Business and Professional Speaking Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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-1321-003 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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

A Speaker’s Guidebook, 8th edition by O'Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein 

Supplies

Course Requirements:

• Mozilla Firefox (most compatible with Blackboard, although I prefer Chrome)
• Microsoft Word or Google Docs, Google Slides or PowerPoint
• You must have regular access to a computer for this course.

Student Performance

Learning Objective	THECB Skill	Assessment(s)
Demonstrate an understanding of the foundation models of communication.	Critical Thinking	Assessed through quiz questions
Apply elements of audience analysis	Critical Thinking	Assessed through informative and Persuasive Panel Discussion 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 Persuasive Panel Discussion
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 Persuasive Panel Discussion
Identify how culture, ethnicity, and gender influence communication.	Team Work	Assessed through Persuasive Panel Discussion
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.

AI Statement:

The new AI tools that you may be hearing about, such as ChatGPT, are based on a large language model.  In essence, ChatGPT and other programs like it, are crowdsourcing information and providing likely answers based on the vast amount of text in its database.  Oftentimes, the sources provided by ChatGPT are not real or not reliable.  While it can provide some helpful information, and may spur your thinking in some areas, it is not a reliable source and cannot provide citations or references to reliable data or evidence. (If you ask it for a citation, be aware that it makes things up and the information it's giving you is likely garbage!) 

To address this issue, all sources in this course must come from a reliable local source (aka, you spoke with a representative locally) or through the AC Library databases.  A phone number or email address of the reliable local source must be provided.  Also, a copy of the hyperlink to the resource, or a PDF of the source will be required with all speech submissions. 

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

As your professor…

I am accountable for the following:

• Course content and instruction - delivered based on the guidance of the State of Texas using best practices for teaching and learning (standards set by research).

• Course materials - developed with the accountability standards previously stated these materials are provided through in-class instruction and through Blackboard weekly content folders with clearly delivered instructions, deadlines, and support offerings.

• Feedback - delivered to students individually via Blackboard comments and rubrics to promote growth and learning based on course content and course materials

• Support of learning - assisting students with course content mastery through coaching, tutoring, and AC resources.

As a student…

You are responsible for the following:

• Ensuring you have the time, support, supplies, and skills necessary to engage with the course content.

• Participating in the process of learning by meaningfully engaging with your classmates and professor during class times and individually participating with course materials outside of class.

• Ensuring you understand the course requirements, necessary supplies, course due dates, and how to navigate online platforms and resources.

• Knowing the support resources available at Amarillo College.  Support resources include academic and technology tutoring centers and the Advocacy and Resources Center.

• Communicating with your instructor about learning and assignments.  Specifically, when questions arise about assignments, communication with your professor prior to the deadline is crucial to success.  When challenging moments happen in your personal life, communication is critical.  Communication may happen in the following ways:

  • In-person (during in-class Q&A, office hours)

  • Email (cgmilleson@actx.edu)

  • Text (806-680-6814)

• Reviewing and understanding the feedback received from faculty.

Speech Performance Days

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. Students will be required to dress appropriately on presentation days. For example, do not show up in a baseball cap or a slouchy knit cap, chewing gum, or wearing your sweaty workout clothes if you are presenting a speech.
4. 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.
5. Students will be good listeners while others are giving speeches.
6. 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 attendance at the beginning and end of each meeting.
7. I will record each student’s speech presentation.  I will use it to assist me in grading, as well as, help you learn. 
8. I sit at the back of the classroom during speech performance days.  Please leave space for me (I tend to try and sit in the middle of the back row)!

Regular Class Days

1. No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor.
2. 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 when 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 receive credit for any group work assignments that day.
3. Students will use American Psychological Association's (APA) citation style.  For a detailed look at this style, please reference the Amarillo College Library’s APA page or the APA's Style Resources page.
   1. "Avoiding Plagiarism Guide"
   2. "Six Steps to Proper Citation Infographic"
   3. "Creating an APA Style Reference List Guide"
4. Students may not use any type of social media within the classroom.  Students may not record or live-broadcast any portion of the class without the consent of the faculty member and a unanimous vote of all class members present.
5. Students are expected to contribute to the overall classroom-learning environment.  If a student becomes disruptive they will be reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs.
6. 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.
7. If your grade falls beneath a 75% you will be assigned mandatory tutoring.  Please check your Watermark app for more guidance on what specific tutoring you need to complete and the specified timeframe.  It may be with me in my office, or it may be in one of the AC tutoring centers.
8. If you need to use the restroom, please, make yourself comfortable.  However, excessive restroom breaks may require a note from a medical professional.

USE OF THE TEXTBOOK

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 our classmates.  

VERBALLY CITING SOURCES

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 in 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.

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.

Grading Criteria

GRADE CATEGORIES Presentations (FG1 – 40%) 40% of Final Grade Assignment Assignment Title/Information Speech Performance #1 This is Me Speech Performance #2 Informative Birthday Speech Speech Performance #3 Persuasive Panel Discussion Assignments/Participation/Group Work 20% of Final Grade In-class: TED Talk Worksheet: Nancy Duarte Know the parts of the outline TED Talk Introductions and Conclusions Midterm Reflection Assignment Other in-class assignments may be offered (must be present to earn a grade for these assignments). Examinations (FG3 – 40%) 40% of Final Grade Weekly Quizzes (6 total) Practice for the Final Exam Students may take quizzes twice Week Seven - Students may take the practice test as many times as they want while the test is open. Final Exam Students may take the final exam twice FINAL GRADE RANGES Letter Grade Numerical Grade A 90-100 B 80-89.9 C 70-79.9 D 60-69.9 F 59.9 and below

Final grades are earned, not given.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS/WORK/QUIZZES

There is no late work accepted.

Extensions are granted on a case-by-case basis.  Communicate with me frequently.

Finding your way through a college course is a process.  There are challenges in each class and there are challenges each of you has or will have, in your personal lives.  Those challenges can overwhelm you.  Because of these, and the amount of content we will cover in the course, I have set up the course structure to all you the best opportunity to learn and master the content. 

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 alter upcoming assignment due dates to prevent personal issues from being a barrier to success. 

If I offer an extension, a grade of "1" will be added to the grade book for that assignment.  In the "Feedback to Students," I will write a new due date.  If you cannot see this, please reach out to me via email or the Watermark app.  I want you to be informed and know what's happening.

Pathways to Success: A Scenario

What does this mean?  Well, here’s a scenario: Maria is a single mom of two girls.  She takes classes throughout the year and hopes to graduate in the upcoming term.  During our class, Maria’s youngest daughter falls from a swing and breaks her wrist.  In the next few weeks, Maria’s daughter will have doctor’s appointments and possibly surgery.  Those important items force Maria to make changes to her work schedule, and because of this, cause Maria to have to miss class meetings.

Knowing I do not accept late work, here are the options she may have when it comes to her schoolwork:

1. Maria can continue on the path she is on now, trying to make all of the doctor’s appointments, work shifts, and class sessions.
2. Maria can drop the course and pick it back up next term.  Doing this will delay her graduation by a full semester.
3. Maria can set an appointment where we can visit.  She can tell me what’s happening and see how I can help her continue on her path to graduation.

If this were you, what do you think you would do?

The worst-case scenario is option #2.  Dropping the course, unless there’s no other way around it, is always my last choice.  Option #1 – well, I don’t recommend it either, but hey – some people are stronger and more private than others.  Option #3 – it’s my recommendation.  Why?  Well, it means that I know how I can walk along with Maria on her path.

If Maria chooses Option #3, we could visit and discuss what options were available for her success.  It may mean she gives two speeches on one performance day, or it may mean she gives a speech a week later than her classmates do.  Any assignments not submitted prior to our conversation will be considered missing and earn a zero.  However, future assignment due dates are negotiable which may or may not have a late point deduction.  I make this decision on a case-by-case basis.  The standard deduction is 10 points off the final grade earned for the assignment.

Pathways to Success: What to do

If you find yourself in a situation, please visit with me as soon as possible.  Whenever I can, I will work with you to find a pathway to success.  I will work to be flexible with the course requirements; however, this will require the student to be flexible with their expectations as well.  Please know that sometimes – especially toward the end of the term – I cannot say “yes.”  Know when that happens, I have exhausted all avenues.

What not to do: A Guide

I do not accept assignments via email.  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.  If you do not see a note in our class, please check your AC email account.  If after checking these two spaces, please feel free to text me to alert me.  Don't assume I am aware of the issue or that it is your technology. 

Attendance

You will need to attend class daily to participate in discussions and group activities.  Daily attendance will be taken via Mentimeter within each class session.

Calendar

Additional Information

Computer files

Students will be required to submit all written documents (outlines, papers, assignments, etc.) as 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.

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.

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. 

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 in my teaching and/or behavior, I will ask you to abide by my decision.

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 a 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 a "B":

1. The ability of and ability 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 a "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.