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Midlands Technical College
Department of Humanities
Spring Semester 2002
Beltline Campus
SPC 205: Public Speaking (3 credit hours)
This course is an introduction to principles of public speaking with application of speaking skills. (PREREQUISITE: ENG 100 OR EQUIVALENT)
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Joseph A. DeVito, The Elements of Public Speaking (Longman, seventh edition, 2000).
This textbook is available in the college bookstore on both campuses, and you should purchase a copy as soon as possible. You will be required to study the textbook to be successful on the exams.
You will also need to purchase a blank VHS videotape to record your speeches.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
SPC 205 addresses the Communication Skills statement of the General Education Core, which reads: “Graduates should be able to generate and comprehend written and oral communication appropriate for a variety of audiences purposes, and subjects.” This course does NOT satisfy the Humanities component of the college’s General Education Core.
If SPC 205 is used to satisfy the oral communication component of the general education value statements, the student will be able to:
1. Present a thoroughly researched informative speech with appropriate documentation, as well as effective delivery skills. 2. Present a thoroughly researched persuasive speech with appropriate documentation, as well as effective delivery skills. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of public speaking. 4. Demonstrate awareness of the ethical consequences of public speaking, including respect for diversity.
Upon successful completion of this particular course, all students should also be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the need for effective communication in the workplace and in society as a whole. 2. Demonstrate ability to plan effective speeches by: identifying appropriate topics, deciding on a purpose, identifying audience characteristics, researching and documenting information, organizing information, identifying audio-visual supplements, identifying methods to increase audience interest, writing introductions to speeches, writing bodies of speeches, writing conclusions to speeches, and using creativity in speech writing. 3. Demonstrate effective delivery techniques by: using notes appropriately, maintaining eye contact with the audience, using nonverbal communication, using appropriate grammar, using clear and vivid language, maintaining vocal quality and tone, demonstrating poise and rapport with the audience, displaying appropriate mood and enthusiasm, and using appropriate audio-visuals. 4. Critically analyze oral presentations by critiquing peer performances.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Each student is expected to attend ALL classes and is responsible for class work, homework, lecture notes and reading assignments, whether present or absent.
Each student is allowed to miss no more than 5 meetings of a MWF class, no more than 3 meetings of a TTH class, and no more than 2 meetings of a MW class, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON. There are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences. If you are not in class, you are absent, period. Exceeding the number of allowed absences in this course means that you will receive no credit for the course, and I will assign you a grade of W or WF.
At the beginning of each class period, an attendance sign-up sheet will be passed around the room. Those who do not sign the sheet will be recorded as absent for the day. Those who enter the classroom up to ten minutes late will be recorded as tardy. Three tardies equal one absence. A student entering more than ten minutes past the beginning of class will be counted absent. Students are expected to remain in class for the entire period. Any student who leaves early will be assigned an absence.
Courteous, attentive behavior is expected at all times. This includes being polite and attentive while other students give their presentations. If you are late on a speaking day, please DO NOT enter the room while another student is speaking. This can disrupt the speaker and hinder their presentation. Those who enter during another’s presentation, or that are dismissed from the class for disruptive behavior will be charged with an absence for that day.
Students are expected to present their speeches and turn in written materials on the date they are due. We have an extremely limited time in which to cover a lot of material and to hear a lot of speeches. Late work throws the course off schedule, disrupts the flow of the class, and hurts your final grade. Missing a speech or failing to turn in an assignment on time results in a grade deduction of 15% per class period late, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON! This means that the absolute best grade a perfect speech, performed one class late, could receive is an 85%. The same speech performed two class periods late could only receive a 70% at best, and so on. In general, the students who receive poor final grades in this class are the students who fail to do their work on time. PLEASE keep this policy in mind before you decide to procrastinate or “blow off” an assignment.
Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of the class period. Have your materials put together and ready to turn in before you walk in the door of the classroom. Students who are tardy on the day their speech is due will receive a 5% penalty on their presentation grade.
The MTC Student Handbook states, “All forms of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism, collusion, and falsification of information will call for discipline.” Students found responsible for acts of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions ranging from grades of zero on coursework, failure of the course, disciplinary probation, suspension, and expulsion from the College.
If you require special accommodations as a result of a disability, you should contact the Counseling Services office for assistance. Counseling Services will arrange with you and me the accommodations appropriate to your situation. Documentation regarding the specific disability is required, and you can be sure that confidentiality will be maintained.
Your success in this course will be evaluated through a variety of speaking and written assignments, as well as two written exams. The grading of each assignment and exam will be based on the following percentage scale:
The final grade for the course will be based on the following point scale: Assignment Points EXAMS: Midterm Exam…………………………….. 100 Final Exam………………………………… 100 SPEECHES: Introductory Speech……………………….. 30 Group Score Group Presentation………… 15 (not included at FJ) Individual Score Group Presentation……… 45 (not included at FJ) Demonstration Speech…………………….. 50 Informative Speech………………………... 75 Persuasive Speech…………………………. 125 OTHER ASSIGNMENTS: Outline of Informative Speech…………….. 30 Outline of Persuasive Speech……………… 30 Peer Critique of Demonstration Speech…… 15 Peer Critique of Informative Speech………. 15 Peer Critique of Persuasive Speech………. 15 Self Evaluation……………………………...... 25 (15 points at FJ) Class Participation…………………………. 30 (not included at FJ) TOTAL 700 (600 at Fort Jackson)
FINAL GRADE DISTRIBUTION FORT JACKSON630 – 700 A 540 – 600 A560 – 629 B 480 – 539 B 490 – 559 C 420 – 479 C 420 – 489 D 360 – 419 D 0 – 419 F 0 – 359 F
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS
EXAMS (2 @ 100 points each): Your understanding of the principles of public speaking will be evaluated based on two written exams. Each exam will consist of two parts: 2/3 of the exam will be multiple choice, 1/3 will be short answer. Reading assignments from the textbook are critical to your success on these exams.
SPEECHES: Introductory Speech (30 points): Many students who take this course don’t have much experience with public speaking. This assignment gives you the opportunity to “practice” your public speaking skills before you have a major assignment. Target time: 3 minutes.
Small Group Presentation (60 points): Early in the semester, you will be divided into groups that will perform a panel discussion concerning a topic of the group’s choice. Target time: dependent on group size, 14-16 minutes. This assignment is not included in the Fort Jackson class.
Demonstration Speech (50 points): For this assignment, you will present a speech that shows the audience either how to do something or how something works. A visual aid is required for this assignment. This will give you a chance to perform a formal speech before the major speeches at the end of the semester. Target time: 5 minutes.
Informative Speech (75 points): An informative speech allows you to educate an audience about any appropriate topic. Target time: 6 minutes.
Persuasive Speech (125 points): Your persuasive speech should challenge the values, beliefs, or behaviors of your audience members. Here, you will act as an advocate for a particular position about a subject of your choosing. Target time: 7 minutes.
OTHER ASSIGNMENTS: Outlines (2 @ 30 points each): You will be required to write and turn in a formal outline of the content of your informative and persuasive speeches.
Peer Critiques (3 @ 15 points each): You will be required to provide a written critique of another student’s presentation for the demonstration, informative, and persuasive speaking assignments.
Self Critique (25 points, 15 points at Fort Jackson): Each of your speeches will be videotaped. You will be required to turn in a written analysis of your performances.
Class Participation (30 points): The goal of this course is to make you a better communicator, therefore, it is a fundamental expectation that you will actually communicate! Just showing up and sitting in class will not help you gain participation points. You must contribute to discussions, participate in class activities, and be a positive, attentive audience member when others speak in order to gain all of the participation points possible. This assignment is not included in the Fort Jackson class.
PLEASE NOTE: Changes in this schedule may become necessary through the course of the semester. Any change will be announced in class before it becomes effective. All of the due dates for you assignments are listed here.
TTH DAILY SCHEDULE
PLEASE NOTE: Changes in this schedule may become necessary through the course of the semester. Any change will be announced in class before it becomes effective. All of the due dates for you assignments are listed here.
MW DAILY SCHEDULE
PLEASE NOTE: Changes in this schedule may become necessary through the course of the semester. Any change will be announced in class before it becomes effective. All of the due dates for you assignments are listed here.
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