough Draft Outline Inform 1. 10 Lecture: 9 Introductions and Conclusions, 12 Informative Speaking, 5. Wed - Fri (2/23 - 2/25) Monday 2/21: President’s Day Recess! Quiz 2: Chs. 5, 6, 7, 8. Group Work: Audience Survey Questionnaire Online—Persuasion Speeches Writing. Audience Survey and Analysis Assign Questionnaire. (create on Survey Monkey.com and send link to class and teacher). Due: 10 Delivery, 14 Presentational Rough Draft Speaker Cards Aids. and Electronic Word.doc RD SPCI Exercises (In-class or Prep Outlines Due (Formatted Take-home worksheet, as Properly). Evaluate Student time permits) Outlines. Assign: Intro and Conclusion Worksheets (print out from blog). Due: Worksheets. Quiz 3: 9, 10, 12, 14. Due: Finished copy of Audience Persuasion Questionnaire emailed to Professor and links sent to all. Handback Student Draft Outlines. 6. Mon –Wed - Fri (2/28 – 3/ 2 - 3/4) 7. Mon –Wed - Fri (3/7 – 3/9 3/11) 8. Mon –Wed - Fri (3/14 – 3/ 16 - 3/18) Inform #1 “How To” Process Speech with Visual Aids (3-5 min.) (Recorded) Finish Inform #1. Lecture: Inform #2 Prep before Library Visit. Assign Informative #2 Researched (6 sources), 6-7 min. Person, Place, Event, or Concept Speech. Incorporating Theory. Time Permitting, View and Evaluate Sample CDRom Speeches. Library Visit Finished Final Version Speaker Cards and Typed Paper Preparation Outlines Due. LECTURE AND SPEECH PREP View sample speeches online. For Inform #2: Topics, Inclass Worksheets, Outline Prep. Look over Handwritten Rough-rough Draft Outline Due at end of period. Self-Evals and Peer Evals Due (Inf. 1). Rough Draft Speaker and Typed Prep Outlines Due. 9. Mon –Wed - Fri (3/21 – Chs. 11 Language and Handout or Blog Printout: 11 3/23 - 3/25) Communication, 13 Persuasive Speaking (Brief Overview to prep for topic selection). Class Activities. Book Excerpt from Poetic Forms. Begin Inform #2 (6-7 Minutes; Researched: 6 Sources minimum). Finished Speaker and Typed Prep Outlines Due. Assign Persuade Final Topics. Handout: Student MidSemester Progress Reports. Evaluate Students’ RD Outlines. Persuade Final Topics Due. 10. Mon –Wed - Fri (4/4 – 4/ 6 - 4/8) M-W-F 3/28, 3/30, and 4/1 are Spring Break Recess! Inform #2 (as needed) Handback Persuade Topics. Lecture: Persuasion #1 Prep. Inf #2 Self-Evals Due. 13 Persuasive Speaking, Assign Rough Draft Outlines cont’d, 15 Ceremonial for Persuade #1. Speaking. 11. Mon –Wed - Fri (4/11 – 4/13 - 4/15) 12. Mon –Wed - Fri (4/18 – 4/20 - 4/22) 13. Mon –Wed - Fri (4/25 – 4/27 - 4/29) 14. Mon –Wed - Fri (5/2 – 5/4 - 5/6) View and Evaluate Sample CDRom Speeches. Persuasion Formats and Avoiding Logical Fallacies. Quiz 4: Chs. 11, 13, 15. Ch. 16 Group Communication, 17 Group Discussion and Problem Solving. Ch. 18 The Interview Process. Persuade #1 Debate Group Speeches (7-8 Minutes, 10 Sources). Evaluate Student Outlines. Due Electronically: Word.doc Group Project Typed Rough Draft Outlines (Handback Student Outlines.) Finished Speaker and Typed Prep Outlines Due. See blog for group assignment outline guidelines. Persuade #1 Group Speeches Persuade #1 Group Speeches Rough Drafts Individual Prep for Individual Speeches Persuasion Speech Due Individual Persuasion Speeches Read Chs. 16, 17, 18. Evaluate Student Outlines. Cont’d Speeches/Study Day Quiz 5: Chs. 16, 17, 18. (Note: NO Self Evals for Individual Persuasion 12 15. Mon –Wed - Fri (TBA) Critique/Eval Period Speech Due!) View Final Youtube Videotapes, Makeup Speeches/ Optional Final. HAVE A GREAT BREAK!!! 13