SPCH 1311
Introduction To Speech Communication
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Synonym #43718 |
August 25-October 15, 2009 |
CYP 1105
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T/Th 1:25-4:05pm |
Instructor: Russell Wittrup,
Associate Professor of Speech
Email: rwittrup@austincc.edu
Course WebPage:
www.austincc.edu/rwittrup
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Office: |
Office Phone: |
Office Hours: |
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CYP 1103.5 |
223-2087 |
Tuesday/Thursday: 12:45-1:15pm
Tuesday: 4:15-7:15pm |
Introduction to Speech Communication is the study of the theories and practice of oral communication to promote communication competence in intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, public, and mass media contexts.
In accordance with H.B. 2183, students who enroll in ACC Speech
courses are expected to demonstrate competent English speaking and listening
skills:
·
“Competence in speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear,
coherent, and persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion and
audience.”
· “Listening at the
college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various forms of
spoken communication.”
Specifically,
to be able to take this course you need to be TSI complete. Our department
specifies scores of three (3) or higher in the reading and writing
components of the TSI test. Please do NOT attempt this class if your scores are
lower than three or you are not yet TSI complete.
International students are advised not to attempt this course prior to the successful completion of the TOEFL (English fluency) examination.
After completing this course
you will be able to
·
Understand the communication process and the characteristics of
competence.
·
Demonstrate an
understanding of the role of perception in communication.
·
Recognize the power of language and adapt verbal messages
appropriately.
·
Evaluate listening habits and practice effective listening skills.
·
Send and
interpret nonverbal messages with accuracy and effectiveness.
·
Understand the
role of communication in interpersonal relationships.
·
Recognize own conflict style and demonstrate effective conflict
management.
·
Contribute to effective group problem-solving and practice role
flexibility.
·
Use effective delivery style in informal or formal public speaking
situations.
·
Recognize the need to self-monitor personal communication
competence.
·
Develop skill in selecting and using a variety of communication
strategies and responses based on situational contexts, goals, and human needs.
·
Foster a better understanding of cultural and ethnic diversity.
Course WebPage: www.austincc.edu/rwittrup
Please go to this page as soon as possible to become familiar with
its contents. On it you will find the detailed written descriptions of all
course assignments, evaluation forms that will be used to grade assignments,
chapter by chapter guides for exams and quizzes, and other materials that will
be used over the course of the semester.
I do not use Blackboard. This web page is a very basic way of
making information that you will need for this class available to you in an
on-line format.
Beebe, S.A, Beebe, S.J. & Ivy, D.K. (2010) 4th. ed.. Communication: Principles for a lifetime.
Allyn & Bacon:
The following are the elements
that will create your final grade for the class:
There will be four scheduled examinations (see daily course
schedule) based upon assigned reading and class lecture material. A list of
objectives for each exam will be posted on the course Web Site. The objectives
focus on the exact material that you need to know and tell you how I will be
designing test questions and assessing your learning. Here is what each exam
covers and how it weighs in your grade:
Exam questions will be a
combination of multiple choice and true false items. You are to record your
answers on a green Scantron sheet, using a number two (#2) lead pencil.
Scantron sheets and pencils are not provided. You will need to bring your own.
Scantron sheets are available at the CYP bookstore.
This assignment tests your ability to effectively listen to others as viewpoints are shared about a controversial situation. You will be graded on your ability to accurately paraphrase what another person is saying before responding with your viewpoint, to ask clarifying or probing questions, to not cut-off or interrupt the other when you disagree, and to convey attentiveness and positive regard to the other person through the verbal and nonverbal messages that you send. A complete description of this assignment will be posted on the course web page.
Group Communication
Skill Check: Brainstorming and Selecting Solutions (15% of course grade)
This assignment tests your ability to work with others in a
group to use the brainstorming technique for generating possible solutions to a
problem. After a 10-15 minute period of brainstorming you will then
systematically review your ideas to choose a best solution. A total time of 30
minutes is given for this task.
You
and your group will be given a topic and then assessed on how well appropriate
problem-solving abilities are demonstrated during the discussion. Part of your
grade will be based upon how the group performs as a whole. For example, the
rules of brainstorming must be followed, the interaction in the group should be
balanced, your final solution should fit criteria that you are given, and the
atmosphere in the group should remain positive.
In addition, you will receive an assessment of your individual
contributions to the discussion. Such things as your level of participation,
influence on the decision-making process, leadership functions, and social
roles that you fulfill will be evaluated. A written description of, and
evaluation forms for this assignment, will be posted on the course web page.
Persuasive Speaking
Assignment (20% of course grade)
Persuasive messages are those that we intentionally send to others
in an attempt to shape, reinforce, or change beliefs and actions. For this
speech please think of a problem that impacts everyone in class to some degree
and then make an argument on what we can all do to help solve the problem. Your
speech will be 5-7 minutes in length.
You are to deliver your speech using brief speaking notes or a
delivery outline. Do NOT write your
speech out and read it, nor attempt to memorize it. You are to incorporate at
least one visual or audio presentational aid in your delivery. You are required
to draw from at least three research sources to develop your speech and will
need to orally cite those sources for the audience in your delivery.
You will be graded on how well you organize and support your main
ideas, use effective delivery and presentational aids, adhere to the time
requirement, and complete the research requirement. You are also required to
submit a typed preparation outline and scholarly MLA or APA bibliography of the sources that you use to develop the
speech.
A complete description of the assignment will be posted on the course web page (austincc.edu/rwittrup).
What can you expect
from your instructor?
I want this to be the best class that you’ve ever taken. I pledge
to be enthusiastic about learning and will do my best to make our subject
matter relevant, interesting, and stimulating for you. I will do everything
that I can to help you succeed in this class. I will hold the stated office
hours. Should you seek my help during office hours on an assignment or
preparation for an exam you will get it.
I pledge to stay on-task during class time and will not waste your
time with activities, discussions, and disclosures that do not relate to our
subject at hand. We will start and end class on time. I vow to be organized and
prepared for every class. I take this business of learning very seriously, but
I will try to make it as exciting, fun, and rewarding as possible.
For each assignment I specify the objectives that will be
evaluated. I provide you with the evaluation forms for your assignments prior
to those events. I will grade your work as fairly and consistently as I can. I
will do my best to provide fast turn-around of graded work. You can also expect
the declarations in this syllabus to be enforced. If you decide to complete
this class please expect the terms of this document to be followed.
What does your instructor
expect from you?
In a nutshell, I ask commitment from you. I simply want you to
take learning seriously and do the best that you can do. I expect you to arrive
to class each day on time. I expect the completion of course work on time to be
a given. I expect you to read the assigned text material for each class and to
be prepared for what will be covered in each class. I want you to approach our
subject with an open mind and to embrace class activities, discussions, and
assignments with a positive attitude. We will not get along very well if you
have a tendency to be a slacker or whine about policies and standards of
excellence that are enforced.
This course syllabus is a legal contract. The policies
described below are the rules that are established for the course. Please read
them carefully. They are not negotiable. They are binding. Please ask me any
questions that you may have about this syllabus and its policies if you are not
clear on what the policies mean or how they may apply to you. Your continued
enrollment in the class implies that you do understand the course rules and
policies and that you have agreed to follow them.
Your
attendance in this class will have a direct (and in the case of excessive
absences, severe) impact on your
final course grade. Before explaining that policy, please review the college
and Speech Department policies on attendance:
ACC Attendance Policy:
“A student a
Speech Department Policy:
Your attendance is crucial to your success in this course. You
must be present in order to master the skills needed to achieve the course
objectives. The individual instructor shall inform the students of specific
attendance requirements at the first class meeting. It is the student’s
responsibility to withdraw from the course by the official withdrawal date if
personal circumstances prevent attendance.
If you are looking for a section of
this course where attending it does not matter, this isn’t the one. Let me
suggest a distance learning version of this course if attendance is going to be
a problem for you. You’ll note that multiple sections of this class are offered
each semester at ACC through distance learning platforms.
Please do not attempt to complete
this class if you know that other obligations in your personal or professional
life might create potential absences and cause you to not do your best work.
All too often students try to balance classes with work, raising a family, or
both, and the demands of everything can become overwhelming. Please choose
carefully between what you have to do and what you want to do this semester.
An absence is defined as
not being present for one of the scheduled one hundred sixty minute class
periods. Tardy is defined as arriving
more than ten (10) minutes late to, or leaving before a scheduled class period
has been officially dismissed. Each instance of tardy is recorded as 1/2 of an
absence.
Your attendance will impact your final course grade in the following manner:
·
0 absences= A bonus of three (3) percentage points added to your
final course average. (Example: Your final course
average turns out to be 87%, but since you’ve had perfect attendance, your
bonus takes the average up to 90% and you receive an A for the course.)
·
1 absence= No impact on your final course average.
·
2 absences=A penalty of three (3) percentage points assessed to
your final course average. (Example: Your final course
average is 82%, but since you missed two classes during the course of the
semester the penalty takes your final average down to 79% and you receive a C
for the course.)
·
3 absences=A penalty of six (6) percentage points assessed to your
final course average.
·
4 absences= A penalty of twelve (12) percentage points assessed to
your final course average.
·
5 absences= A penalty of twenty-four (24) percentage points
assessed to your final course average.
· 6 absences= Not being
able to complete the course with a passing grade.
I do not distinguish
between excused and unexcused absences. I will however waive any penalty to
your course average for an absence or absences that are of the following
nature: (a) required military service, (b) you are hospitalized, (c) you are
observing a religious holiday, d) you are attending a funeral service for a
member of your immediate family, or (e) you have been selected for jury duty.
In order for the
allowance to be made you must be able to provide written verification to
document the absence. Just so that we are clear: work conflicts, medical
appointments, being delayed by traffic, trips that you had planned before
signing-up for class, not feeling well, and faulty alarm clocks are not the
type of events that fall into the category of absences without penalty.
A Word About Beginning The Course Late:
·
I strongly discourage you to attempt this course if you are
entering for the first time after the initial two class sessions have met. In
my experience, after teaching college courses for more than twenty years, most
students who do this do not have successful semesters. Not only will you have
to play catch-up with required reading, course content, and assignments, you
will also be starting with a penalty on your final course average. Please take
this class when you can give it your entire best, not when you will have to
compromise on your best performance.
Ø
Make-up exams will be
taken in the
Ø Make-up exams must be completed no later than one class day after the original scheduled date.
Ø Make-up exam scores may be penalized up to twenty percentage points.
So that we’re clear on terms, unforeseen, unavoidable, extenuating emergency circumstances are events such as being hospitalized, called-up to serve in the National Guard, or suffering from a death in the immediate family. Work conflicts, trips that you had planned before signing-up for class, medical appointments, being delayed by traffic, not feeling well, and faulty alarm clocks are not the type of events that fall into this category.
A conscientious attempt to contact your instructor means that you do everything that you possibly can to alert me to your situation. Call, leave a voice mail, send an e-mail, contact the main campus office, or ask someone to deliver a message for you. I need to know that you are trying hard to get a hold of me to let me know what is going on. Please understand, the time that passes between a missed event and communication from a student about that missed event is the main way that I measure, “a conscientious attempt to contact your instructor”.
With that in mind, prior to a scheduled exam means that I receive this information in a timely manner before the start of the class period, not several minutes before or after the class period has ended. All too often students approach me on Thursday when they missed something the Tuesday before. My answer regarding after-the-fact requests to make-up work will most always be, “no”.
Missed Speaking Assignments
Assigned oral presentations will be given only during the
class periods designated for those specific events. Unfortunately, there is no
way to make-up the Listening and/or Group Brainstorming skill checks. If you
are not present to participate in one or both of these events you will not receive
any points for them and a score of zero (0) will be recorded.
If you are unable to give your persuasive speech during your assigned time you will receive a grade of zero (0) for that assignment. I will allow you to make up your persuasive speech only if the following three conditions are met:
Ø Make-up oral presentations may be penalized up to twenty percentage points.
Again, just so that we’re clear on terms, unforeseen, unavoidable, extenuating emergency circumstances are events such as being hospitalized, called-up to serve in the National Guard, or suffering from a death in the immediate family. Work conflicts, trips that you had planned before signing-up for class, medical appointments, being delayed by traffic, not feeling well, and faulty alarm clocks are not the type of events that fall into this category.
A conscientious attempt to contact your instructor means that you do everything that you possibly can to alert me to your situation. Call, leave a voice mail, send an e-mail, contact the main campus office, or ask someone to deliver a message for you. I need to know that you are trying hard to get a hold of me to let me know what is going on. Please understand, the time that passes between a missed event and communication from a student about that missed event is the main way that I measure, “a conscientious attempt to contact your instructor”.
With that in mind, prior to a scheduled speaking performance means that I receive this information in a timely manner before the start of the class period, not several minutes before or after the class period has ended. All too often students approach me on Thursday when they missed something the Tuesday before. My answer regarding after-the-fact requests to make-up work will most always be, “no”.
The written work that is assigned in this class is a preparation outline and works cited bibliography for your persuasive speech. These documents must be typed. I will not accept or grade hand written submissions.
The preparation outline and works cited bibliography for your
persuasive are to be submitted on your assigned speaking day, at the beginning
of the specified class period. Submitting any portion of assigned written work
after you have delivered your persuasive speech is considered late.
Ø Assigned written work
submitted late will be penalized up
to twenty percentage points.
Ø Assigned written work will not be accepted later than one class period after a due date.
Ø Assigned written work
that is either not completed, or is completed, but after exceeding the
"late policy" guidelines stated above, will receive a grade of zero.
The final date to withdraw from this class for the first eight-week
fall semester session is October 12.
·
Withdrawal by student: It is your
responsibility to complete a withdrawal form and submit it to the campus
admissions office on or before the October 12 deadline if you intend to
withdraw from the class. Prior to withdrawing from class please notify your
instructor by either face-to-face, telephone, or email communication. If your
name appears on the final grade roster and you have not officially withdrawn
from the course you will be issued a letter grade based upon your overall course
performance. A grade of “W” (Withdraw) will not (and cannot with on-line
grading) be retroactively initiated on the final grade roster.
·
Withdrawal by
instructor: Your instructor reserves the right to withdraw you from this
class if you accumulate excessive absences (see attendance policy) and/or miss
assignments, engage in academic dishonesty, create a hostile or disruptive
environment in the classroom, impede with the ability for other students to do
their best work on the group assignment, or in his judgment, the instructor
believes it unlikely that you will complete the course with a passing grade.
Your instructor will notify you by either face-to-face, telephone, or email
communication if he initiates this action.
Scholastic Dishonesty
Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be
administered include scholastic dishonesty, e.g., cheating on an exam or quiz,
plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside
work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their
thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but
not limited to, tests and quizzes, whether taken electronically or
on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom
presentations; and homework.
Plagiarism is the intentional
or unintentional presentation of another person’s ideas or work as your
own. It can occur in writing or in speech. Students who plagiarize because they
do not understand how to document are just as guilty as those who willfully
misrepresent their ideas.
You have committed plagiarism when you:
A. Do not acknowledge the source of
borrowed ideas, words, or information
B. Copy the work of another student or
author
If you plagiarize an assignment or engage in academic dishonesty
on an exam, you will fail the assignment or exam with a score of zero (0) and
the incident will be reported to the Dean of Student Services. A second offense
will result in failure of the course after notification to the Dean &
student.
Students With Disabilities
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with
documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with
disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for
Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority
of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before
the start of the semester.
Freedom Of Expression
Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class.
In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking,
there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences
enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and
instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and
volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but
also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will
respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
During class performances and activities you should practice active listening and critical thinking skills. Please do not talk to others, work on other subjects, enter or leave the room, or engage in any other behavior that might distract a speaker. Also, please eliminate the possibility of pager, cellular phone, watch alarms, etc, going off in class. Please do not interrupt the class by leaving the room once a session has begun (i.e., do necessary bathroom functions before or after class, or during our regular mid-class break, not during class) Please do not bring drink or food into the classroom.
Cell Phones
Please leave your cell phone OFF during class. Do not receive or send cell phone calls during class. Do not send or receive text messages during class.
· If your cell phone goes off in class during an examination or graded oral performance of any kind, five points, for each occurrence, will be deducted from your total score for the same event. That means for example that if your cell phone goes off during exam number one five points will be deducted from your score on that exam. If it happens to go off a second time another five points will be deducted.
· If you are found to be sending or receiving text messages during an examination or graded oral performance of any kind, five points, for each occurrence, will be deducted from your total score for the same event.
To also assure privacy I do not engage in telephone or email conversations with students about grades or class performance. Those conversations are reserved for private conferences during regular office hours.
Should there be a need, I will use this email channel to communicate with you outside of class. The college also uses this as a means of conveying emergency type of information. For example, should there be server weather that closes down the college you will receive such a notice via your ACC email account. I will do the same in the event that I am unable to get to class for some reason. So, please make it a regular habit to check your mail before making the trip in to class.
As a
general rule I do not offer extra credit. There are absolutely no “do over”
attempts on assignments, exams, or quizzes. Should I offer extra credit, it
will likely be related to an event or activity that is occurring on an ACC
campus and is related to a topic of study in our course. It will be something
that is offered to every student in class.
Course Grades
I am giving you a very detailed document to read entitled, “Your
Course Grade”. Please consider this document part of your official course
syllabus policy and required reading.
You will find a lengthy explanation of what I pledge to do to help you
succeed in this class, as well as how your grades are created. I also very
clearly tell you what I expect from you with regard to the grading process.
Several items pertaining to your grade that I do not address in this document
are listed below.
Here is a summary of how your final course grade will be calculated:
Here is a summary of how your final course grade will be calculated:
·
Exam #1-10%
·
Exam #2- 10%
·
Exam #3- 15%
·
Exam #4- 15%
·
Listening Skills
Assessment- 15%
·
Group Problem-Solving
Skills Assessment-15%
·
Persuasive Speech-
20%
·
Attendance- Can
increase your final course average by three percentage points, lower your final
grade average by as much as thirty-six percentage points, or cause you to not
complete the course with a passing grade.
Here is the scale that I use to convert your final course
average score into the letter grade:
·
A= 89.5-100%
·
B= 79.5-89.4%
·
C= 69.5-79.4%
·
D= 59.5- 69.4%
·
F= Below 59.5%
At any point in the semester I can calculate your grade average for you if you have questions about where you stand. Please visit me during office hours for that information.