Business and Professional Speaking Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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.
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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.

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Course

SPCH-1321-008 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

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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Course Materials:

The Art of Public Speaking 2025 release by Stephen Lucas with Connect.

How to Register for Connect through Blackboard Ultra:

Video link: https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/connect/first-day-of-class/blackboard-ultra.html

Step 1: Login into your campus Blackboard Ultra account using your personal login and password.

Step 2: Then select SPCH 1321.

Step 3: Select the folder that contains your course assignments.

Step 4: Select any McGraw-Hill Connect assignment link to start the registration process.

Step 5: Enter your Amarillo College email address and click Begin. If you receive the message,

You have a Connect Account but have forgotten your password, click Forgot Password. *Depending on your school, you might skip this step. That’s ok! Just continue the process from that step to the end.

Step 6: Create your McGraw-Hill Education account. Please use your Amarillo College email address when creating an account. To receive text alerts, enter your mobile number. Agree to the Terms and Conditions and then click Continue.

Step 7: You’ll see 3 registration options. Choose the option that allows you to enter an access code. use the access code you purchased and click “redeem”.

Step 8: Click Confirm. You are now registered.

Make the most of Connect

Stay Organized

• Digital Course Planner has all your upcoming Connect assignments in one place, and you can customize calendar alerts 

Focus On What Matters

• Use Reports to track your performance and your understanding of key concepts

Learn On-the-Go

• Download the free ReadAnywhere App to take your eBook* and SmartBook® 2.0* with you – online and offline

*ReadAnywhere supports newer eBooks and SmartBook 2.0. may not be available in your Connect course.

Connect Student Support Tools

• Find more tips:https://www.mheducation.com/highered/support/student/connect.html

FREE Study App

Sharpen

• Thousands of short videos, quizzes, and flashcards designed for your courses: https://mhss-links.mheducation.com/G1f2/JB1243

Tech Support:

Please contact McGraw Hill’s Customer Experience Group for tech support using the information below.

• Phone: 1-800-331-5094
• Available for Instructors and Students
• Hours Available
  • Sunday: 11 AM – 11 PM
  • Monday – Thursday: 24 hours
  • Friday: 12 AM – 8 PM
  • Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
• https://mhedu.force.com/CXG/s/ContactUs

Course Materials: 

Each student must provide writing/note-taking materials. You will be using pencil;/pen and paper for in-class assignments and activities.

Supplies

Student Performance

Assignments:

Speeches-Students will deliver 4 major speeches during the course. These speeches account for a large percentage of your final grade, 40%

 Each student will turn in a typed outline prior to delivering the speech in class.  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 a few note-cards.  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. 

Student will also have various in class Mini Speeches. These are “low stakes” assignments that are meant to serve as practice for major speeches. There will be no make ups available for these speeches.  

Homework:

Students are. responsible for their own chapter reading assignments. These, MCGra Hill “Smartbook” assignments are found in the Weekly Folders in Blackboard. You will be responsible for reading the material and answering the questions as you go. These reading assignments are due on Monday each week (except for week 1). These assignments count toward your final grade. I do not accept late work for the McGraw Hill “Smartbook” assignments.

Mid-term and Final Exam:

These are speaking assignments  

Will include material covered during the course. Will be available on-line during week 4 and the last week of class.

Extra Credit:

Five points will be added to your final grade for completing the “Written Critique of a Speaker” essay. The instructions are found in Blackboard.

Students 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

Class Policies:

Turn off cell phones or put them on silent ring during class.  No text messaging will be permitted during class. Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct.  All speeches and written assignments presented in this class must be original work by the student.  Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a failing grade.  No form of scholastic dishonesty will be tolerated.  Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. 

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disability Services (located in the Student Services Center 119; phone number 371 5436) as soon as possible. Visit the Amarillo College Disability Services website at https://www.actx.edu/disability/ 

Grading Criteria

Grading Policy:

Grade distribution works as follows:

4 Major Speeches’ =40%

Introduction- 10%

Informative- 10%

 Persuasive- — 10%

Special Occasion Speech- 10%

In class Mini Speeches=20%

Examinations:

“Smartbook” assignments- 10%

Mid-term exam =10%

Final Exam- 10%

Attendance/Participation- 10% 

Letter Grades will be determined as follows:

            •A- 90-100

            •           B- 89-80

            •           C- 79-70

            •           D- 69-60

            •           F- below 59

Attendance

Class Attendance and participation:

This is an 8-week course, so I am expecting students to come to class prepared. This means your chapter readings should be completed before entering class each day.  We will be working on a variety of learning activities, discussions, and group assignments in class.   

Attendance:

attendance will be recorded.   Points will be deducted from your attendance/participation grade for more than two absences.   Please note that speaking and participation make up 70% of the final grade. Much of what we learn about public and professional speaking is gained by listening to other speakers.  It is each student’s responsibility to be an active and valuable member of the audience. 

Calendar

Additional Information