Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

The purpose of this course is for students to learn to prepare and present public speeches using the principles of effective communication. Emphasis is placed on speaking to inform, persuade, and special occasion speeches. Key principles learned include audience analysis, determining speech goals, organization, clarity, language, evidence, visual aids, and delivery.

After completing this course you will be able to:

• Demonstrate confidence when presenting a public speech.
• Identify a variety of organizational structures that are used in public speeches.
• Effectively construct an outline.

 

Course Requirements:

 

1)  Attendance and Participation:
You will be able to make permanent changes in your communicative behavior in the next few weeks through- high- involvement. Because you are both speaker and audience, your attendance is vital and you are expected to attend every class. Time can be most efficiently used if we all adhere to the following practices:

a)  Prompt attendance. (If you are late, and notice the first speaker has begun her/his speech, wait outside the classroom until she/he is finished so that you don't disrupt the speaker's or audience's concentration.)

b)  Accuracy in timing of speeches so that no speech exceeds the maximum limit.

c)  Eager and early volunteering for speaking. Though I prefer not to, I will call upon students if the volunteer method is not effective.

d)  Since you are both student and teacher in this class, participation in the form of critiques and discussion after speeches and questions and comments during lectures is expected.

 

2)  Written Assignments:
All speeches must be accompanied by a page to a page and a half, full sentence, typed outline. The outlines will be due before you give your presentation. Outlines not meeting the above requirements will be unacceptable.

 

3)  Papers:
There will be one or two critical essays evaluating outside public speakers. A guidelines sheet and example essay will be provided.

 

4)  Examinations:
There will be two exams during the course of the term; they will cover material presented in lectures.

 

5)  Speeches:
There will be five speech assignments (four graded and one ungraded).
Failure to complete ANY of the speaking assignments will result in your FINAL COURSE GRADE being no higher than a "C".

 

Grading

Grades for assignments and the final course grade are based on a point system.  The breakdown is as follows:

 

Narrative – 75 pts.		Final Grades for Course:
Informative – 175 pts.		870 – 783	= A
Complaint – 100 pts.		782 – 695	= B
Persuasive – 200 pts.		694 – 607	= C
Criticism Paper #1 – 50 pts.		606 – 519	= D
Criticism Paper #2 – 50 pts.		Below 518	= F
Midterm – 40 pts.
Final – 80 pts.		A maximum of 30 points can be earned through extra credit.  This option will be explained further in class.
Attendance/Participation –100 pts.
Total Possible pts. – 870

 

To receive a grade of "C"

1. Attendance grade of “C” or better
2. Class participation and preparation
3. Fulfill all speaking assignments, as outlined above, on time
4. Pass the tests
5. Hand in all written assignments on time.

To receive a grade of "B"

1. All of the above, plus
2. Show noticeable improvement in construction and delivery of speeches
3. Turn in the critical essays meeting the minimum requirements, on time.

 

To receive a grade of "A"

1. All of the above, plus
2. Clearly demonstrate a working knowledge of theory and practice
3. Show some creativity in choice of topics
4. Channel nervousness in a positive manner
5. Speeches show considerable thought, practice and research

 

Cheating and Plagiarism Policy -

Students at Diablo Valley College/SRC are working towards completion of individual courses or of course work leading to earned degrees.  Grades and degrees are earned as a result of a student’s work.  Students are expected to complete their own course work.

 

Cheating and plagiarism are the unethical use of another person’s work as one’s own.  Plagiarism, according to Webster, is to steal and pass off as one’s own the ideas, words, writings, etc. of another.  Merely changing a few words or the order of the sentences still makes you guilty of plagiarism.  When you are taking an excerpt from a source word for word or even if you paraphrase, you must cite that source.  If you don’t, you have plagiarized that material.

 

Neither cheating nor plagiarism will be tolerated in any academic program.  Students who are caught either cheating or plagiarizing as a first offense will fail that assignment and will be reported to the Dean of Student Life.  If the problem occurs again or if the instructor believes that this has been an ongoing problem in the past, the student will fail the course.

 

Student Code of Conduct

 

Students are responsible for following the policies of the college.  The Student Code of Conduct can be found on the DVC website at the following address:

http://www.dvc.edu/org/info/policies/code-of-conduct.htm

 

Classroom Etiquette Policy: It is extremely distracting for the instructor and other students to hear electronic devices in class; it is also extremely rude for students to generate text messages or leave the classroom to return messages during class. .  Please turn off cell phones before coming to class.  Text messaging is not allowed.  

You may use a laptop for taking lecture notes but if you are using your computer to check your email, look at websites, etc. you are not participating in the class.  You will be asked to shut down your computer.  If there is a second violation of this policy you will be asked to leave class and will be required to meet with the Dean of Student Life before being allowed to return to class.

 

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LATE SPEECH POLICY

If you miss a speech, you will receive an “F” for that assignment unless you are ready to give the speech at the next class meeting. This is based on the condition that there is enough time during the next class meeting. If possible you can do the speech and drop one grade as a late penalty. Your right to make up a speech is NOT GUARANTEED!! Only if you are prepared to go at the next class meeting and IF there is time available, will you be able to make up a presentation.

 

IMPORTANT DEADLINES AND DATES

 

February 4th	Last day to drop and be eligible for a partial refund of enrollment fees. Last day to add a full term course.
February 19th	Last day to drop if course is not to appear on transcript. Last day to take credit/no credit option.
April 30th	Last day to withdraw from a term length course

 

ORGANIZING OF SPEECHES

 

I - INTRODUCTORY SPEECH OF ANOTHER STUDENT
Time Limit:__________

A.  Find Interesting and unique information about the other student.

Ø  Organize your information.

Ø  Practice for effectiveness and clarity.

Ø  Make yourself heard.

 

II - NARRATIVE SPEECH USED TO SUPPORT A POINT
Time Limit:__________

A.  Organization and Content

Ø  Scene and mood setting

Ø  Unity

Ø  Story Line

Ø  Build to a climax

Ø  Succinct point

B.  Delivery

Ø  Useful body movement

Ø  Vocal variation

Ø  Language

·         Full sentences

·         Reduce distracting speech habits

·         Clear images through language selection

 

III - INFORMATIVE VISUAL-AID AND/OR DEMONSTRATION SPEECH
Time Limit:___________

A.  Content and Organization

Ø  Attention Step

Ø  Specific purpose/thesis statement

Ø  Main points

Ø  Forms of supportive material

Ø  Transitions

Ø  Summary/conclusion

B.  Awareness of the Following

Ø  Room size

Ø  Audience positioning

Ø  Object visibility

Ø  Mood setting

C.  Delivery

Ø  Large body movements

Ø  Gestures

Ø  Voice control

·         Inflections

·         Volume

·         Rate of speech

·         Variety for emphasis

·         Use of pause

 

IV - COMPLAINT SPEECH
Time Limit:_____________

A.  Requirements

Ø  Would include all of the above, plus

·         Full use of emotional impact

·         Full use of body gestures for emphasis

·         Wide vocal variation for impact

 

V - PERSUASIVE SPEECH
Time Limit:______________

A.  Requirements

Ø  Would include all of the above, plus

 

B.  Organization and Content

Ø  Effective attention step

Ø  Strong need step

Ø  Effective supporting evidence including citing at least three outside sources

Ø  Action step

Ø  Strong ending

Ø  Clarity of what you specifically want us to think, feel and do

Ø  Useful integration of ethos, logos- and pathos

Ø  Outline to include bibliography of sources used

 

Topics and Sources You Want To Avoid For Speeches
Abortion	Capital Punishment	Seat Belts
Drunk Driving	Alcoholism	Drug Addiction
Fitness and/or exercise	Teenage Pregnancy	Child Abuse
Smoking	Religion	Gun Control

 

Wikipedia is NOT an academically credible source of information.  The website does not verify the expertise of the contributors and anyone can change the content of another’s posting.  I will not accept Wikipedia as a source for any research based speech or paper.

 

Use some common sense. Speeches that show some imagination, creativity and credible research will get better grades.

 

THIS COURSE IS ESSENTIALLY ABOUT YOU AND WILL BE AS FUN, STIMULATING OR BORING AS YOUR ENERGY AND EFFORT MAKE IT. IT CAN BE A FASCINATING AND ENRICHING EXPERIENCE IF WE ALL CARE ENOUGH TO GIVE THE BEST OF OURSELVES. YOU'LL LEARN A LOT ABOUT YOURSELF IN THIS COURSE, AND HOPEFULLY BE AMAZED AT WHAT YOU LEARN BOTH FROM AND ABOUT YOUR CLASSMATES. LET'S ALL PITCH IN FOR A LIVELY AND PRODUCTIVE CLASS.