Public Speaking
Comm 2303
Dr. Ly nn Me ad e
Office Location:
Office Hours:
Unofficial hours:
Kimpel Hall 704
M/W/F 12:30-1:20 or by appointment
(I’m usually in the office preparing for class at 8:459:10 and 2:30-3:00 –you are welcome to pop in)
Please come and visit me if you need help. Helping you is never a bother—it
is my pleasure.
Email Hours:
Email Address:
Email checked Monday - Friday at 9:00 and 2:30
lmeade@uark.edu
Cell Phone:
479-445-4967
Course Website:
http://comp.uark.edu/~lmeade/Communication/publicspeaking.htm
Supplies Needed:
A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking: Second Edition. Dan O’Hair,
Hannah Rubenstein, and Rob Steward. Copyright 2007.
Supplies to make or buy an award (less than $5.00)
Money for the toast speech -- $15 (collected at the end of the
semester)
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Major Assignments and Objectives
Introduction Speech
Main Focus: Storytelling. Creating word pictures
Brief Description: Students make a speech were they tell a story about how they were
changed.
Objectives:
To train students in storytelling by learning how to create word pictures
To create winning introductions
To emphasize voice projection and eye contact
To introduce basic speaking organization and delivery
To give students opportunities to gain confidence as speakers
Demonstration Speech
Main Focus: Managing the complexities of working with visuals
Brief Description: Students make a speech where they demonstrate how to do something.
Objectives:
To train students to work with visuals while maintaining audience contact
To create winning transitions
To develop strong voice projection and eye contact
To develop speaking organization and delivery
To give students opportunities to gain confidence as speakers
Controversial Speech
Main Focus: Thinking through and developing arguments; Learning to detect biases
Brief Description: Students make a speech were they argue for both sides of a controversial
issue with equal enthusiasm and equal research.
Objectives:
To create winning conclusions
To learn to use detailed research while continuing to maintain eye contact
To give students opportunities to gain confidence as speakers
To learn to detect and eliminate biased language
To effectively incorporate research
To learn to use Power Point effectively
To avoid common fallacies
Persuasive Speech
Main Focus: To organize persuasive arguments that are sensitive to the needs of the
audience, to use inoculation effectively
Brief Description: Students make a speech where they persuade the audience to do
something
Objectives:
To build arguments using ethos, pathos, and logos
To focus heavily on connecting with the audience through eye contact, body language
and voice control
To integrate visuals seamlessly
To create conclusions that asks the audience to do something
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Major Assignments and Objectives
To learn to use detailed research while continuing to maintain eye contact
To give students opportunities to gain confidence as speakers
To effectively incorporate research
To avoid common fallacies
Ceremonial Speech:
Main Focus: To move an audience emotionally through narration and identification
Brief Overview: Students make a speech that celebrates a person, event, or monument.
Objectives:
To use colorful language to create distinct emotions
To focus on timing of the speech to create building sensations
To use a manuscript
To effectively use pacing and voice control
To utilize magnification and narration effectively
To relax and enjoy speaking
Award Speech
Main Focus: To learn the mechanics of giving an award
Brief Overview: Students create and give an award to another student in class.
This is a fun day and a much-needed boost late in the semester. This speech helps
students gain confidence and is a great way to help everyone regain momentum.
Objectives:
To learn the mechanics of giving an award
To pace a speech
To celebrate the achievement of others
Toast Speech
Main Focus: To learn the mechanics of doing a toast
Brief Overview: Students attend a luncheon and give a toast to a classmate. This speech is a
great way to close the semester on a positive note
Objectives:
To learn the mechanics of giving a toast
To develop occasion specific and person specific statements
To learn the manners of giving a toast
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Major Assignments and Objectives
Midterm Exam
Main Focus: To identify fallacies in speeches
Objectives:
To allow students the opportunity to read and examine famous speeches
To teach students to look for fallacies in persuasive arguments
To make students aware of fallacies so they are less likely to have them in speeches
Final Exam
Main Focus: To identify colorful language in speeches
Objectives:
To allow students the opportunity to read and examine famous speeches
To teach students to look for colorful language in speeches
To help students learn colorful language so they will use it in their own speech
Outline Clinics
Main Focus: To help students prepare arguments and ideas in advance
Objectives:
To help students build better speeches by providing peer and instructor feedback
To allow student the opportunity to read and learn from other’s speeches
To have students prepare speeches before the delivery day so they will have time to
practice
Riding the Bike and In-Class Activities
Main Focus: To help students gain confidence as speakers
During the semester, we will do many activities. Some will be serious and others may
seem silly at first. Each is designed to help you develop a specific skill as a speaker.
These activities are never just filler but each has a specific objective that is designed
to help you develop as a person, as a listener, and as a speaker.
What is Riding the Bike?
If I taught a class on bike riding, I would have us ride the bike as much as possible. After all,
the only way to learn to ride a bike is to get on the thing and start peddling. The say is true
for public speaking. The way to learn to speak well is to get up and speak. As an instructor,
my role is to guide you in a new skill and have you get up and try it. Since this is a public
speaking class, you will be speaking as much as possible. Because you will be doing so
much speaking, this class should help you to be a more confident speaker.
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Assignments
What scores will make up my grade?
Speech of Introduction
100
Informative Speech
100
Informative Speech Outline and Clinic Participation
50
Informative Speech: Controversy
100
Informative Speech Outline and Clinic Participation
Miscellaneous: Quizzes, and Activities Riding the Bike
Toast Speech -- Final Exam
** Will be at lunch**
50
50
50
Award Presentation
50
Persuasive Speech
100
Ceremonial/ Tribute Speech
100
Ceremonial Speech Outline and Conference with teacher
_________________________________________________________
Midterm Take Home Exam
50
100
Final Take Home Exam
100
Take Your Total Number of Points and Divide by 1000 for your grade
In order to receive the grade of A or B in this class, all speeches (introduction,
informative, persuasive, tribute, toast, and award) must be completed.
Poor attendance can lower your overall class grade. You are given 3 free absences.
After that, each absence will cost you five percentage points.
Grading Scale
A = 90-100
B= 80-89
C=70-79
D = 65-69
F= Below 64
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Methods of Instruction:
You can expect any of the following methods of instruction in this class
Selected reading: The text will provide information about Public Speaking
topics. Students are expected to keep up with the readings as outlined on the
course schedule. Students may be given additional readings; these will be emailed to the students or posted on the website at the appropriate time.
Classroom discussion: Learning will be enhanced by guided
discussion of specific topics.
Warm up activities: Short activities are designed to stimulate thought and
to allow you to get to know others in the class
Lecture: The instructor will reinforce important areas covered in the textbook
and expand on related areas not covered in the textbook in a lecture format.
Videos: Numerous educational videos and feature films will be used to help
explain pertinent concepts.
Practice Speeches and Critiques: The best way to learn public
speaking is to speak. Students will be given many non-graded opportunities to
speak in various formats. Students will be asked to give impromptu speeches
and the instructor and other classmates may provide oral or written critiques.
Outline Clinics.
Before each speech, students will bring a prepared,
complete outline of his or her speech. Students will exchange outlines and make
recommendations for improvement. Before each outline clinic, students will print
off a checklist and bring copies to class to be used in the clinic.
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TICKET
Good for One Free Absence
TICKET
Good for One Free Absence
TICKET
Good for One Free Absence
Attendance Policy
A considerable amount of the learning in this class takes place as a result of in-class
activities, class discussion, practice speeches, and lecture material, it is therefore
very important that you attend class. Attendance is mandatory, however, students
will be granted three “free” absences before points will be deducted from his/her
grade. If you are sick or going out of town, you do not need to notify me—that is
why you have free absences. Free absences cannot be used on days when
speeches or other assignments are due.
Five percentage points will be deducted from a students overall grade for
each absence after three. If you miss 9 classes or more, you will receive an
“F” for the course
Students who have perfect attendance will have the privilege of having one
percentage point added to their overall class grade.
There may be individual circumstances that will cause repeated lateness or special
circumstances that will create absences, please notify the instructor at the beginning
of the semester so these will not be interpreted as a discourtesy. Any student who is
tardy may be asked to do additional work or asked to give an impromptu speech.
A “missed class” is defined as
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Any day that you do not attend class
Any day that you miss more than 10 minutes of class
Any day you sleep in class
Any day that you use class time for personal items such as checking
your messages, doing crosswords, doing unrelated reading, etc.
Excused Absences
Students will not be counted as having a missed class if all the following
conditions are met:
1. The absence is due to a university-required activity or a university
recognized religious holiday
2. I am notified in advance
3. I receive documentation from a supervisor
If you miss a class, it is up to you to find out what you missed. You should get any
classroom notes from another student. You will be held responsible for any
information, announcements, or assignments that were made during your absence.
If you miss on the day we draw speech numbers, you should assume that you go
first and be prepared.
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Late Work Policy
It is not fair to people those who make an effort to turn in their work on time to
treat their grade the same as those who turn in work late. All work must be
turned in during class time on the day that it is due. Speeches must be made
on the assigned days. If you are not in class on the day that speeches are
assigned, you should be prepared to speak the first day.
If you know that you are going to miss the class when an assignment is due
you should:
(1) turn it in early;
(2) have someone else bring it to class for you; or
(3) e-mail the work to the instructor by the deadline.
You should e-mail the work to both your own e-mail account as well as to
mine. If I do not receive your e-mail due to some “computer glitch,” you can
simply print off the copy that you e-mailed yourself (with the sent date) and I
will accept it. If I do not receive the e-mail and you do not have your own email confirmation, then the work will be penalized for being late.
Late work will not be accepted except in extreme circumstances. The
instructor reserves the right to make individual exceptions. Even when
exceptions are made, the work will loose 10%.
It is very difficult to schedule make up speeches, therefore, students must
give speeches on the day that they are assigned to speak. Make-up will only
be allowed in extreme circumstances and is at the sole discretion of the
instructor. If a make-up grade is permitted, there will be an automatic
minimum 10% reduction in the grade. It is the responsibility of students with
University approved absences to notify the instructor in advance of the
absence and then those students will be scheduled accordingly.
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Students with Disabilities
If you are registered with the Center for Students with Disabilities, you
should notify the instructor during the first week of class of any certified
accommodations that you may need. Reasonable accommodations will
be made. If you need to contact the Center for Disabilities, they can be
reached at 479-575-3104.
Inclement Weather Policy
If the University should officially close due to inclement weather, your
class will not meet. You can easily find out if the university is closed in
one of the four following ways:
 Call 575-7000
 Listen to KUAF Radio, 91.3 FM. The University's Radio Station
makes regular announcements if the university closes.
 Call the University Switchboard at 575-2000
 Access the University's Inclement Weather Policy on the
Homepage
 In the event of questionable weather situations, I will try to email you at your uark address to notify you if we will be having
class.
Off-campus students who find travel too hazardous to attempt, will not
be penalized, but will be responsible for any work missed. If (in your
best judgment) you are unable to get to class because of inclement
weather, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor via e-mail.
You should exchange contact information with two of your classmates
as early as possible in order to find out the information that you
missed.
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Course Rules and Expectations
 Students are expected to read the textbook chapters before they come to
class as outlined on the syllabus. Pop quizzes may be used to check reading
comprehension.
 It is important that we are respectful of one another particularly during
speeches. Any distractions-- whispering, note passing, cell phones, pagers,
entering class during a speech-- during presentations will result in a lowering
of the offenders grade 20%.
 Please, turn off cell phones and pagers during class. If your cell phone rings
during someone else’s speech, you will loose points.
 Please, do not enter class while a student is making a speech.
 Text messaging during classroom time is a form of disrespect both to the
instructor and to your classmates; please do not use classroom time for this
purpose. Please turn your cell phones on vibrate or mute before class
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Academic Honesty
All class assignments and exams must be completed independently, cheating
and plagiarism will be punished according to the University of Arkansas
standards. You are expected to conduct yourself and perform course work in
accordance with the highest standards of honesty. Plagiarism means using
any person's work without acknowledging its true source, including your own
work used for another class or school. In addition, recycling all or part of
someone else’s speech, "borrowing" a speech outline, using internet material
without citing it, cheating on an exam, or sharing exam questions with other
students are all considered academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated!
Students are expected to be familiar with the College Catalog and adhere to
the rules specified by the college, particularly those regarding academic
honesty. Students will work independently on assignments, exams,
speeches, and classroom requirements unless directly specified by the
instructor. Students who are caught plagiarizing classroom assignments may
experience any of the following as a result. Other penalties may result as
outlined in the catalog.
If a student is caught in academic dishonesty, then the following
penalties will result.
o The student will have to redo the assignment but will not
receive credit for the assignment. If the assignment is not
redone to an acceptable (If graded would be at least a “C”)
level, then the student will receive an “F” for the overall class
grade. The student has 3 class periods to complete the
assignment.
o The student will have to write a five-page paper describing
what academic dishonesty is and why it is a problem. The
paper should have no less than three sources. The student
has 3 class periods to complete the paper, or the grade of
“F” will be given for the overall class grade.
o The student will automatically receive a “0” on the
assignment or 20% deduction in overall class grade
(whichever is greater).
“I did not know” is not a legitimate excuse for academic dishonesty. It is
important therefore to be familiar with what the university considers to be
academic dishonesty.
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Academic Dishonesty Policy
From the University of Arkansas website
http://www.uark.edu/ua/ethics/academic1.html
Definitions of Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty involves acts that may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational
process at the University of Arkansas. Included is an act by which a student gains or attempts to gain
an academic advantage for himself or herself or another by misrepresenting his or her or another's
work or by interfering with the completion, submission, or evaluation of work. These include, but are
not limited to, accomplishing or attempting any of the following acts:
1. Altering of grades or official records.
2. Using any materials that are not authorized by the instructor for use during an examination.
3. Copying from another student's paper during an examination.
4. Collaborating during an examination with any other person by giving or receiving information
without specific permission of the instructor.
5. Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining information about an examination not yet administered.
6. Collaborating on laboratory work, take-home examinations, homework, or other assigned work
when instructed to work independently.
7. Substituting for another person or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself to take an
examination.
8. Submitting as one's own any theme, report, term paper, essay, computer program, other written
work, speech, painting, drawing, sculpture, or other art work prepared totally or in part by another.
9. Submitting, without specific permission of the instructor, work that has been previously offered for
credit in another course.
10. Plagiarizing, that is, the offering as one's own work the words, ideas, or arguments of another
person without appropriate attribution by quotation, reference, or footnote. Plagiarism occurs both
when the words of another are reproduced without acknowledgement or when the ideas or arguments
of another are paraphrased in such a way as to lead the reader to believe that they originated with the
writer. It is the responsibility of all University students to understand the methods of proper attribution
and to apply those principles in all materials submitted.
11. Sabotaging of another student's work.
12. Falsifying or committing forgery on any University form or document.
13. Submitting altered or falsified data as experimental data from laboratory projects, survey
research, or other field research.
14. Committing any willful act of dishonesty that interferes with the operation of the academic
process.
15. Facilitating or aiding in any act of academic dishonesty.
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