Spring Semester 2010

Paula K. Dixon, M.A.

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Course Description

This course focuses on 1) speaking and listening, 2) speech preparation, 3) presenting the speech, and 4) varieties of public speaking. Students will perform various types of speeches integrating technology like PowerPoint into oral presentations.

Course Requirements

Required Text

Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking. 10th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2008. ISBN 0077306295.

E-mail Requirement

Students MUST activate their campus e-mail accounts with our college no later than one week into the semester. The instructor distributes and collects assignments via campus online resources such as campus e-mail and NetLearn. Students should check messages at least 2-3 times each week. Basic e-mail operations will be reviewed in class by the instructor as needed.

Course Goals

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the communication process, communication skills and an understanding of the impact of personal attributes toward communication activities. Communication skills play a major role when developing personal skills.

Course Objectives

This course is designed to help you achieve the following liberal arts core learning objectives:

“competently prepare and deliver oral presentations on assigned topics using a variety of speech styles, using appropriate language and delivery techniques, using correct speech components, and incorporating visual aids and technology in a credible manner adapted to a target audience.”

Please be aware that you need to be prepared to be tested on these objectives when you take Senior Seminar and that the Liberal Arts Core Exit Exam currently counts as 15% of your Senior Seminar course grade. You are encouraged to keep all of your notes and copies of any graded assignments, essays, or exams at least until you have completed Senior Seminar.

Through this course, students are able to do the following:

• write preparation and speech outlines for the development and delivery of extemporaneous speeches,
• identify and demonstrate the components of a speech (introduction, body, conclusion and transitions),
• develop and demonstrate the following proper style and delivery qualities when presenting a speech: maintaining eye contact, not using filler language and using appropriate vocabulary for painting word pictures in a speech,
• create and use visual aids and PowerPoint as a supplement to the oral speech presentation,
• demonstrate an ability to adapt a speech to a particular audience,
• establish and build credibility when presenting a speech,
• deliver a persuasive speech incorporating the six objectives above.

Course Procedures

Attendance Policy
Class participation is vital. Significant portions of course material will be presented through in-class interactive assignments and discussions; therefore, attendance will directly affect your success and course grade. Each absence is a one-point deduction from the final course grade, and each tardy is a 1/2-point deduction from the final course grade. Attendance is recorded by the instructor in NetLearn. If absences or tardies are because of college-sanctioned events, then the absence will be recorded but the absence or tardy will not carry a penalty.

Responsibility Grade
Ten percent of the course grade will be a direct reflection of the student's attendance, conduct in the classroom, participation in class discussions, group work, interaction with peers, instructors and guests. This reflects issues of attitude, effort, attentiveness, timeliness, participation, the ability to work well with others, meeting deadlines, etc.

Automatic Grade Reductions
1. Reading a Speech
Presentations require extemporaneous speaking style, not manuscript. Students who read or appear to read will receive zeroes on those assignments.
2. Missed Deadlines
Because of the nature of the business industry, timely communication, and the importance of time management skills in any field, this instructor does not give full credit for any assignment or in-class exercise after the deadline/due date. Late submissions result in a deduction of 20 points per each day after the deadline for the assignment or exercise.
Each deadline for each assignment and exercise is clearly outlined in the course schedule of this syllabus, and the instructor usually reminds students frequently about upcoming deadlines. However, it is the responsibility of the student to keep up with deadlines and plan accordingly.
If the student foresees a problem with meeting a deadline, for example an absence on that particular deadline date, then that student should plan to submit that assignment before the deadline and should talk to instructor to arrange that. Early submissions are always welcome.
3. Failure to Cite Sources
Assignments which intentionally or unintentionally omit sources will receive a grade of zero. The instructor may or may not give one warning, but do not expect two. This refers to written, visual, and audio sources. "In plain language, plagiarism is taking someone else’s work and passing it off as one’s own without proper acknowledgment or documentation" (www.ala.org, July 3, 2003).
4. Copyrighted Works
Unless the artists or their representatives have granted permission to use a copyrighted works, students will NOT be allowed to use copyrighted works in their projects. This includes--but is not limited to--music, film, images, etc. Violations will result in a grade of zero.

EC's Distance Education Policy
Because some of this course is handled in an online format, please be aware of Emmanuel College's policy:
"Because of the nature of online courses, if a faculty member has any concerns that a student’s work might not be his/her own, the College reserves the right to require any distance education student to take or re-take any quizzes or exams in a supervised setting. Furthermore, under such circumstances, the College reserves the right to base the entire course grade upon the results of a supervised comprehensive exam. Students refusing to take supervised quizzes/exams will be subject to administrative withdrawal from the course(s). Attempts by any student to buy, borrow, or steal work from another individual for the purpose of submitting that work as one’s own will be treated as the equivalent of actually having submitted the work and may result in failure of assignment, failure of course, and/or expulsion from the College."

Dress Code
Students are expected to comply with the dress code of modesty in the Student Handbook.
 

Examinations

Four exams will be given and constitute 25 percent of the overall course grade (see Class Schedule for dates). Students who anticipate absences on exam dates should arrange to take tests before exam dates. Approval is at the discretion of the instructor.

Conversely, students who do not anticipate absences but are unable to attend class on exam dates may be allowed at the discretion on the instructor to complete late exams. However, late exams must be completed within one week of the original exam date; a doctor’s excuse or similar documentation is required to receive the opportunity to make up a missed exam. Failure to take exams on scheduled dates results in automatic elimination of any curve or bonus points which might be added to exam scores. 

Speeches

Students are able to apply their knowledge of communication studies, its various contexts, and public speaking by preparing and delivering a variety of presentations. Students will use Microsoft PowerPoint presentation software to enhance clarity and persuasiveness of presentations. Click below for more information about each.

	Self Concept (Object) Speech
	Good-Bad Speech
	Informative Speech
	Persuasive Speech

Grading Scale

A = 93-100, A- = 90-92, B+ = 87-89, B = 83-86, B- = 80-82, C+ = 77-79, C = 73-76, C- = 70-72, D+ = 67-69, D = 63-66, D- = 60-62, F = 0-59

Examinations...25%

    Test 1...5%

    Test 2...5%

    Test 3...5%

    Test 4...10%

Speeches...50%

    Self Concept Speech...5%

    Good Bad Speech...10%

    Informative Speech...15%

    Persuasive Speech...20%

Written Assignments...15%

    Discussion Board...5%

    Informative Speech Outline...5%

    Persuasive Speech Outline...5%

Responsibility Grade...10%