Public Speaking

Course Syllabus

SPC 2600

Public Speaking

Instructor: Beth Eschenfelder Fall 2005 Sec. 601  Saturday  8:00 - 10:50 a.m. College of Business  Room 4  St. Petersburg Campus

Course Syllabus SPC 2600  Introduction to Public Speaking

Instructor:

Beth Eschenfelder

Department of Arts & Sciences  St. Petersburg Campus Class Day / Time:

Saturday  8:00 - 10:50 a.m.

Location:

College of Business  Room 4  St. Petersburg Campus

Office Hours:

Saturday  1:50 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.  DAV 245 Or upon request ~ Please don’t hesitate to call or email me to schedule a meeting.

Course Objectives: This course is designed to help you develop communication skills that contribute to academic, vocational, personal and social success in a wide variety of contexts. Fundamental to the course is the idea that presentation skills are a means of empowerment. This course will help you: 1.

Prepare to participate in an increasingly interactive and verbal society and to be productive members of the workforce;

2.

Encourage the development of critical thinking skills required in a society that constantly demands people to make choices and defend them; and

3.

Articulate choices and contribute to the workplace and society in an effective and ethical way.

Required Reading & Course Materials: (Available at the USF Bookstore) Text: Jaffe, C. (2004). Public Speaking: A Cultural Perspective, (4th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth. Text: Student Handbook for Public Speaking: 2004-2005. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing. Other reading: Will be as assigned. VHS Tape: You must purchase a new ½" videotape for use with VHS equipment. Only new tapes purchased exclusively for this course will be used for taping speeches.

Course Website: Blackboard: A course website will be set up within the USF Blackboard system. Information on how to access this website will be provided the first day of class. Required reading and class assignments will be posted on the website, and it will be your responsibility to access the site to retrieve these materials. This site may also be used by me to send students email and to post grades so you may monitor your progress throughout the semester.

SPC 2600

Fall 2005  B. Eschenfelder

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Tentative Daily Class Schedule & Assignment Week & Date

Class Topics & Exercises

Reading

Assignments Due

Week 1 – Aug. 27

 Introduction to course and each other

 None

 Purchase books

 “Introduction to Public Speaking”

 Chapter 1

 Set up your USF Net ID and explore the Blackboard course website

 “Effective Listening”

 Chapter 4

 Mini Quiz:

 “Giving Your First Speech: Developing Confidence”

 Chapter 2

 “Delivery”

 Chapter 14

Week 2 – Sept. 3

Ch. 2 & 14

 Preview Praise Speech Week 3 – Sept. 10

Week 4 – Sept. 17

 “Selecting Your Topic & Purpose”

 Chapter 6

DUE: Praise Speech Topic

 “Organizing Your Ideas”

 Chapter 9

 Mini Quiz:

 “Beginnings & Endings”

 Chapter 10

 “Outlining”

 Chapter 11

All

Draft Outline  Note Cards (completed in class)

Week 5 – Sept. 24

 Praise Speeches & Evaluations

 none

DUE: Outline, bibliography

 Preview Informative Speech Assignment

Week 6 – Oct. 1

Week 7 – Oct. 8

Week 8 – Oct. 15

& note cards

 “Researching Your Speech in the Electronic Age”

 Chapter 7

 “Diversity & Ethics”

 Chapter 3

 “Audience Analysis”

 Chapter 5

 “Informative Speaking”

 Chapter 16

 “Choosing Support Materials”

 Chapter 8

 Audience Analysis

 “Visual Aids”

 Chapter 12

 Mini Quiz:

 Informative Speeches & Evaluations

 none

 Informative Speeches

Week 10 – Oct. 29

Take Home Quiz:  Mini Quiz:

Ch. 7

Ch. 5 & 16

Ch. 8 & 12

DUE: Outline & bibliography

 Preview Motivational Speech Assignments Week 9 – Oct. 22

 Praise Speeches

 “Choosing Effective Language”

 Chapter 13

 “Telling Narratives”

 Chapter 15

 Motivational Speeches & Evaluations

 none

 Preview Paired Debate Assignments

 Mini Quiz:

Ch. 13 & 15

 Motivational Speeches


continued…

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Tentative Daily Class Schedule  / continued…

Week & Date

Class Topics & Exercises

Reading

Assignments Due

Week 11 – Nov. 5

 “Persuasive Speaking”

 Chapter 17

 Mini Quiz:

 “Persuasive Reasoning Methods”

 Chapter 18

Week 12 – Nov. 12

 Paired Debate Team Time

 none

 none

Week 13 – Nov. 19

 Paired Debate Speeches & Evaluations

 none

 Paired Debate Speeches

Ch. 17 & 18


 Paired Debate Worksheet Week 14 – Nov. 26



Thanks Giving Break

Week 15 – Dec. 3

 Universal Make-Up Day

 none

 Personal Evaluation Paper

 Universal Make-Up Day

 Paper

Grading, Assignments & Class Responsibilities How You Will Be Evaluated: There are several sources of evaluation for this course, as listed below. A summary description of each is provided in the following pages. Detailed instructions are available in the Course Handbook and will be reviewed and discussed at designated times throughout the semester preceding each assigned speech. 20%

Class participation

5

Praise Speech

15

Informative Speech

15

Motivational Persuasive Speech

20

Paired Debate Speech

20

Mini-Quizzes and homework

5

Personal Evaluation Paper

Class Participation

(20%)

Participation: We will engage in class activities each week that will be counted toward your final grade. Attending class, engaging in class discussion, completing in-class exercises, asking questions and contributing positively to the overall learning environment of the classroom community is an essential part of being a responsible student. Distribution of class participation is important. No one student should monopolize the class. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure all class members have a voice and that no one prevents others from speaking. Included as part of your participation grade, will be peer evaluations of all speeches. Evaluating speeches provides a means to promote listening and to provide feedback to improve your peers' public speaking skills, as well as your own.

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Speeches:

(55% - Combined Total)

Each speech focuses on incremental steps in the development of speaking skills. Early presentations introduce a few basic skills for student mastery. Subsequent speeches build upon those skills as assignments become increasingly complex and students become more sophisticated speakers and audience members.

A. Praise Speech (5%)  The first speech is a 2-4 minute speech that praises a public figure. You will be required to conduct library research on this individual (with 2 different TYPES of sources), create an arguable thesis statement, and support this thesis with evidence. You should concentrate on fulfilling the criteria of an effective introduction.

B. Informative Speech (15%)  In this speech, you will develop a 3-5 minute presentation in which you share information about some phenomenon of personal interest to you. This might include a skill you have learned through a hobby, an organization you are affiliated with, or “consumer” information that is important to you. You will develop a central idea (thesis) and develop it with two different kinds of support material in an appropriate and discernible organizational structure. For this speech you are required to develop and to use a visual aid to help your audience understand your key points. (This speech requires 2 different TYPES of reference sources.)

C. Motivational Speech (15%)  The next speech is a 5-7 minute motivational speech that includes three kinds of support materials. For this speech you are required to develop and to use a visual aid to help your audience understand your key points. (Requires a minimum of 3 different TYPES of sources.)

D. Paired Debates (20%)  The final speech is a 5-7 minute persuasive presentation. You will be placed in pairs with each student taking one side of a controversial issue or situation. Together, you and your debate partner should choose the topic, narrow the focus, and determine the parameters of the debate. The speeches will focus on the development of logical proof for clear thesis statements (central claims). As the culmination of the course, you will demonstrate all the principles of effective public speaking learned throughout the semester. (Requires 5 sources and 3 different TYPES.)

Mini-Quizzes and Homework

(20%)

Mini-Quizzes: Short quizzes will be given at the beginning of most classes when there are no speeches or other assignments due. Quizzes are intended to accomplish the following:  To encourage you to attend class...and to arrive ON TIME.  To encourage you to read the material BEFORE you come to class.  To help you learn and process important information throughout the semester.  And to eliminate the need for a midterm and final exam.

Homework: I request and encourage you to complete all required reading and homework, to help prepare for active class discussion and your upcoming speeches, and to prepare for Mini Quizzes. You will be given regular homework assignments to help maximize your understanding and retention of the reading materials. Homework assignments will be defined in class and due at the beginning of the next class session. For the sake of discipline and fairness, I will not accept late work, unless you have negotiated this with me AHEAD OF TIME. It is your responsibility to obtain assignment handouts on the day they are distributed in class. Not receiving an assignment will not be accepted as an excuse for missing a deadline. There will be a total of 12 Mini Quizzes (or equivalent assignments) given throughout the semester. I will drop your lowest 2 grades. Actual Mini Quizzes will include a variety of true-false, multiple choice and short answer questions.

Personal Evaluation Paper:

(5%)

You will write a 3-4 page paper evaluating your own speaking improvement. Before writing the paper you should view your own speech tape, noting progress made in speaking skills from early to late in the semester. You should consider guidelines for effective public speaking as you write about the areas of greatest improvement that you find in the tapes. You should draw examples from your speeches in order to support your evaluation.

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Speaking Procedures Speeches given in this course are extemporaneous; meaning they are not read from a script, they are not memorized, and they are not impromptu. You will sign up for speaking slots ahead of time.  Handbook: We will utilize the USF Student Handbook for Public Speaking as a guide for all of our speeches. The requirements for each speech, however, will be altered to fit the requirements for this class. The handbook is very helpful and will be required for this class, but you will be responsible for meeting the requirements for each speech as identified in this syllabus and in class.

Outlines & Note Cards: TYPED full-sentence outlines will be required for all speech assignments. On the day assigned for your speech, prior to speaking, you must turn in your formal full-sentence outline. Outlines must be TYPED and are worth up to 25% of your speech grade. Outlines should conform to the specifications discussed in class and in the text. Bibliography: All outlines must be accompanied by a properly formatted bibliography. Check Blackboard or the USF Virtual Library for guidance on proper APA or MLA style.

Speeches should be presented from note cards. White index cards are recommended, and you will be required to turn in your note cards after your first speech. Formats for in-class presentations will require the following: 1. a full-sentence presentation outline to be submitted at the beginning of your presentation, 2. a properly formatted bibliography, with the appropriate number and varied types of sources, 3. the use of note cards (not a script!), and 4. appropriate visual aids to enhance audience understanding of your speech. Time Limits on Speeches: Because of the nature of the course and the limited time available, you will be asked to prepare presentations carefully to adhere to the time limits indicated on each assignment. A student timekeeper will keep time and ask you to finish quickly, should you go over time allotted. Students will receive grade deductions for any speeches over the time limit. Videotaping: Your speeches will be videotaped throughout the semester to provide a record of progress. You must purchase a new ½" videotape for use with VHS equipment. Only new tapes purchased exclusively for this course will be used for taping speeches. You are responsible for bringing the tape to class on the days assigned for speeches. Please take care during the semester not to tape over previous speeches and not to record anything else on this tape, to better preserve the semester's record of speech improvement and progress. Peer Evaluations & Critiques: Written critiques and oral critiques will be provided to all speakers by both the instructor and members of the class. You are expected to complete three peer evaluations during each class of presentations. Your participation, both orally and in writing, is important and will be considered in evaluating your class participation grade for the semester. Dress/Appearance: Appearance is a critical element in public speaking. You are expected to dress “professionally” for all speaking assignments. We will discuss appropriate dress during the second week of class. Universal Make-Up Day: All students will be permitted to make up ONE speech on Universal Make-up Day for any reason, but a half-grade deduction will be applied. The last class will be designated as Universal Make-Up Day to provide an opportunity for students to make up one (and only one) missed presentation. A second missed speech will receive a grade of zero. Shared Responsibility: All students will participate actively on speech days, including the days when you are not speaking. Students will rotate support roles, such as videotaping, timing speeches, tracking evaluators and evaluating speeches. Everyone is expected to participate and to share the load for these activities.

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Other Ground Rules and Guidelines Attendance Policy: You are expected to attend all class sessions and to be on time. Missing relevant class lecture and in-class assignments will count against your final grade. If you know you are going to miss a class, please contact me as far in advance as possible to negotiate arrangements for you to make up missed assignments ahead of time. Any absence without prior notification will count as an unexcused absence, and no allowance will be made to compensate for your absence. Additional assignments are not available to make up for insufficient grades or missed assignments. Please do not provide me with verbal or written excuses or doctors’ notes to explain an absence. To compensate for the chance that students might experience illnesses during the semester, the two lowest quiz grades will be dropped. Flexibility will be provided to this policy only in the case of documented medical emergencies (not doctor appointments or colds) or other situations of equal seriousness. Religious Preference Absence Policy: Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to a major religious observance must provide advance notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing. Assignment Handouts: It is your responsibility to obtain assignment handouts on the day they are distributed in class, or to obtain them from the Blackboard course site. Not receiving an assignment handout will not be accepted as an excuse for missing an assignment deadline. Assignment Deadlines: Adherence to assignment deadlines is essential. If you are going to miss a deadline or need an extension, communication with the instructor prior to the deadline will be mandatory and grade deductions will be applied. Please do not wait until the day the assignment is due to contact me—Such a request will not be granted. Significant grade deductions will be given for approved late assignments. Assignments submitted late without prior approval may receive a grade of zero. Additional assignments are not available to make up for insufficient grades. See the description for “Universal Make-Up Day.” Grading: A plus/minus grading system will be used for this class. (i.e. ...80-83 = B-; 84-86 = B; 87-89 = B+...) Incomplete Grade Policy: An “I” grade indicates incomplete course work and may be awarded to an undergraduate student only when a small portion of the student’s work is incomplete and only when the student is otherwise earning a passing grade. Should you need to request an “I” grade, this request should be negotiated with me prior to the end of the semester. For additional information, refer to the CAS policy on Incomplete Grades in the 2004-2005 Catalog, on pages 42-46. S/U Grade Policy: S/U Contracts must be negotiated in writing within the first three weeks of the term. For additional information, refer to the CAS policy on S/U Contracts in the 2004-2005 Catalog, on page 42-46. Graded & Returned Assignments: Every attempt will be made for graded assignments to be returned within a reasonable period of time. If turned in on time, assignments should be returned by the date of the final exam. Students who would like their final exam returned should provide a self-addressed stamped envelop on the day of the final. Student assignments and exams not picked up will be kept on file until the second week of class in the Spring 2005 semester. Academic Dishonesty and Disruption of Academic Process: Each individual is expected to earn his/her course grade on the basis of personal effort. Consequently, any form of cheating on examinations or plagiarism on assigned papers constitutes unacceptable deceit and dishonesty. Disruption of the classroom or teaching environment is also unacceptable. This cannot be tolerated in the University community and will be punishable, according to the seriousness of the offense, in conformity with this rule. For additional information, refer to the CAS policy on Academic Dishonesty in the 2004-2005 Catalog, on pages 47 - 49. Sale of Notes / Tapes: Students do not have permission to sell notes or tapes of this class.

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