Business and Professional Speaking Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course Information

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Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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Course

SPCH-1321-005 Business and Professional Speaking

Prerequisites

Course Description

Study and application of communication within the business and professional context. Special emphasis will be given to communication competencies in presentations, dyads, teams and technologically mediated formats.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

A Speaker’s Guidebook, 6^th edition by O'Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein

Text ISBN: 978-1-457-66353-6

Summer 2017 Pricing

• AC Bookstore: $102 (New) $57.25 (Used) - available for rental
• This text may be available from other online textbook retailers.

Supplies

Course Requirements:

• Mozilla Firefox (most compatible with Blackboard)
• Windows Media Player
• Microsoft Word
• You will need to open a Prezi account online (choose the free option, either Classic or Next is fine)
• You must have regular access to a computer for this course.

Student Performance

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completing the required course activities, students will

1. Recognize and explain basic communication terms and principles.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of theory and competence in preparing and presenting informative and persuasive speeches.
3. Be able to analyze various communication contexts.
4. Apply communication principles and theory in diverse circumstances and demonstrate effective communication, distinguishing effective from less effective responses.
5. Be able to find, identify, and effectively use supporting materials in speech and written assignments.
6. Understand and discuss how best to avoid plagiarism.
7. Participate in class and group processes.
8. Demonstrate courtesy and respect for classmates.
9. Be able to research job listings and write an effective resume and cover letter

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Behavioral Expectations

1. If you arrive late to class, do not enter while someone is giving a speech. Wait outside the classroom door until you are sure the speech is finished before you enter.
2. Please turn off cell phone ringers before entering the classroom.
3.  No administrative withdraws will be initiated by the instructor.
4. Students will be required to dress appropriately on presentation days. For example, do not show up in a baseball cap, chewing gum, or wearing your sweaty workout clothes if you are presenting a speech.
5. Students are expected to act respectfully to one another, meaning you need to pay attention to the presenter rather than doing other homework, or looking out the window.
6. Students are expected to be good listeners while others are giving speeches.
7. Do not come in and expect to give your speech and leave. I will take off participation points if you leave before class is officially over. I take roll at the beginning and ending of each meeting.   
8. Students are expected to participate in each day of class.  Participation for the sake of this class is reading the required readings before class, coming prepared to add to conversations about the ideas presented in the required readings, preparing for in-class activities, working with groups, etc.  There are some days where students must have completed homework prior to class.  Students who do not complete the requirement will be allowed to stay in class, but will not have their attendance counted toward final exam exemption.
9. Students will use American Psychological Association's (APA) citation style.  For a detailed look at this style, please reference Purdue's OWL page, the Washington State University Library APA Quick guide, or the APA's Style Resources page. 
10. Students are expected to contribute to the overall classroom learning environment.  Students who disrupt the environment will be asked to leave and will be required to meet with the faculty member during a scheduled appointment during office hours.  During the meeting, the faculty and student will develop a plan for success.  If a student continues disruptive behavior s/he will be reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Grading Criteria

Presentations (FG1 - 40%)
40% of Final Grade
Assignment	Assignment Title/Information	Percentage of section
Speech Performance #1	This is Me	25% of 40%
Speech Performance #2	Informative (Corporate Philanthropy)	37.5% of 40%
Speech Performance #3	Persuasive	37.5% of 40%
Written Assignments (FG2 - 20%)
20% of Final Grade
Resume	Disney Job Specific Resume	25% of 20%
Cover Letter	Disney Job Specific Cover Letter	25% of 20%
Reflection Paper #1	Reflection on “This is Me” performance	25% of 20%
Reflection Paper #2	Reflection on “Corporate Philanthropy” performance	25% of 20%
Examinations (FG3 - 30%)
30% of Final Grade
Weekly Quizzes (5 total)	Students may take quizzes twice	50% of 30%
Final Exam	Students may take final exam once (students with perfect attendance are exempt from final and will receive a 100)	50% of 30%
Assignments, Participation & Group Work (FG4 - 10%)
10% of Final Grade
Assignments	Weekly Assignments	10% of 10%
Weekly Attendance	Daily attendance is worth 4.1 points	20% of 10%
Group Reading Logs	Weekly grades assigned	30% of 10%
Group Library Presentation	Group grade assigned after individual submission of Group Critique	40% of 10%

Final grades are earned, not given.

 

Late Assignments/Work/Quizzes

In general, I do not accept late assignments or late work; however, if after speaking with a student during an appointment about the extenuating circumstances, I may decide to accept the late work with a late point deduction.  I make this decision on a case by case basis.  The standard deduction is 10 points off of the final grade earned for the assignment.

Do not email assignments to me if the dropbox for the assignment is closed.  I will not grade them.  If there is an error, or technical issue, please check the announcements section of our AC Connect Class to see if I have made a note or Remind to see if I've made a comment about the issue.  If you don't see anything, use Remind or email (courtney@amarillocollege.com) to alert me.  Don't assume I am aware of the issue, or that it is your technology.  

Scheduling

Each student will be allowed to make up one speech if and only if you contact me before the start of class by email to make arrangements with me. If you do not show up for the assigned presentation time and you do not contact me before the absence you will receive a zero on the speech and reflection paper assignment.

Attendance

You will need to attend class daily to participate in discussions and group activities.  Daily attendance will be taken via the black boxes within each classroom and at the end of class in written form.  

To expedite scanning in attendance, please make plans to have your AC ID with you daily.  SUGGESTION: Take a photo of your ID, or download the Elucian Go app (Apple) (Android).  This app has a photo of your ID within it.  NOTE: If you forget your ID and miss the electronic scan at the beginning of class (and you want credit for attending), you will need to provide me with documentation of your attendance.  Class notes, worksheet - some physical proof of attendance.  Changes to attendance must be made the class week of the missed scan (i.e., you cannot request an attendance change during the second week of class at the end of the term).

Please review #8 in "Expected Student Behavior".

Calendar

Additional Information

Computer files

Students will be required to submit all written documents (outlines, papers, assignments, etc.) as Word (.docx) or Portable Digital Files (.pdf).  

Our Relationship

I cannot wait to work with you!  Your success is vitally important to you and our community.  I can't wait to watch you soar!

However, even in the best scenarios, events could happen to damped our relationship.  Here's how I would like us to handle it together.

1. Please schedule an appointment with me here.  Come to my office during our time together, and present your concerns.  I will listen.  This step is critical to us both.  As a communications faculty member, I strive to model the skills I teach outside of the classroom.  I expect my students to model this as well.
2. After you have presented your concerns, I will take the opportunity to visit with you if there are any concerns I have about your success.  
3. If I see there is an error in my attempts, or if I simply didn't do the right thing, I will apologize and work with you to make the situation right.  However, if I believe the issue doesn't lie within my teaching and/or behavior, I will ask you to abide by my decision.
4. If at this point, you do not feel you have received the appropriate considerations, you may ask for the next step in the process.  I will help you navigate the process to find resolution.

Once you have successfully completed this course...

You need to update your resume!  Use the following guidelines to update your skills.

If you earned an "A":

1. Excellent knowledge of basic communication terms, principles and superior application through analysis of contexts.
2. Excels in preparing and presenting informative and persuasive speeches.
3. Exhibits excellent ability to apply communication principles and theory to achieve best results for clients.
4. Superior research ability to find, identify, and effectively use supporting materials in verbal and written communication.  
5. Demonstrates leadership in group environments, showing courtesy and respect for clients and co-workers.

If you earned an "B":

1. Ability of and able to apply basic communication terms, principles through analysis of contexts.
2. Ability to prepare and present informative and persuasive speeches.
3. Ability to apply communication principles and theory to achieve best results for clients.
4. Ability research ability to find, identify, and effectively use supporting materials in verbal and written communication.  
5. Participates leadership in group environments, showing courtesy and respect for clients and co-workers.

If you earned an "C":

1. Knowledge of basic communication terms, principles and application through analysis of contexts.
2. Knowledge of how to prepare and present informative and persuasive speeches.
3. Knowledge of applying communication principles and theory to achieve best results for clients.
4. Knowledge of research ability to find, identify, and effectively use supporting materials in verbal and written communication.  
5. Experience with working in group environments, with a focus on showing courtesy and respect for clients and co-workers.