Dr. Sharon Taylor email: staylor@mail.sdsu.edu
Telephone: (619) 594-6712
Office: Communication Bldg, Room 226
Office Hours: M & W 12:30-1:30
Course Prerequisites........................................................................................................................ 2
Required Textbook.......................................................................................................................... 2
Course Format, Description and Objectives ................................................................................... 2
Course Description...................................................................................................................... 2
Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 2
Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Educational Philosophy .............................................................................................................. 2
Policies, Procedures, and Courtesies .............................................................................................. 2
Blackboard and email ................................................................................................................. 2
Tournament Participation Requirements .................................................................................... 2
Attendance .................................................................................................................................. 3
Testing......................................................................................................................................... 3
Grading ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Students with Disabilities ........................................................................................................... 3
Required Assignments .................................................................................................................... 3
Parli-Debate ................................................................................................................................ 4
Policy Debate .............................................................................................................................. 4
Categories of Speaking ............................................................................................................... 4
Event Supplies ............................................................................................................................ 4
Preparation & Coaching .............................................................................................................. 5
Semester Tournaments ................................................................................................................ 5
Other important requirements ..................................................................................................... 5
Representing SDSU .................................................................................................................... 5
Personal Note .............................................................................................................................. 6
Forensics Staff Contact Info ........................................................................................................... 7
Dr. Sharon Taylor ....................................................................................................................... 7
Marquesa Cook-Whearty, Debate Coach ................................................................................... 7
Brianna Quintero, I.E. Coach ...................................................................................................... 7
Communication 301, Forensics Schedule, 2014 ............................................................................. 8
Communication 301, Forensics Syllabus Dr. Sharon Taylor Page 1 of 8

Communication 103 OR SPECIAL PERMISSION
None
Planning, preparation, and supervision of forensic tournament events and other interscholastic activities. Maximum credit three units.
This class will consist of both teaching sessions and individual instruction. The course will be presented in lecture, demonstration, coaching sessions, practice performances, etc.
The course is a credit/no credit course worth 1-3 units.
This course is for the student who is interested in intercollegiate forensics (speech and debate) competition. Class and individual instruction is provided in the following speaking categories: platform speaking, limited preparation events, oral interpretation and debate. This course may be repeated.
Because San Diego State University finances this activity, it should not be considered as an entitlement. We are competing on behalf of the university and as such, we will be maximizing your talent and your dedication to the program. All competitors who expect to travel to tournaments outside of San Diego County will prove their commitment to the program through hard work, continuous practice, and performances. To this end, the rigor for the class is as follows:
This course will also use the SDSU Blackboard system. Use your Red ID and PIN to log into the system at https://blackboard.sdsu.edu/webapps/login . All students enrolled in Special Studies will automatically be entered in the Blackboard system. Blackboard will primarily be used to post grades. If necessitated by emergencies, e-mails will be sent to students using the e-mail address on file with the university.
In order to receive a credit in the course you must compete in one tournament and compete in one or two events. In the spring semester, the required tournament is:
Communication 301, Forensics Syllabus Dr. Sharon Taylor Page 2 of 8


Southwestern College or Saddleback College
Your attendance is essential & requires significant preparatory activity outside of the normal class hours. I expect you to arrive on time to class and / or appointments and to stay the entire time assigned.
No testing is currently anticipated. Tests will be your performance results, right?
This course is graded as Credit/No Credit. A passing grade will be given when a student has prepared the satisfactory events specified in this document and participated in the local tournament.
Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services, located in the Calpulli Center, Suite 3101, as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion..
Information regarding their services follows:
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm
Mailing Address:
Student Disability Services
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4740
Mail Code: 4740
Test Accommodation Center (TAC)
Calpulli Center, Suite 1300 (first floor)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm
(extended hours for test administration)
(619) 594-2643
WorkAbility IV
Tel: (619) 594-6473
Fax: (619) 594-4315
URL: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/sds/
Calpulli Center 3101 & Career Center
Contact Cheryl Rietz @ 594-8480
High Tech Center and Student
Support Services Project
Love Library 205
Hours: Mon - Thu, 8:30 am-5:30 pm
Fri, 9 am-5 pm
(619) 594-5315
If you decide to compete in individual events and to wish to compete for a spot on the travelling squad outside San Diego County, you will be required to do a minimum of 3 events. Hopefully, most of you will do 4 events. This requirement applies whether you are a returning competitor or new to the program.
One week prior to attending a tournament, all events will be viewed by a coach, or by me.
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If you are doing Parli team debate, please check with Marquesa Cook-Whearty. She will advise you regarding an additional event besides debate. You may add a third event if you so desire. A third event might be extemporaneous or impromptu speaking. Your individual events will be viewed by an assistant coach or by me 1 week prior to attending a tournament. It will be the coach who determines if you are prepared to compete at a tournament outside of San Diego
County and represent SDSU.
If you are doing policy debate, you and your partner will dedicate yourself solely to this event.
You will be doing work that is the equivalent of 3 or 4 events. The research requirement for this form of debate is approximately 20 hours per week.
These requirements are in keeping with other nationally competitive teams both at the four year and two year levels.
Platform speaking,
They are referred to as “Plats”

Informative

Persuasive

After dinner speaking

Communication analysis

Cultural artifact*
Limited preparation speaking
These are referred to as “Limited prep”

Impromptu

Extemporaneous
Oral interpretation,
They are referred to as “Interp”

Poetry interpretation

Prose interpretation

Dramatic interpretation

Programmed oral interpretation

Dramatic duo
Debate,
Either referred to as “Parli” or Policy
There is also Lincoln Douglas Debate

It is referred to as LD
Debate
 “Flow” paper: legal sized notepads or larger paper, Required for Parli Debate

Colored pens, Optional

Post-it notes, Optional

Coaches will suggest other supplies
Communication 301, Forensics Syllabus Dr. Sharon Taylor Page 4 of 8

Oral interpretation

A small 3 ring black book with plastic page covers is required.
It is best to get these through theblackbookdepot.com ( http://www.theblackbookdepot.com/ ).
They are cheap, durable, and you will get the right type of book and cover pages for competition.
Limited prep

3x5 white note cards, Required
Plats

Sturdy foam boards for visual aids, required if using a visual aid

3x5 white note cards, Optional
Individual coaching sessions may also be arranged outside of the normal class meeting period by appointment
No platform speech will receive coaching without you first presenting a complete outline to the coach working with you.
No interpretation program will receive coaching without you first presenting an approved cutting of all pieces and a rough outline.
These will be announced at the beginning of the second week of the semester.
As part of the class, you are also a member of the forensic club. We receive a money from
Instructionally-Related Activities. As such, our funding is tied to being a club and as a club, we do service work. The forensic club has officers and they will meet with you and keep you informed regarding service projects we are planning.
You must sign a waiver for travel and you must adhere to the SDSU policies covering students who travel while engaged in a college activity. I will provide you with the forms.
You must have an email address on Blackboard and check it at least three times a week!
You must watch Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association speech videos on
( http://pscfa.org/Videos.htm
) and other demonstrations suggested by the coach with whom you are working. This must be done before being coached in delivery of the event.
You represent the university, the college, and the School of Communication. Your behavior at tournaments and your interaction with coaches and competitors from other colleges should reflect well upon these agencies.
Your tournament dress should be formal if competing in individual events and your demeanor
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should be sensible, mature, and well-mannered. You will become familiar with many of the coaches and competitors. Your behavior is an integral part of your success - trust me. Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
The coaching staff of SDSU has tremendous experience in forensics. They will make the calls regarding who competes with whom; who is doing the work needed to succeed and who is not; and finally, who is ready to travel and who is not.
I have worked closely with these coaches and I trust them implicitly. They have my full support.
The following behaviors cannot and will not be tolerated.
 You don’t, or won’t, follow the advice of the coaches. Debate teams will be paired by the coaches and not by you. You may start with someone you know or have debated with last year. If coaches deem it beneficial to change team members, changes will be made.
This may happen more than one time.

You miss appointments with the coaches or your colleagues.

You participate in gossip, degradation of other team members or coaches.

You participate in divisiveness between those who do a particular type of debate or those who do individual events.

I receive consistent complaints from coaches or tournament personnel regarding your behavior.
Forensic competition is a tremendous opportunity for you to advance your communication skills- a lifelong benefit. It is important to remember that it is not an entitlement.
I believe it is going to be an amazing semester for the team. If you work hard, listen to the coaching staff, and apply your talent and your knowledge, you will succeed. The more events you participate in the more chances you have to medal. The more you succeed the more the team succeeds. Let’s make this semester one of successes predicated on hard work and lots of fun.
Communication 301, Forensics Syllabus Dr. Sharon Taylor Page 6 of 8

Dr. Sharon Taylor
Director of Forensics
Office: Comm 226
E-mail: staylor@mail.sdsu.edu
Marquesa Cook-Whearty, Coach
Parliamentary debate
Lincoln Douglas
Office: Comm
Email: mcwhearty@gmail.com
Brianna Quintero, Coach
Policy debate
Interpretation Events
Office: Comm
Email: quintero.brianna@gmail.com
Annie Kincade
Limited Prep and Platform Events
Office: Comm
Email: anniekincade@gmail.com
Coaching hours: by appt.
Office phone: (619) 594-6712
Coaching hours: By appt.
Please write and set up an appointment
Coaching hours: by appt.
Please write and set up an appointment
Coaching hours: By appt.
Please write and set up an appointment
Communication 301, Forensics Syllabus Dr. Sharon Taylor Page 7 of 8

Tournament Schedule Given during 2 nd week
Wk Month Date Activity
1
2
3
Jan
Feb
22 Introduction to course, Course overview: Syllabus, Introduction of staff, Forensics club officers
27 / 29 Event selections and breakout sessions
3 / 5 Event selection deadline
Breakout sessions and appt sessions established
10/12 Breakout sessions with materials OR appointments with materials 4
5
6
7
8
9
Mar
17/19 Breakout sessions
24/26 Breakout sessions
3/5 Breakout sessions
10/12
17/19
Breakout sessions
Breakout sessions
10 24/26 Breakout sessions
11 Mar/April 31/2 Spring Break
12
13
7/9
14/16
Breakout sessions
Breakout sessions
14
15
21/23 Breakout sessions
28/30 Debriefing and projecting
16 May
17 May
5/7 Demonstrations and Discussions
9 Final Exam: Friday , 5 PM
Communication 301, Forensics Syllabus Dr. Sharon Taylor Page 8 of 8