Business and Professional Speaking Syllabus for 2017-2018
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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Administrative Drop Policy

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Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are 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. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

SPCH-1321-002 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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

A Speaker’s Guidebook, 7th edition, by O’Hair, Stewart and Rubenstein ISBN: 978-1-319-05941-5

The Things They Carried by O’Brien (copies available for check-out on 4^th floor of Ware Student Commons)

Supplies

• You will need access to a reliable computer so you can log in to the class several times a week.  Have a backup plan prepared just in case your computer or internet is not working (computer labs on campus, public library, friend’s house, Starbucks, etc.).
• Adequate browser capabilities.  Mozilla Firefox works best with this course
• Microsoft Word or Google Docs for typing papers and turning assignments into the dropbox
• If you have a Macintosh (Apple) computer, you will need to know how to convert Pages documents into .pdf files.  I cannot and will not grade anything submitted as a Pages document.  Pages files will earn zeros.
• I cannot grade direct links to Google Drive documents.  Download the files as .pdf files and then submit them.  I cannot and will not grade anything submitted as a Google link.  Google Drive links will earn zeros.
• A free program called Prezi for creating presentations.  You can create an account at www.prezi.com
• A general idea of how to navigate online courses, upload assignments, etc.  This is a seated, traditional course; however, all of our assignments are turned in electronically via ACConnect Classes.  If you are new to AC online classes, please take the online orientation.  There are several tools located within our course ("Start Here: Classroom" "Start Here: Course Orientation") to help you be successful in our online environment.

Student Performance

Application of communication theory and practice to the public speaking context, with emphasis on audience analysis, speaker delivery, ethics of communication, cultural diversity and speech organizational techniques to develop students' speaking abilities, as well as ability to effectively evaluate oral presentations.

Learning Outcomes:

After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program.

Evaluation of Objectives

Learning Objective	THECB Skill	Assessment(s)
Demonstrate an understanding of the foundation models of communication.	Critical Thinking	Assessed through exam questions
Apply elements of audience analysis	Critical Thinking	Assessed through informative and persuasive speeches and audience analysis survey
Demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills by analyzing presentations for evidence and logic.	Communication (written)/Critical Thinking	Assessed through two, 2-page essays
Research, develop, and deliver extemporaneous speeches with effective verbal and nonverbal techniques.	Personal Responsibility	Assessed through informative and persuasive speeches and Library Group Work assignment
Demonstrate effective usage of technology when researching and/or presenting speeches.	Communication (visual)	Assessed through Prezi, PowerPoint or Google Slides presentations prepared by students for introduction and Library Group Work assignment
Identify how culture, ethnicity, and gender influence communication.	Team Work	Assessed through Library Group Work assignment
Develop proficiency in presenting a variety of speeches as an individual or group (e.g. narrative, informative, or persuasive).	Communication (written/visual)/Critical Thinking	Assessed through written outlines and public performances of three speeches.

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

Expected Student Behavior

• If you arrive late to class on performance days, do not enter while someone is giving a speech.  Always wait outside the classroom door until you are sure the speech is finished before you enter.  Entering during another student’s performance will result in a five-point deduction from your speech.
• Please turn off cell phone ringers before entering the classroom.  
• Students will be required to dress appropriately for presentation days.  For example, do not show up in a baseball cap or slouchy knit cap, chewing gum, or wearing your sweaty workout clothes if you are presenting a speech.  If you need assistance with appropriate attire, please visit the Advocacy & Resource Center Clothing Closet (first floor, Ware Student Commons).

• Students will act respectfully to one another, meaning you need to pay attention to the presenter rather than doing other homework or looking out the window.
• Students will be good listeners while others are giving speeches.  Being a bad listener includes, but is not limited to, working on your own visual aids during other speaker’s performances, working on homework for another course, or using electronic devices during our time together.
• 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. 

• I assume everyone in the class wants to be here to learn as much as possible about being a better public speaker.  With that, I know it's easy to feel comfortable in a classroom where we spend so much time together.  Please, do feel comfortable, but remember this is a learning environment.  We're all here to become better.  Let's respect each others time, effort and energy.
• If you must come in late, do so as respectfully as possible.  Other students are trying to learn and have conversations about the material.  If the sign-in sheet has already been passed around, it will not be available to register a students attendance.  If coming in late, plan on asking a classmate for a copy of his/her notes, or a general rundown of the conversation and/or activity we did during class time.  
• Students should be prepared to stay the entire class period.    Doctor's appointments, parent/teacher conferences, job shifts, make-up testing and the like should be scheduled outside of class time.  Please take the next couple of days to reschedule any appointments or conflicts with our class time. 
• Students should not start packing up their belongings until the class has been released by the faculty member.  Doing so disrupts the learning of others and isn't respectful of their time, effort and energy.
• Students are expected to take notes.  My lecture style is based on conversations; however, students must take notes on the conversations to help develop meaning from the material covered.
• Students should sign in their attendance during each class session.
• If you need to use the restroom, please, make yourself comfortable.  However, excessive restroom breaks may require a note from a medical professional.

Students are expected to have read assigned chapters BEFORE each class begins.  This makes class discussions more interesting and increases the opportunity for activities that demonstrate theories.  This is a tool we can use to show our respect for ourselves and classmates.  Students are encouraged, but not required to complete a handwritten “passport” with pertinent information from each unit to be turned in before the discussion begins.  Passport information can be organized using Bubble.us or typical note-taking format.  Students may earn one “passport point” each Monday.  Passports will be “graded” and returned to students that week.  For each “Passport Point,” students will earn an extra point on their final exam.  A total of six "passport points" are available.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

“Contained within the following pages are those major policies and regulations which directly affect the students at Amarillo College.  It is very important that you take the time to familiarize yourself with this information since it deals with your “rights” and your “responsibilities” as an AC student.”  Please note the section on plagiarism as it pertains to the creation of speeches for this course.

ACConnect Classes

Your instructor will be using ACConnect to post your grades and to receive your assignments through Dropboxes provided under the “Dropboxes” area.  ACConnect will also be used to post announcements about the class and any events (i.e., bad weather) that would lead to the cancellation of class.

Checking Grades

Periodically checking your course grade through the “My Grades” feature will help you be successful in the course.  More specifically, if you see a small blue speech bubble next to your grade I have left comments/feedback on the assignment.  Those comments help drive your success in the course.  I may ask for resubmissions, specifically rewriting, clarification, or other information within a stated period.  I assume students read and review the feedback given.  Students who fail to reply or follow through with feedback comments within the extended timeframe will lose the opportunity.

Campus Email

Amarillo College students receive all official College information through their @amarillocollege.com account.  As a rule, I will be contacting you through your @amarillocollege.com account for all things related to our class, presentations, etc.  Emails act as a final notification of important class information.  If a student has further questions or needs clarification, it is up to the student to contact the faculty member.

Email conversations

As a rule, email conversations are a form of business writing.  In that, I reserve the right to request clarification as needed understand the question posed.  I also expect our conversations to be collegial, or that of a partnership.  Please ensure you are using appropriate grammar/punctuation.  When referring to yourself, please use “I” and not “i.”  Please use periods, questions marks, and exclamation points to clarify where your individual thoughts end.  If you struggle with grammar (as I do), please consider using Grammarly.

Additionally, please consider the tone of your email.  Below is an example of a poor communication attempt (both in tone and in grammar).

Writer's Corner & SmarThinking

Both the Writer's Corner and the online tutoring platform, SmarThinking have tools beneficial to the course content.  If you struggle with writing, want to make sure you are citing references correctly, or whether or not you've developed your speech argument fully, the Writer's Corner or SmarThinking can assist you.

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria

Presentations – 40%

• Speech of Introduction – 100 points (75 points for speech, 25 points for outline)
• Informative Speech w/ Visual Aid – 150 points (100 pts for speech/25 pts for outline/25 pts for visual aid)
• Persuasive Speech – 150 points (100 pts for speech/50 pts for outline)

Written Assignments – 10%

Reflection papers (3) – 100 points each (one after Introduction, Informative and Persuasive Speeches)

Resume - 100 points

Cover Letter  - 100 points

Examinations – 40%

• Weekly Quizzes (see section on Weekly Quizzes for more details)
• Final Exam
• Library Group PowerPoint
• Faculty reserves the right to add additional daily work quizzes

Participation – 10%

• Discussion Postings
• Library Group Critique
• Interview
• Faculty reserves the right to add additional daily work quizzes

Earning Your Grade

There is no “grade recovery” in my course.  You will be awarded the grade that you have earned (both on assignments and in the class).  Final grades will be assigned on the following basis:

A	B	C	D	F
90-100	80-89.9	70-79.9	60-69.9	0-59.9

Late Work & Make-Up Performance Policies

Late work is not accepted.  Specifically, speeches, written assignments, discussions, examinations, and participation grades are due by the stated due date.  Earned grades will be posted within the ACConnect Class grade book.

Attendance

Attendance Policy – Traditional Courses

Eight-week classes move quickly.  This class will meet daily, Monday – Thursday.  Due to this, students may only miss one class meeting per eight-week term.  Students should keep this policy in mind as they make choices about attending classes.  Emergencies do come up.  Save your one excused absence for use during an emergency.  Students who miss more than one class day will have a letter grade taken off their final grade.

Oftentimes, students need to miss class due to a family emergency (death in the family, family member hospitalization, etc.).  Please note these family emergencies will require official documentation.

Census Day Roster

Students who have not attended class prior to the Census Day (January 23, 2018) will be reported as “non-attending.”  Traditional, on-campus classes, will require students to complete a specific assignment prior to the Census Day Roster to be counted as participating.  For this course, students will need to earn attendance points during a weekly discussion or complete the first or second weekly Passport (extra credit for the final exam).

Withdrawal Policy

No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor.  If you stop attending class but do not officially withdraw from the class, your name will appear on the ending roll sheet.  Grades will be assigned based on the work completed.  The final day to withdraw from the class with a guaranteed grade of “W” is February 27, 2018.

Speaking Schedule

Speeches are to be delivered on the assigned day.  Speakers who are absent on the assigned speaking day will receive a zero unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor.  Prior arrangements must be made at least three hours before class starts.  Medical excuses require documentation.  Speaking order is determined by a random selection process and is posted in an announcement at the beginning of the week.

Calendar

Additional Information

Verbal Citations

Throughout the course, citing sources is critical.  In public speaking, verbal citations are necessary.  Students often think if they cite the source on their visual aid it counts as citing the source.  This is not true.  Students must cite their sources verbally during the course of their speeches.  To learn how to do this, please review the document included in Week 3 “How To Cite a Source in your Speech” for guidance.  A student may also review the speeches within their textbook to learn more.  In short, sources must be cited by saying the author’s name, when and where the information was published, and where the information was found.  The Amarillo College Library has a LibGuide specifically written for APA citation style.

APA Formatting

Speech Communication courses utilize the American Psychological Association’s (APA) formatting style.  If you are unfamiliar with this style, please visit the Amarillo College Library (http://actx.libguides.com/apa) for more information.  The AC Librarians are an excellent resource to help you cite your sources correctly in your bibliography.    

Cell Phone Policy

Please turn your cell phones off during class.  Inform your instructor if circumstances are such that require you to have access to your phone during class.  No texting is allowed in class (wait until you walk out the door after class to send your messages.)  You will be counted absent if you are observed with your phone in hand.  NO WARNINGS.

Speeches

Introduction Speech

3-5 minutes Students will create a free Prezi account and create a speech introducing themselves to their classmates.  Include 6 or 7 slides:  Title slide, some personal information that you want to share (things like where you are from, where have you lived, do you have any children/married), Education: why are you here at AC (major, long-term career goals), Interests: Activities you spend your time on, hobbies, things you like to do for fun, 1-2 significant life events that have shaped the person you are today, Goals for this semester (personal and academic), Anything you think might get in the way of your success.  Further details are available in the online class under “Speech Guidelines.” 

Informative Speech

5-7 minutes Informative speaking is the fundamental speaking performance.  Through this type of speech, speakers can communicate ideas, stories, and facts to a large audience.  The learning objective of this assignment is to develop critical inquiry and critical thinking skills through the development of an informative speech based on ideas and concepts presented in the Amarillo College Common Reader.

The speech outline will include a header listing the student’s name, course, and section, then General Purpose statement, Specific Purpose statement, and thesis.  This speech should be between 5-7 minutes in length.  Penalties will be given for speeches shorter or longer than the stated time.  Each speech should have a minimum of 5 verbally cited sources and an APA formatted bibliography included with their outline. 

Library Group Work Assignment

The AC librarian has created this assignment, and she will be your contact person if you have questions regarding the assignment.  Her contact information is provided in the assignment information.  In groups, you will be learning how to do research and find credible sources.  Secondly, you will gain experience working as a team and evaluating members of your team.  You and your group members are responsible for completing the library assignment.  Then you will collaborate to create a PowerPoint over the material.  Eventually, the material will be made available for the rest of the class to view.  As a portion of this assignment, you will evaluate your group members work and contributions to the project.

Persuasive Speech

6-8 minutes Persuasive Speech w/ organizational pattern Using the guidelines provided by the organizational style selected, create a 6-8 minute speech.  Each speech should have a minimum of 5 verbally cited sources and an APA formatted bibliography included with their outline.  Your textbook gives many ways to organize a persuasive speech.  You will need to select one of these methods to use for your speech development.  Monroe's Motivated Sequence is typically a class favorite.

The speech outline will include a header listing the student’s name, course, and section, then General Purpose statement, Specific Purpose statement, thesis, and organizational method.  This speech should be between 6-8 minutes in length.  Penalties will be given for speeches shorter or longer than the stated time. 

Written Assignments

Two reflection papers are due during the term.  The first is due the Sunday after the Introduction speech.  The second paper is due the Sunday after the Informative speech.  The format for each paper is double-spaced, 12-point, Times-Roman or Arial, 1-inch margin, and 2-page paper.  To qualify as two pages, the paper must fill a majority of the second page.  Students should put their name, course and section, and paper title in the header using 12-point font.  Students who fail to meet minimum college-writing standards will be referred to the Amarillo College Writer’s Corner.  After the student has attended a tutoring session with the Writer’s Corner they may resubmit the paper for three-quarter credit (the highest grade to be awarded on a re-write is 75).  However, students who utilize the AC Writer’s Corner prior to submitting their Reflection papers will earn 5 extra credit points on their Reflection paper.  The Writer’s Corner will email a report discussing areas covered and improvements suggested.  Students may visit the Writer’s Corner in person (Ordway Hall, 1^st-floor) or via email.

Participation Assignments

These assignments ensure all students are engaging in the coursework throughout the term.

Study Abroad Students

Students taking this course as a portion of the Amarillo College Study Abroad experience will have altered speech assignments.  The following details relate the changes.

Informative Speech: The Common Reader reflects on issues faced world-wide.  Find an area of interest within the textbook as it relates to the Study Abroad location.  For instance, in 2016, Amarillo College selected Jaime Ford’s The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.  Students traveled to Japan to learn more.  To satisfy the needs of the Informative speech requirements, students would need to do a speech topic that related to the concepts in the text, as well as, the Study Abroad location.  Some ideas for the 2016 Common Reader include: Why Baseball thrives in Japan, The Use of Japanese Ingredients in American Diets, The Influence of Japanese Culture in West Texas, Long-term Impacts of Nuclear Explosions, etc.

The framework for travelers to Paris can look at how the Vietnam War is linked to France’s colonialism, France’s support of the US during the military conflict, French Veterans Remembrance of Vietnam, Role of Vietnam in France’s Economy, etc.  Additionally, travelers can look at the contributions The Walt Disney Company made to the Vietnam conflict, the development of the Company during the Vietnam years, etc.  Ideas that fall within this timeframe and impact France, Paris, The Walt Disney Company or all three are acceptable.

Teaching Evaluations

You will have the opportunity to evaluate your instructor through teaching evaluation forms.  It is extremely important that you complete these surveys and provide feedback about the class and the instruction you received.