SPEECH 121: PERSUASION AND CRITICAL THINKING Diablo Valley College Return to Class Homepage

Instructor:	Jennifer Tejada
Office:	Room 144 West, San Ramon Campus Room PAC 104, Pleasant Hill Campus
Phone:	866-1822 x5118
Email:	jtejada@dvc.edu
Class website:	www.srvc.net/speech
Office Hours:	M & W 9:00 – 9:30 am and 1:00 – 2:00 pm at SRC T & Th 10:00 – 11:00 am at SRC W 5:15 – 5:45 pm at SRC Appointments by arrangement at the Pleasant Hill campus.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes: The purpose of this course is to introduce the principles of reasoning and their application to the analysis and evaluation of political and marketplace communication and to provide advanced training in the formulation and delivery of persuasive speeches. Students will examine the structure of argument, underlying assumptions, the quality of evidence used to support claims, the use of language, the discovery of formal and informational fallacies, and the effect of print and electronic media on argumentation. This course emphasizes the integration of critical thinking principles with techniques of effective written and spoken argument. The goal of the class is to teach students to understand and evaluate persuasive messages that surround them in the mediated world. After completing this course you will be able to: · identify inductive and deductive arguments. · classify sources as either primary or secondary. · identify the components of Schwartz's Perspective on Media Usage.

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 full sentence, typed outline. The outlines will be due before you give your presentation. Outlines not meeting the above requirements will be unacceptable.

There will also be an analysis paper that evaluates the text of a published speech. A guidelines sheet will be given for the paper in addition to discussion in class.

Extra Credit is available in the form of a written critique of one of the films seen in class or a persuasive message (television commercial, public speech, political event, work meeting, etc.) that you have witnessed outside of class. A handout detailing the assignment will be given in class.

3) Examinations:
There will be a midterm and a final exam focusing on material from class lectures. A study guide will be given prior to the exams

4) Speeches:
There will be four graded speech assignments - See Below

Return to Class Homepage

Grading

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

Proposition of Fact speech	75 points
Proposition of Value speech	150 points
Group Presentation speech	100 points
Communication Analysis speech	200 points
Outline Rough Drafts (5 – 10 points each, 3 total)	20 points
Source credibility worksheets (5 points each, 2 total)	10 points
Speech Analysis Paper	50 points
Midterm Quiz	50 points
Final Exam	50 points
Attendance and Participation	120 points
Total points possible	825 points

Final Grade Assignments
90% - 100% of points =	A
80% - 89% of points =	B
70% - 79% of points =	C
60% - 69% of points =	D
59% and below of points=	F

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/union/CodeAll.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.

OVERTIME/UNDERTIME PENALTIES

When a speaker exceeds the time limit given for an assignment they are cutting into someone else's speaking time and we are in danger of not finishing all of the assignments required this semester. I allow a one-minute grace period over the maximum time limit before I will penalize your content grade. My policy is your content grade will be docked half a grade for every minute you go overtime.

For example, your content is excellent and you receive an A however you go one minute over the maximum time so instead you will receive an A-. The same policy applies to undertime speeches, you get a one minute grace period before your content grade is affected.

To prevent these penalties you should get in the habit of timing your speeches EVERY TIME YOU REHEARSE. If a speech is running long you need to edit. If a speech is running short (this usually indicates that your treatment of the subject is superficial), you need to add material.

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.

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.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES AND DATES

August 26

Last day to drop and be eligible for a partial refund of enrollment fees. Last day to add a full term course.

September 10

Last day to drop if course is not to appear on transcript. Last day to take pass/no pass option.

November 19

Last day to withdraw from a term length course

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS (Speeches)

I PROPOSITION OF FACT

Students will research and prepare a 3-5 minute persuasive speech proving a proposition of their choice is either true or false. A topical organizational pattern is recommended along with a complete introduction and conclusion. A typed outline with bibliography of a minimum of three outside sources is required.

II PROPOSITION OF VALUE

A speech where you will argue the value of an item, idea, company, candidate, etc. or sell a product or service to the class using the techniques of persuasion, audience analysis and marketing learned in lecture and from the textbook. It will require a one to two page typed outline and a minimum of three bibliographic sources. The speech will be 4-6 minutes in length.

III GROUP PRESENTATION

A speech where your group (3-5 members) will present an analysis of a specific advertisement or ad campaign from the television, radio or print media. The advertisement will be analyzed using material from both the textbook and lecture on audience analysis, organization, and persuasive appeals. A visual or audio aid (video, audio or photograph) of the advertisement is necessary. A minimum of three bibliographic sources are required and the time limit is 10-12 minutes.

IV COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS

An examination of a communicative event, past or present, determining its success or failure through the use of a rhetorical theory or framework. A minimum of three bibliographic sources and a typed outline are required. The speech will be 6-8 minutes.