Business and Professional Speaking Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Course

SPCH-1321-030 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:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact 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

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

A Speaker's Guidebook, Dan O'Hair, Rob Stewart, Hannah Rubenstein. Seventh Edition. ISBN: 9781319059415

 

Supplies

Each student must provide writing/note-taking materials and have access to the Internet either through campus labs or at home.

 

Student Performance

Course Objectives: (Note: this is a combined 1315/1321 section so the objectives of both courses will be met)
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.

1. Demonstrate communication competence and critical thinking through an understanding of the foundational communication models.
2. Demonstrate essential public speaking skills in professional presentations.
3. Demonstrate written and oral competencies as it relates to employment (including job searches, interviews, interpersonal interaction, conflict management, leadership and performance appraisals.)
4. Apply essential dyadic and small group processes as they relate to the workplace.
5. Utilize various technologies as they relate to competent communication.
6. Demonstrate effective cross-cultural communication.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational models of communication.
8. Demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills by analyzing presentations for evidence and logic
9. Research, develop and deliver extemporaneous speeches with effective verbal and nonverbal techniques.
10. Demonstrate effective usage of technology when researching and/or presenting speeches.
11. Identify how culture, ethnicity and gender influence communication.
12. Develop proficiency in presenting a variety of speeches as an individual or group (e.g. narrative, informative or persuasive).
13. Utilize various technologies as they relate to competent communication.

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

• Students will arrive for class on time. Consistent late arrival will impact class participation grade.
• Turn off cell phones or put them on silent ring during class.
• Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a failing grade.
• No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor.

Grading Criteria

Assignments:

Speeches:  Each student will deliver three major individual speeches and one team speech. Students must meet the following requirements on every speech:

• Each student will turn in a typed outline on the day of the speech;
• Speeches will be graded on delivery, organization and content;
• Speakers will deliver their speeches extemporaneously—that is, the speaker will be familiar enough with the speech to rely only on one note-card. Writing the speech in essay form is unnecessary and counterproductive.
• Speakers will not stand behind a podium, chew gum or wear a hat while speaking.

Homework:  Various written homework assignments will be given throughout the semester.  Performance on these assignments will impact student’s participation grade.

Sales Campaign: This project allows students to use the communication concepts they have learned in speech class to create a clear, compelling persuasive message, in order to pitch a sales campaign. This is a group assisgnment that will be delivered in front of the class.

Examinations: A comprehensive final exam will be given.  The exam may consist of multiple choice, true/false, list and explain, define, describe, short answer, application and essay questions.

Class Participation and Attendance:  Each student’s class participation grade will consider participation in class discussions, impromptu speeches, work done in groups and attendance. Remember, you can’t participate if you don’t attend. Additonally, regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Daily attendance will be recorded. Ten points will be deducted for each absence after the first regardless of the reason for the absence. Three tardies or early exits will count as an absence. It is the responsibility of the student to remain after class and ask the teacher to adjust a tardy to an absence. Additionally, should you miss a class period, it is your responsible to call me AFTER the missed class to discussed the material and/or assignments that were missed. 

Reading Assignments: Students will complete weekly reading assignments online and in the textbook.  Class discussion and examination questions will draw upon information presented in the textbook and online reading.   Students should complete each week’s reading assignment by the end of the week.

Grades in the course are distributed as follows:

• Self Introduction Speech: 10%
• Informative Speech: 20%
• Persuasive Speech: 20% 
• Sales Campaign (Group): 20%
• Final Examination: 10%
• Homework Assignments:  10%
• Class Participation/Attendance: 10%

All late work will be penalized.

No student will be allowed to make up work without prior permission from the instructor. I reserve the right not to accept make-up work. Make-up work will only be accepted if a student has a valid and compelling reason to have missed the original speaking date and has contacted me to arrange to make up a speech.

Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

A=90-100

B=80-89

C=70-79

D=60-69

F=below 60

 

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential for satisfactory achievement. Your participation in discussions and activities will directly affect your grade. Daily attendance will be recorded. Points will be deducted from your participation grade for more than one absences-- regardless of the reason for the absence. Please note that speaking and participation make up 70% of the final grade.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

Students' grades and additional resources/information will be available through AC Connect/Blackboard.