Public Speaking Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Office Location

<p>Parcells Hall&nbsp;204M</p>

Office Hours

Spring II Office Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

8:15 – 8:45 am; 10:15 – 11:15 am

If you need me outside of these times, just get in touch with me via email (use Blackboard messages or get me directly at jllewellyn@actx.edu) and we will set up a meeting that works for both of us. 

There is always some candy available in my office for you! If you just want something from the candy bowl, our office assistant, Shauna, can let you in to grab some!

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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 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.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

SPCH-1315-DC001 Public Speaking

Prerequisites

Course Description

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.

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

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

We will be using a new textbook this summer that you will have access to for free! Our textbook is The Art of Public Speaking 2023 Release by Stephen E. Lucas and Paul Stob available through McGraw Hill. Your code to the textbook and associated coursework are listed in our Blackboard course with step-by-step instructions for how to access them.

Supplies

Course Requirements:

  • Textbook (free to you through our course!)
  • Google Docs, which are free to access with your Amarillo College email account, or Microsoft Word, for typing papers and outlines
  • Access to presentation software: Google Slides, which are free to access with your Amarillo College email account, or PowerPoint, Prezi, or Canva 
  • You must have regular access to a computer and reliable internet access for this course, as well as some means for recording your speeches (webcam, smart phone with camera access, etc.)

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.

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. No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor
  2. Students are expected to act respectfully to one another, meaning you need to give positive feedback to one another rather than critiques, in both commenting on speech performances as well as in your reflection journals
  3. Our weekly lessons will open each Monday, and close the following Sunday - you must follow the course schedule and complete all weekly assignments by 11:59 pm on the day it is due for credit - Please note the different deadlines for assignments. Speeches are due on Wednesdays, original discussion posts are due on Fridays, responses and other assignments are generally due on Sundays. The course calendar clearly outlines the due dates, as do the assignment instructions, and you can also find the due dates in the course under "course due dates" and in the calendar tab

Grading Criteria

Presentations

Total of 500 points, or 50%

 

Speech of Introduction 100 points
Informative Speech w/ Visual Aid 150 points
Persuasive Speech w/ Visual Aid 150 points
Toast Speech 100 points

 

Reflection Journals

Total of 200 points, or 20%

 

Journals (2) 200 points (100 pts each)

 

Smartbook Assignments (Online Textbook Chapters)

Total of 200 points, or 20%

 

Chapters 1-20 Assigned (each chapter is worth 10 points)

 

Discussions

Discussion 1 (10 points)
Discussion 2 (20 points)
Discussion 3 (15 points)
Discussion 4 (20 points)
Discussion 5 (15 points)
Discussion 6 (20 points)

Total of 100 points, or 10%


Letter Grades:
A = 90 – 100 A = 900- 1000
B = 80 – 89 B = 800– 899
C = 70 – 79 C = 700– 799
D = 60 – 69 D = 600– 699
F = Below 60 F = Below 600

Attendance

You will need to log in to the course 3-4 times weekly to participate in discussion board postings and take weekly exams.

Calendar

Course Calendar for Summer 2024:

Week 1, June 3-June 9:

  1. Read the syllabus and make sure you understand the requirements of the course
  2. Click the "Start Here" tab on your course menu and read it
  3. Read Chapters 1, 2, and 19 and complete questions as they appear in the online textbook
  4. Discussion 1: Self-Introduction (original post due Friday, responses due Sunday)
  5. Discussion 2: Intro. Speech Review (original post due Friday, responses due Sunday)
  6. Start preparing your introduction speech

Week 2, June 10-June 16: 

  1. Read Chapters 3, 4, and 13 and complete questions as they appear in the online textbook
  2. Record your introduction speech by Wednesday
  3. Reflection Journal

Week 3, June 17-June 23: 

  1. Read Chapter 5, 6, and 15 and complete questions as they appear in the online textbook
  2. Read your informative speech assignment instructions
  3. Discussion 3: Informative Speech Topic (original post due Friday, responses due Sunday)

Week 4, June 24-June 30: 

  1. Read Chapters 7, 8, and 14 and complete questions as they appear in the online textbook
  2. Discussion 4: Inform. Speech Review (original post due Friday, responses due Sunday)
  3. Finish your informative speech outline, visual aid, and practice the speech

Week 5, July 1-July 7: 

  1. Read Chapters 9, 10, and 11 and complete questions as they appear in the online textbook
  2. Record your informative speech by Wednesday
  3. Reflection Journal

Week 6, July 8-July 14: 

  1. Read Chapter 12, 16 and 17 and complete questions as they appear in the online textbook
  2. Read the persuasive speech assignment instructions and begin working on it right away
  3. Discussion 5: Persuasive Topic (original post due Friday, responses due Sunday)
  4. Discussion 6: Persuasive Speech Rev. (original post due Friday, responses due Sunday)

Week 7, July 15-July 21: 

  1. Read Chapters 18 and 20 and complete questions as they appear in the online textbook
  2. Record your persuasive speech by Wednesday
  3. Read the toast speech assignment instructions

Week 8, July 22-24th: Final assignments due by Wednesday, July 24th, by 11:59 pm.

  1. Complete the post-pilot survey
  2. Record your toast speech by Wednesday

NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED. This is for your benefit because in the 8-week course model, you just don't have the time to fall behind. Please let me know if you are experiencing extenuating circumstances. 

Additional Information

Syllabus Created on:

05/30/24 1:58 PM

Last Edited on:

06/02/24 11:40 PM