~ S T U D E N T H O U R S ~
Contact me through the Messages area within Blackboard. These types of messages are best for situations where you're having difficulty understanding how to submit something or have a quick question about an assignment. From these messages, I have easy access to your grades within the course (and I don't need to seek clarification on what course you're enrolled in).
More in-depth questions about your class performance, and/or grades should be discussed during a student/faculty appointment.
Please schedule an appointment with me here. My 2025 Spring I Office Hours are Tuesday & Thursday, 10:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
All meetings can be held via Microsoft Teams or in person in Parcells Hall, Suite 204, Office P. If I have someone in my office, please let our departmental administrative assistant, Shauna Jefferson (Parcells Hall, Suite 204, Office F), know you're here to see me for an appointment and then have a seat in our lobby area. Please do not assume that you may interrupt other conversations. We practice what we teach.
With all of that out of the way, know I love getting appointments from you. When I do, I know I can focus directly on you and you alone. Otherwise, it's a first-come, first-served world and I may miss out on an opportunity to understand what it is you need. Appointments come first!
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 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.
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
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.
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
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.
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 .
SPCH-1315-009 Public Speaking
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
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.
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Hybrid
A Speaker's Guidebook Text and Reference, 8th edition by O'Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein
Online classes require skills in technology. Here's a list of what you should know how to do:
navigation of Google Drive & associated apps
Ability to use Canva
willingness to continue learning (aka: Growth Mindset)
If you are unsure how to do this, don't hesitate to contact one of our tutoring centers. All centers offer virtual tutoring sessions as well as in-person sessions. Please follow this link: https://www.actx.edu/successcenters/
Your academic performance and success in this course are important to me. While the final grade is certainly a significant milestone, I encourage you to maintain a consistent focus on your learning and understanding throughout the entire 8-week term. Grades are not just determined in the final hours before the deadline; they are a cumulative reflection of your effort, engagement, and mastery of the course material over time.
I strongly advise against leaving all your work until the last minute or solely concentrating on your grade in the days leading up to the final deadline. This approach often leads to unnecessary stress, rushed work, and a less-than-optimal learning experience. Instead, I recommend staying on top of the coursework, actively participating in class discussions, and seeking guidance promptly when you encounter difficulties.
Throughout the term, I will provide regular feedback on your assignments and assessments, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and adjust your approach as needed. If you find yourself struggling or have concerns about your progress, please do not hesitate to reach out to me during office hours or schedule an appointment. I am here to support your learning journey and help you achieve your academic goals.
Please note that during the final week of the term, my ability to respond promptly to inquiries will be limited due to the significant grading demands. In the past, I have received an overwhelming number of last-minute emails regarding grades, due dates, and requests for grade changes. While I understand the importance of these concerns, addressing them all in a timely manner becomes challenging during this period. To ensure fairness and maintain the integrity of the grading process, I kindly request that you plan ahead and address any grade-related queries or concerns well before the final week.
Remember, the ultimate goal is not just to earn a grade, but to acquire knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and cultivate a lifelong passion for learning. By maintaining a consistent and proactive approach, you will not only enhance your chances of academic success but also gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
I understand the desire to achieve the highest letter grade possible, as it can have implications for your overall GPA and future opportunities. However, my policy is to avoid rounding up final grades solely based on requests. The grades you earn throughout the term should accurately reflect your mastery of the course content and the quality of work you have produced.
Instead of relying on potential grade rounding at the end, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the extra credit opportunities provided during the term. These opportunities are designed to allow you to improve your understanding of the material and demonstrate your knowledge, potentially boosting your overall grade.
Additionally, I recommend consulting with me prior to submitting assignments or visiting one of the college's tutoring centers if you need assistance or have questions about the material. Getting clarification and support early on can help ensure that your work meets the expected standards and requirements. Be sure to engage with and review the rubrics provided for many assignments, as they outline the specific criteria for assessment and can guide you in achieving the desired level of performance.
By taking a proactive approach, seeking assistance when needed, referring to the rubrics, and making the most of the extra credit options, you can work towards earning the grade you desire through your own efforts and understanding, rather than relying on potential rounding up at the end.
My goal is to ensure that your final grade is a fair and accurate representation of your comprehension and mastery of the course material. I believe this approach not only maintains academic integrity but also better prepares you for future endeavors where you will be evaluated based on the quality of your work and your ability to meet established standards.
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.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the foundation models of communication.
2. Apply elements of audience analysis.
3. Demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills by analyzing presentations for evidence and logic.
4. Research, develop, and deliver extemporaneous speeches with effective verbal and non verbal techniques.
5. Demonstrate effective usage of technology when researching and/or presenting speeches.
6. Identify how culture, ethnicity and gender influence communication.
7. Develop proficiency in presenting a variety of speeches as an individual or group (e.g. narrative, informative or persuasive).
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".
Grading Policies:
This course utilizes weighted grades.
Presentations = 40% Each is worth 13.3% of the overall grade. Assuming you have a 100 on all of the other assignments, if you miss one, the highest grade you can make in the course is an 86.6%.
Written Assignments = 20%
Exams = 40%
Letter Grades: |
You will need to log in to the course 3-4 times weekly to participate in discussion board postings and take weekly exams, and you will be required to attend three mandatory meetings on campus where you will present speeches in front of your classmates.
Federal laws regarding financial aid require specific participation during the census period.
Class Schedule:
The instructor reserves the right to modify the schedule as needed.
Please note that this course employs irregular due dates for assignments and exams. While many courses follow a standard schedule with assignments due on Sunday evenings at 11:59 PM, this course has varied deadlines. Some assignments may be due on Thursday evenings at 11:59 PM, while others, such as the final exam, may be due at noon on the last Thursday of the course.
To stay informed about due dates, please regularly check the calendar within Blackboard. This calendar will have the most up-to-date information regarding assignment deadlines and exam dates. Additionally, you can export the course calendar to your personal Google Calendar, allowing you to merge your academic and personal commitments into one centralized location.
If you need assistance managing your course calendar or merging it with your personal calendar, Blackboard offers comprehensive tutorials. You can access these tutorials by visiting the following link: [https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Ultra/Stay_in_the_Loop/Calendar](https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Ultra/Stay_in_the_Loop/Calendar)
You must keep track of the various due dates throughout the course. We recommend setting reminders and notifications to help you stay on top of your coursework and avoid missing any deadlines. If you have any questions or concerns about the due dates or calendar, please don't hesitate to contact your instructor for clarification.
In this course, we use APA as our citation style. Additionally, you will need to know how to cite sources correctly. The Amarillo College Library provides a Lib-Guide for APA here. The APA Style Guide also offers tools to assist you. You can access the tools here.
Plagiarism is copying someone's work, writing, research, or statements without giving them credit. The word plagiarism is from the Latin word for kidnap (Oxford Languages, 2023). As scholars, we do not want to kidnap someone else's ideas, so we learn how to cite their work correctly. The course aims to help you know how to paraphrase the works of other academics into your wording while crediting them. This skill is critical to the rest of your professional development.
The APA Style Guide provides tools to help students avoid plagiarism in their research and speaking. Click here to access the PDF.
If you are stuck on a particular citation, contact our campus librarians. They are the resident experts on all things citation (including MLA).
Finding your way through a college course is a process. There are challenges in each class, and each of you has or will have them 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 work; however, 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.
After a student and I visit, I will place the grade of "1" in any assignments eligible for extension. In the comment section, I will state when the new due date is for the assignment. The student is responsible for communicating with me regarding any changes or challenges regarding the extension.
What does this mean? Here is 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 course, Maria's youngest daughter fell from a swing and broke her wrist. Maria's daughter will have doctor's appointments and possibly surgery in the next few weeks. Those critical items force Maria to make changes to her work schedule, and because of this, cause Maria has 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 up next term. Doing this will delay her graduation by an entire semester.
3. Maria can set an appointment where we can visit. She can tell me what is happening and see how I can help her continue her graduation path.
If this was you, what do you think you would do? The worst-case scenario is option #2. Dropping the course, unless there is no other way around it, is always my last choice. Option #1 – I do not recommend it either, but some people are stronger and more private than others. Option #3 – is my recommendation. Why? It means I know how to walk along with Maria on her path.
If Maria chooses Option #3, we could visit and discuss what options are 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 before our conversation will be considered missing and will earn a zero. However, future assignment due dates are negotiable and 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.
If you are in a situation, please visit me immediately. I will work with you whenever I can 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. Please know that sometimes – especially toward the end of the term – I cannot say "yes." Know, when that happens, I have exhausted all avenues. If we agree to work together in helping you get caught up, I need help. Any assignment emailed to me is in a place I usually do not go to look for assignments. I ask for your help! Please, look for the assignment grade. If you do not see one within a week, please text or talk to me during my office hours about the grade. I need encouragement too! Moreover, it is okay to ask me this question. I will do my best to put any assignments on my calendar as soon as I know they are ready for grading.
Refrain from assuming I will grade late assignments emailed to me if the dropbox is for closed assignments. I will not grade them. Do not assume I will grade late assignments if you submit them through another assignment's dropbox. I will not grade either assignment.
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. Please check your AC email account if you do not see a note in our class. If, after reviewing these two spaces, please text me to alert me. Refrain from assuming I know the issue or that it is your technology. We are in this together!
I prefer messages through the Watermark app. Both the Apple and the Android markets have free apps for the program.
I check my email and Watermark messages daily during the work week. I strive to reply to your message within 24-48 business hours. I move away from my computer on the weekends but occasionally engage with our class. I can guarantee I am not checking email Sunday evenings from 5-11:59 p.m. - the time most college students begin to engage with the week's coursework. I encourage all students to engage with the content early in the week so they can ask questions.
Please realize I am a human. My goal is not to trick or confuse your learning experience. There has been an uptick in students feeling they can yell, argue or be disrespectful. It is easy to assume things about people in an online engagement - especially when we're frustrated. This is a Karen-free zone.
I expect college-level writing in your written communication. I am not a grammar Nazi but want to help build your career-focused communication skills. I use Grammarly (the free version is excellent) in my writing.
When you email or leave a message in Watermark, please tell me the course details. I teach several sections of the same class every eight weeks. If you do not include this information, I will ask for clarification (which could delay answering your question by up to 24-48 business hours).
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- are provided through in-class instruction and 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.
You are responsible for the following:
Ensuring you have the time, support, supplies, and skills necessary to engage with the course content.
Participating in learning by meaningfully engaging with your classmates and professor during class times and individuals participating with course materials outside of class.
Understanding the course requirements, necessary supplies, course due dates, and how to navigate online platforms and resources.
Knowing what support resources are 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 before 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 via the Watermark app
Reviewing and understanding the feedback received from faculty.
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require special arrangements to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (located in the Student Services Center 119; phone number 371 5436) as soon as possible.
Every student is required to comply with the policies published in the "Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook." A link to the Student Rights and Responsibilities is included in the section above.
Students may not photograph, record, or video any in-class activities without written permission from the instructor of record. Students who fail to comply with this will be reported to the Vice President of Enrollment Management.
At no point may a student harass or blackmail another student.
Students who have questions should contact me, Courtney Milleson, first using the contact information provided at the beginning of this document.
Per the AC Student Rights and Responsibilities, students may file academic grievances. Here is the text from the Student Rights and Responsibilities:
A student who has a grievance concerning an academic course in which they are enrolled should appeal the following order:
1. Instructor (me, Courtney Milleson)
2. Department Chair/Program Director (Jill Gibson)
3. Dean (Becky Easton)
4. Vice President of Academic Affairs (Dr. Tamara Clunis)
5. College President (Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart)
All students are expected to follow the Student Rights and Responsibilities guidelines.
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