Angelina College
Fine Arts Division
SPCH 1315 – Public Speaking
Instructional Syllabus
I.
BASIC COURSE INFORMATION:
A. Course Description: SPCH 1315 – Public Speaking. Three hours credit. Application of communication
theory and practice to the public speaking context, with emphasis on audience analysis, speaker delivery, ethics
of communication, cultural diversity, and speech organizational techniques to develop students’ speaking
abilities. Three lecture hours each week.
B. Intended Audience: The intended audience of this course is any college student who desires to improve
his/her public speaking skills.
C. Instructor:
Name: Charles Alan Boyd
Phone: home-936-569-7008
E-mail Address: paladin73@suddenlink.net , cboyd@angelina.edu
II. INTENDED STUDENT OUTCOMES:
A. Core Objectives Required for this Course (interim)
1. Critical Thinking: to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and
synthesis of information
2. Communication: to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through
written, oral and visual communication
3. Social Responsibility: to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical
decision making.
B. Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational models of communication.
2. Apply elements of audience analysis.
3. Demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills by analyzing presentations for evidence
and logic
4. Research, develop and deliver extemporaneous speeches with effective verbal and
nonverbal techniques.
5. Demonstrate effective usage of technology when researching and/or presenting speeches.
6. Identify how culture, ethnicity and gender influence communication.
7. Develop proficiency in presenting a variety of speeches as an individual or group (e.g.
narrative, informative or persuasive).
III. ASSESSMENT MEASURES
A. Assessments for the Core Objectives: (interim)
1. Critical Thinking: Students are assessed through questions embedded in exams, which reflects
evaluation of persuasive speeches. The questions embedded in exams will measure selection and
understanding of information, application of material, analyzing points of view and arguments, and
formulating solutions.
2. Communication: Students are assessed by means of a rubric which reflects evaluation of written,
oral, and visual communication skills in a speech that utilizes a visual aid. Students will be assessed by
means of the standardized AC rubric for Communication.
3. Social Responsibility: Students are assessed through questions embedded in exams. These questions
will reflect evaluation of intercultural competencies, civic responsibility, and community engagement.
B. Assessments for Course Learning Outcomes (interim)
1. Students will demonstrate recognition and understanding of the foundational models of communication
through questions embedded in exams.
2. Application of the elements of audience analysis will be reflected through questions embedded in
exams.
3. Students will demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills through the presentation of persuasive
speeches.
4. Students will present extemporaneous speeches evaluated by a grading rubric gauging verbal and
nonverbal techniques. Works cited pages will be submitted as well as an outline to evaluate research and
development.
5. Students will demonstrate the effective use of technology by using presentation software in at least one
presentation.
6. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how culture, ethnicity, and gender influence
communication through questions embedded in exams.
7. Students will demonstrate comprehension of presentation skills for a variety of speeches throughout the
semester.
IV. INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:
A. Methodologies common to all sections – Methodologies which are utilized in presenting course content
may include, but are not limited to, lectures, class discussions, student presentations, audiovisual presentations,
role-play activities, and small group scenarios.
B. Methodologies determined by the instructor – will include a group presentation and impromptu speeches
V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES:
A. Required Textbooks and Recommended Readings, Materials and Equipment
Text - The Art of Public Speaking (12th edition), Stephen E. Lucas:
Materials & Equipment – One USB mass storage device for speeches.
Paper and pen for note-taking, activities, and tests.
Resources – Smarthinking is an online tutorial service available in most subjects (accessible through
Blackboard).
B. Course Policies – This course conforms to the policies of Angelina College as stated in the Angelina
College Handbook.
1.
Academic Assistance – If you have a disability (as cited in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) that may affect your participation in
this class, you should see Karen Bowser, Room 208 of the Student Center. At a post-secondary
institution, you must self-identify as a person with a disability; Ms. Bowser will assist you with the
necessary information to do so. To report any complaints of discrimination related to disability, you
should contact Dr. Patricia McKenzie, Administration Building, Room 105 or 936-633-5201.
2.
Attendance – Attendance is required as per Angelina College Policy and will be recorded every day.
Records will be turned in to the academic dean at the end of the semester. You must officially drop a
class or risk receiving an F. This is official Angelina College Policy.
3.
Additional Policies Established by the Instructor: Re: Distance Learning Classes
A. A facilitator should be present in all classrooms. Each class should have a sign-in sheet for each
class meeting. Since I am at another location, attendance, classroom demeanor and necessary
discipline shall be controlled by the facilitator. I will be in contact with the facilitators and offcampus offices to be kept informed of any problems. We will work out the most efficient method
to quickly communicate amongst locations.
B. Tests will be taken up by the facilitator and sent to the instructor. Most tests will not be returned.
VII.
EVALUATION AND GRADING:
A. Grading Criteria
Assignments will be evaluated according to the following scale:
A=90-100---Work that obviously exhibits the highest degree of excellence and overall mastery of concepts
B=80-89---Work that is above average in presentation and indication of understanding but which lacks
somewhat in attaining the highest degree of excellence
C=70-79---Work that is average in presentation and indication of understanding
D=60-69---Work that is below average in presentation and indication of mastery but which indicates
enough understanding to be considered acceptable
F=59 and below---Work that does not meet acceptable standards due to either incompleteness or failure to
properly address the specific criteria for the assignment
B. Determination of Grade:
Exam #1
Exam #2
Exam #3
5%
5%
10%
Speech #1
Speech #2
Speech #3
Speech #4
Speech #5
11%
11%
11%
11%
11%
Outlines
Daily Work
10%
15%
C. Assignments
The instructor may modify the provisions of the syllabus to meet individual class needs by informing the class in
advance as to the changes being made.
Dual credit courses
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students will receive a numeric and letter grade at the end of the semester.
Students shall be treated as adults. Some subjects that may be off limits in traditional high school
classes may be discussed. The instructor expects the students to have a level of maturity to deal with
these topics. Regarding topics, facilitators in individual locations in distance learning classes have the
final say regarding the appropriateness of topics for your site.
Because the high school has attendance expectations and sometimes many school activities, the
instructor will work with the students as much as possible to accommodate. Students are expected to
be prepared for any assignments, tests or paperwork due when they are absent and when they return.
If students know ahead of time about school related absences, it is their responsibility to inform the
instructor and be prepared to delivery speeches, paperwork or other assignments at a time convenient
for the class and instructor.
Fall Calendar, 2015
Week of :
Aug. 24- Introduction to class, Syllabus
Aug. 31- Chapter 1, 2min. Intro speeches
Sept. 7- Labor Day, Read Ch. 2-4
Sept. 14- 3-4min. Pop Culture Speech, Test Ch. 1-4
Sept. 21- Read Ch. 5-6
Sept. 28- 4-5 min. Education Persuasive Speech, Read Ch. 7-9
Oct. 5- Read Ch. 10, Test Ch. 5-10
Oct. 12- 4-5 min. Cultural Beliefs/ Political/Social Issues Persuasive Speech, Read
Ch. 11
Oct. 19- Read Ch. 12-13
Oct. 26- Read Ch. 14-16
Nov. 2- “Debate” Speech
Nov. 9- Read Ch. 17-19
Nov. 16- 5-7 min. Q&A Speech
Nov. 30Dec. 7- Final Exam