Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Course Syllabus
SPCH1113 INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH COMMUNICATION
This course offers instruction on preparation and delivery of extemporaneous speeches.
Emphasis is on audience and purpose analysis, topic research, visual aids and delivery methods.
Activities include delivering various speeches before an audience.
Type of Course: Theory
Credit Hours: 3 hours of theory per semester: 48 hours total per semester
Class length: Full semester
Class format: Traditional
Required synchronous meetings: N/A
Prerequisites: None.
Instructor Name: Sareca Wilson
Instructor Phone: (918) 293-4844
Office: NCAT 103F
Instructor email: sareca.wilson@okstate.edu
Contact: My preferred method of contact is email. Please allow 24-48 hours to return your
correspondence during the normal work week.
Instructor’s Office Hours (Central Time Zone):
Monday, Wednesday: 10:20-11:20 and 2:30-4:30
Tuesday and Thursday: 10-10:30, 2:00-3:30
Friday: 10:20-11:20
Division Name: Arts and Sciences
Division Phone: (918) 293-4768
REQUIRED TEXT, REFERENCES, AND MATERIALS
Texts: SPEAK 2, Verderber/ Sellnow /Verderber ISBN: 9781285077055
Estimated Cost for Text: $68 text (approx)
Materials/Tools: Notebook, 3X5 notecards. Access to Microsoft Office and the Internet.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the course, students should
Course Objectives
Assessment of Objectives
1. Record/save course work on computer
systems.*
2. Develop speeches that communicate a
clear purpose and sense of audience.*
3. Construct speeches that use MLA
style.*
4. Design speeches that demonstrate the
use of intrapersonal communication
skills.*
5. Compose speeches that demonstrate a
plan and a variety of speaking
strategies.*
6. Construct speeches that incorporate
Record/save speeches for face-to-face
delivery or online submission.
Develop and deliver a variety of speeches
considering purpose and audience.
Construct and deliver a variety of speeches
with particular attention to formatting outlines
and works cited pages.
Design and deliver a variety of speeches with
consideration of speaking dynamics.
Compose and deliver a variety of speeches
with particular attention on the speech
planning process and multiple speaking
strategies.
Construct and deliver a variety of speeches
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research.*
with particular attention on supporting ideas
with research, research methods, and crediting
sources.*
7. Create speeches that demonstrate the
Create and deliver a variety of speeches with
use of effective presentation aids.*
a focus on incorporating audio and visual aids
in speech presentations.
Aspects of the course objective assessments may be used in the university’s assessment of
student learning. If applicable, an asterisk (*) above indicates this course is used in the
university assessment program.
COURSE ACTIVITIES
In this course students’ activities may include the following:
 Study speech topics/concepts from text, websites, and instructor-generated materials.
 Deliver a variety of speeches with specified criteria.
 Prepare pre-speech notes, outlines, presentation aids, and research.
 View videos that depict the various concepts on public speaking.
 Participate in in-depth discussions of speech topics and samples.
 Critique and give feedback on other students’ speeches
 Demonstrate a sense of community responsibility and a work ethic based on consistent
class participation.
**GRADES WILL BE BASED ON QUALITY AND COMPLETION OF THE ABOVE
TASKS:
Impromptu Speech……………………………………. 5%
Self-Introduction Speech
……………………… 10%
Special Occasion Speech……………………………...10%
Informative Speech……………………………………20%
*Persuasive Speech……………………………………25%
Participation (discussions, critiques, etc) ……………20%
Final Exam…………………………………………….10%
OSUIT
Grading Scale
A = 90.00 - 100.00
B = 80.00 - 89.99
C = 70.00 - 79.99
D = 60.00 - 69.99
F = 00.00 - 59.99
Aspects of the course objective assessments may be used in the university’s assessment of
student learning. If applicable, an asterisk (*) above indicates this assignment is used in the
university assessment program. This project is the core assessment for this course. A student
must score a 70% to pass this core assessment.
**Percentages are approximate values.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, each student with a disability is responsible
for notifying the University of his/her disability and requesting accommodations. If you think
you have a qualified disability and need special accommodations, you should notify the
instructor and request verification of eligibility for accommodations from the Office of
Academic Accommodations/LASSO Center. Please advise the instructor of your disability as
soon as possible, and contact The LASSO Center, to ensure timely implementation of
appropriate accommodations. Faculty have an obligation to respond when they receive official
notice of a disability but are under no obligation to provide retroactive accommodations. To
receive services, you must submit appropriate documentation and complete an intake process
during which the existence of a qualified disability is verified and reasonable accommodations
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are identified. The LASSO Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Noble Center. You may
call 918.293.4855 for more information or fax documentation to918.293.4853.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is neither condoned nor tolerated at OSUIT. Any student
found guilty of academic dishonesty or misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Academic dishonesty and/or misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following actions:
(1) Plagiarism: the representation of previously written, published, or creative work as one’s
own; (2) Unauthorized collaboration on projects; (3) Cheating on examinations; (4)
Unauthorized advance access to exams; (5) Fraudulent alteration of academic materials; (6)
Knowing cooperation with another person in an academically dishonest undertaking. Students
are required to actively protect their work against misuse by others. For details, refer to The
OSUIT Student Handbook (Student Rights and Responsibilities Governing Student Behavior)
available online at http://www.osuit.edu/academics/forms/student_rights_responsibility.pdf
AUTHORIZED TOOLS
Even though PowerPoint will be the emphasized tool for slide presentations, students may use
other programs that are comparable and can be run from D2L during presentations.
TESTING
During testing, no books or notes will be allowed.
UNIVERSITY & COURSE EXPECTATIONS
It is the responsibility of each OSUIT student to read, abide by and maintain a copy of the
syllabus for this course. Syllabi are available on the OSUIT website.
Students understand that excerpts or portions of their work may be utilized for institutional
assessment purposes. The purpose of institutional assessment is for verification of student
learning and program improvement. Every effort will be made to keep this information
confidential.
STUDENT CONDUCT
Students are expected to cooperate in maintaining a classroom environment conducive to
learning. Courteous and respectful behavior will be expected from all students each day. All
pagers, cellular phones, and CD and MP3 players should be turned off, especially on days we
deliver speeches. The use of tobacco in any form in University buildings is prohibited.
UNIVERSITY ATTENDANCE POLICY
A primary component of OSUIT's Mission is “to prepare and sustain a diverse student body as
competitive members of a world-class workforce.” Regular and consistent attendance not only
aids in academic success, dependable attendance is a requirement in today's real-world
employment; therefore, regular and consistent attendance is a requirement in all OSUIT courses.
Definition of Attendance/Being Absent and/or Tardy:
Absent means failing to attend all or a significant portion of a class or lab session. Students may
be excused if missing class for situations such as, but not limited to
1.participating in a required university activity such as a field trip
2.fulfilling a military obligation
3.a mandatory court appearance
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4.death in the immediate family
5.extreme illness or accident to oneself or immediate family.
Instructors, at their discretion, may require proof of such events. It is the responsibility of the
student to contact and inform the instructor and/or department in advance of such excused
absences whenever possible.
Tardy means arriving late to class as defined by the individual class instructor. Faculty, at their
discretion, may equate three tardies to equal one absence.
Procedures
Early Intervention:
A. Any student who misses 10% of an individual course (or earlier at faculty discretion)
during a regular fifteen-week semester, or the equivalent portion of time in a shorter
session, will have their name submitted by that course instructor to the OSUIT Early
Alert System for retention intervention.
B. At the point the Early Alert is issued, the student must meet with their assigned
faculty advisor or designated faculty/staff member within seven (7) academic
calendar days for counseling on how to improve their attendance and academic
success.
Excessive Absences:
The University reserves the right to administratively withdraw any student from an individual
course who misses 20% of that course, whether excused or unexcused, and, in the opinion of the
instructor, that student does not have a reasonable opportunity to be successful in the course.
Students should be aware any of the following may impact their financial aid:
1. Being administratively withdrawn from a course
2. Dropping a course
3. Their last date of attendance in a course
Please see OSUIT Policy 2-021 for full details and procedures.
INSTRUCTOR'S POLICY ON ABSENCES
I will take roll every day. Since a portion of your grade is based on participation and you are an
important element in the speech delivery of others, attendance is extremely important. On some
days, we will have in-class group work, journal entries, notes on students’ speeches, etc. If you
are not in class for these, you miss the points for that activity. These points cannot be made up.
Furthermore, those who attend class regularly have the benefit of knowing about the assignments
in-depth and about any adjustments to schedules, requirements of speeches, etc.
Speeches are scheduled; therefore, you need to be in class the day of your delivery. If you must
miss class, you are responsible for any assignments made for that day (exception: participation
points cannot be recalled). Call me or one of your classmates before the next scheduled meeting
so you will be prepared for the next class. Also, check the online classroom for assignments,
announcements, and other important information. If you miss a speech assignment (regardless of
the reason), and you want to make up that assignment, you will need to use the late coupon (see
information above about late coupon).
COURSE CALENDAR: SPCH1113 FALL 2015*
*Subject to change. Any changes will announce via the online classroom or inclass.
Week
Date
1
Aug 31-Sep 4
2
Sep 7-11
3
Sep 14-18
4
Sep 21-25
5
Sep 28-Oct 2
6
Oct 5-9
7
Oct 12-16
8
Topics and Competencies
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Introduction of course
Speaker anxiety
Knowing your audience and purpose
Audience Analysis
Being a good listener
Delivery
Assign impromptu speech
Impromptu speech
Assign self-introduction speeches
Topic development
Organization
Delivery
Clear language
Delivering self-introduction speech
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The special occasion speech assignment
Study speech examples
Using narratives in your speeches
Delivering special occasion speeches
The informative speech assignment.
Oct 19-23
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9
Oct 26-30
10
11
Nov 2-6
Nov 9-13
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12
Nov 16-20
Selecting a topic
Organization: planning the introduction,
the body, the conclusion of your speech
Presentation Aids
Delivering informative speech
Delivering informative speech.
The persuasive speech assignment
The classic argument: using persuasive
strategies and appeals.
Organizational strategies:
problem/solution, problem/cause/solution,
Monroe’s motivated
Using PowerPoint.
Using research
Delivering persuasive speech
Delivering persuasive speech.
Delivering persuasive speech.
Final Exam
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14
15
Nov 23-27
Nov 30-Dec 4
Dec 7-11
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Readings/Speech
Deliveries
Chapters 1, 2, 4,
Chapters 3, 5, 11
Impromptu Speech
Chapters 6, 7
Chapter 10, 11
Self-Introduction
Speech
Chapters 10
Chapter 15
Special Occasion
Speech
Chapters 12
Chapters 6, 7
(review), 8
Chapter 9
Informative Speech
Informative Speech
Chapters 13, 14
Chapters 13, 14
Review chapters 6,
9
Persuasive Speech
Persuasive Speech
Persuasive Speech
Final Exam
LATE WORK
Below is a coupon that can be used one time for late work, regardless of whether absence is
excused or unexcused. If you choose to use the coupon, you must use it for before the next
speech is due unless prior arrangements are made with instructor. Once the coupon is used, any
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other late speech will be given a zero. If you do not use this coupon, you may redeem it at the
end of the trimester for two points added on to your final grade.
Late Coupon
May be redeemed for one late assignment OR two points on final grade.
Assignment__________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
(student signature)
________________________________________________________________
(instructor signature)
________________________________________________________________
(date)
OTHER INSTRUCTOR POLICIES
I use the Online Classroom site as a supplement to the classroom setting. You should request an
account the first day of class (Go to the OSUIT website) and stay in touch with the course work
by going to this site daily. Also, important documents that I hand out in class can be obtained
there. Make sure you check your email frequently; sometimes I try to get in touch with you
through this tool.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIFIC TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS
The bulk of your grade will come from the four to five assigned speaking situations required for
this class. Most assigned speeches will fit a genre of study (special occasion, informative, and
persuasive). However, some of your grade will come from the readings, exams, writing
responses, group work, and your notebook (see more on notebook below). When assigned
speeches, you will be required to prepare (outline, note cards, manuscripts, etc.); some of these
preparations will be part of your grade.
The notebook is graded as a participation grade because what we do in class in recorded in it
(take notes on videos, lecture notes, etc.). Because this is a participation grade, if you miss class
for any reason, you can’t be in class participating so you won’t get the participation points, but
you can still get the notes from classmates for study purposes (the final exam will be somewhat
based on these notes).
OPTIONS FOR WHEN OSUIT WEBSITE IS DOWN
In the event that our online classroom is not accessible through our OSUIT.edu website, students
can always access it through the OSU-Stillwater main campus site by using following
connections:
Online Classroom: http://oc.okstate.edu
Email: http://mail.okstate.edu