COM-1-L03 - Elements of Speech (2017/SP)

COMMUNICATIONS 1: The Elements of Speech

SPRING

2017

LEMOORE CAMPUS

 

Instructor:  Daryl L. Johnson

E-mail:  daryljohnson@whccd.edu

 

I am  available to answer questions by e-mail. I will respond within 24 hours Mon-Thursday.  On weekends I will respond as soon as possible, but no later than the next business day.

 Text:  Essentials of Public Speaking 6th Edition by Cheryl Hamilton

Class Meeting Days/Times:  7:00-10:00  TUESDAYS

Span of Session:  January 17- to May 23

Room 236

Course Objectives:  The primary objective of this course is to help students improve their public communication.  The emphasis is on practical experiences.  Thus, even though the instructor will lecture part of the time at class meetings, the greater part of the course will be student presentation and interaction, both face-to-face, and synchronously, intertwined with helpful examples of public speaking on tape, video, and computer.  

If you give the course your maximum effort and involvement, your communication apprehension will be reduced to a level where it can actually work in your favor.

 

The course emphasizes the use of critical thinking in the analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of information into reasoned, informative, and/or persuasive discourse. 

Research and study will be the foundation of all activities and presentations.  Sources might include the library, interview, surveys, expert testimony, online data, etc.  It is a college requirement to use truth and fact when quoting others, giving clear and due credit to the person being quoted.

 

STUDENT PRIMARY LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1.)  Students will demonstrate basic public speaking delivery techniques.

2.)  Students will plan, prepare, and deliver an informative speech showing audience awareness.

3.)  Students will plan, prepare, and deliver a persuasive speech showing audience awareness utilizing traditional and Internet research methods to support logical arguments and the three classic appeals in order to persuade their audience.

 

 

Students successfully completing Communications 1 will be able to:

1. Analyze and evaluate public address, noting strengths and weaknesses in speeches that were observed.
2. Accumulate sufficient data to prepare for and execute graded public presentations.
3. Understand basic communication delivery techniques essential to successful public speaking.

           

GRADING:  See below for the full complement of grading for this course.

 

INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS: 

1. Chapters should be read before we cover them in class.
2. Bring the textbook to class each meeting.

Come prepared with all materials required for any graded assignment that may be required.

3. When preparing for a graded presentation, faithfully do your part to make your speech successful, including the planning portion.
4. Although lectures and discussion will be open to comments, questions, and discussion, courtesy toward all will be practiced at all times during inter-class communication.
5. Bring the textbook to all class meetings.
6. Bring either a laptop, tablet, or handheld device that can access the internet.  We will be accessing it a lot during the course.

 

COURSE STANDARDS FOR STUDENT  BEHAVIOR AND INTERNET:

1. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off or set to vibrate during instructional time.

Please limit your cell phone use to breaks.  In case of emergencies, please let the instructor know before stepping outside to use the phone during instructional time.

1. Use laptops, tablets or cell phones for academic activities primarily.  You will be advised by your instructor if you can use the internet for "personal" time.   When the instructor asks you to completely disconnect from the internet, please do so immediately.
2. You must upload a photo of yourself on Canvas using the Canvas profile. This is 5% of your participation grade.

Avoid “hanging out” outside the classroom during instructional time. It does not count as course attendance.  Attendance points will be deducted for unauthorized time spent outside of the classroom during instruction.   Please re-enter the classroom when break time is over.  Restroom visits are of course understood, and can be taken as necessary. It is expected that this “honor” system will be used as intended, for restroom breaks only.

Active discussion is encouraged, and disagreements should be made in an “agreeable” manner!  If a discussion begins to wander off-topic, students must return to instructional business when re-directed by the instructor.

If a student’s behavior disrupts the classroom-learning environment, the instructor will discuss this matter with the student.  If the undesired behavior continues, the appropriate dean will be contacted to intervene. 

The following list is not all-inclusive, but gives an idea of what constitutes as “disruption”:

• Talking socially or excessively loud during instructor lectures, or when classmates are discussing course content
• Unnecessarygoing in or out of the classroom during class sessions
• Constantly coming in late or leaving early
• Rudeness toward others
• Attempting to “entertain” oneself by continuously interrupting either the instructor or classmates, making listening and learning difficult
• Refusal to do course activities
• Walking up to the front of the room while a classmate is giving a graded speech.  Please sit/stand in the back of the room until the speech is over.
• Usually there will be two breaks during an instructional meeting.  Use the restroom as needed, but please leave and enter as quickly and quietly as possible if the class is in session.

HYBRID COURSE: 

At times, you will be required to access the internet and complete work.   Even when not required to use it, know that there is excellent technology available for you to use when needed, via the text website and Canvas.  At times, we might spend time accessing the web during class meetings to highlight lectures..  About half of the 10 quizzes will be taken online using Canvas.  The instructor will show you how the online quizzes work.

 ACCESSING COURSE MATERIALS:

Most of the course handouts will be available online, on Canvas  You can either study the chapter outlines online, or download them.

CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Discussion will be a vital part of this course; there is an attendance and participation score that is part of your final grade.  This score is not based on who talks the most in class, but one’s willingness to participate in all class activities.

GRADING SPECTRUM (points possible):

 Informative Speech-------------------50 (including topic form)

Persuasive Speech--------------------  75 (including topic/thesis form)

Graded Impromptu speech--------------15 (two of them, 7 and 8 pts.)

Evaluations-------------------------------- 25 (Two of them, 12 and 13 pts.)

Quizzes (5 at ten points each)------- 50   Three online quizzes and three quizzes in the classroom

Speech outline--------------------------  20

listening self-evaluation------20

Online discussion forums--------------50

Final Examination---------------------50 (two parts, 25 points each part)  Both parts in class

Attendance and Participation---------------------------- 100 (minus five points per full absence, and lesser point deductions for late arrival or leaving early)  (Includes 5% for uploading self-photo.)

 90-90%---A

80-89%---B

70-79%---C

60-69%---D

Below 60%--F

ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS:

 

The West Hills College expectation is for students to attend every class meeting.  Whether taken orally or silently, attendance will be taken each class meeting.   Five points will be deducted from your Attendance/Participation Point Total (see Grade Spectrum, above) for each full absence.  One to four points will be deducted for excessive late arrivals to class, returning late from breaks, or leaving class early.

 Be sure to sign any attendance rosters to receive credit for your attendance and participation . Make certain you sign by your full name on the roster.  Initials or single pen strokes will not be considered acceptable for signing your name. 

Sign the attendance roster for yourself only.  In the event you fail to sign the attendance roster, other students cannot be used as “proof” of attendance. 

 ***Speeches are the core activities of the course, and in general cannot be made up.   Exceptions would include travel under military orders, or a business conference that precludes attendance.   In either case, please provide a copy of your military orders or an organizational letter documenting your official travel.  The instructor must be notified in advance in either case.

If a speech if missed for a reason other than those stated above, see the instructor for a one-half credit makeup activity.

Makeup speech work must be turned in to the instructor within one week of the absence unless other arrangements are made with the instructor beforehand..  Contact the instructor as soon as possible for these arrangements.

 In-class quizzes cannot be made up, and must be completed on the days(s) assigned.       (military orders/business conferences are possible exceptions) 

Online quizzes have a “window” during which the quiz must be taken before the quiz window closes. The instructor will let you know how long the quiz window is..   As online quizzes can be taken anywhere, online quizzes cannot be made up under any circumstance.     You will be allowed three opportunities for each online quiz, to achieve the highest possible score out of ten points.

The instructor will notify you when quizzes are taken in class. The final examination will be taken in two parts, both in the classroom.

Students are expected to deliver their speech on the agreed-upon date.and  will have some flexibility in scheduling their information and persuasive speech dates and times.  

Students are responsible for dropping courses they no longer wish to be enrolled in, including this one.

If you drop this or any other course, please coordinate the drop with WHC Registration.

**Do not assume the instructor will fill out the course drop paperwork if you are the initiator of the drop. 

 

**If you are on the waiting list for the course, the instructor will determine the first night of class if there are sufficient drops to allow students to add.  Adds will be approved in numerical order.  No more students will be added to the class after the first night.

WHO SAID THAT??  

Academic honesty is a serious matter.   Give credit where credit is due when quoting someone on a speech, quiz, test, or paper.  In addition, if a fellow student deserves credit for something you are about to benefit from, make that clear also. 

Of course, you are expected to take your own quizzes and tests whether online or in class.  Failure to follow these polices can result in dismissal from the course, and could place your college enrollment in jeopardy. 

 Do not use papers you completed in other classes to meet the requirements of this course.  Complete all work originally, for the first time in this course.

 ***If you require special accommodations (DSPS) please let the instructor know during a break the first night of class.  If needed, and you are a DSPS student, we will provide you with a note taker.  There is a stipend for acting as a notetaker.

 The full course outline will be posted on Canvas by the second class session.

 My goal is for you to become comfortable speaking in front of others, or at the least confident when doing so.  If you do your best, you will be surprised at what you are capable of as an empowered speaker, with a message to pass on to others.

Finally, my hope is for you to pass the course, and learn a lot.  Never has a student failed a course of mine when all work was completed as directed.    I will help you in any way I can for you to be successful.                    

D. L. Johnson

Instructor