COMM 103 SEC 121
Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Day/Time: TR 8AM
Room: SH 414
Phone: 696-6786
Instructor: Deborah Adkins
E-mail: adkins654@marshall.edu
Office Hours: Tue and Thu 10:30-11:00 Room 270, others by appointment only.
TEXTBOOK:
Zarefsky, David. Public Speaking: Strategies for Success, 5th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2007.
R. B. Bookwalter. Fundamentals of Speech Communication Student Workbook, 11th ed. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2007.
COURSE PHILOSOPHY
Fundamentals of Speech Communication is required by the University because we believe that it will help you learn to be more confident, more articulate and a more intelligent consumer of information. Through this course we hope to promote a greater understanding of the communication process in public as well as private settings, and improve communication skills.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students should be able to recognized communication as a transactional process by:
1. determining audience orientation
2. identifying relative supporting materials
3. recognizing and adjusting to nonverbal audience feedback
Students will learn to demonstrate critical thinking in producing and evaluating communication events by:
1. differentiating between various types of evidence
2. extrapolating valid claims from evidence
3. identifying and producing factual, value, predictive and policy claims
4. identifying the types of reasoning that link evidence to claims
5. identifying the limitations of evidence
6. identifying weaknesses in argument and reasoning, and
7. producing valid arguments
Students will produce organized informative and persuasive presentations by:
1. demonstrating the ability to capture audience attention
2. stating the thesis and previewing main points
3. using transitions and signposts to emphasize structure and information flow
4. concluding their remarks with a summary of main ideas and a “clincher”
Students will develop effective extemporaneous speaking skills by:
1. maintaining eye contact with the audience
2. using gestures to complement or emphasize the message
3. speaking with a variety of vocal cues
Additional information on the philosophy and objectives of this course can be found on pages 1 and 2 of the student workbook.
1. To truly understand communication you must be actively participating in the process, therefore, participation is expected from every student in the class.
2. Students are expected to be actively listening while their classmates are giving oral presentations. I can tolerate many things, but do not interrupt, harass, or embarrass a student who is giving a presentation.
3. Please silence and put away all cell phones and other electronic paraphernalia while in class. No ringing phones, text messaging, or checking email during class time. The first infraction of this rule will get you a nasty look and a second will result in loss of such device during the class, a third and all devices will be banned from the classroom.
4. When you have missed a class, please do not ask if you have missed anything important, of course you did.
5. Never be afraid to ask pertinent questions.
6. READ THE BOOK!
GRADING
It is theoretically possible for every student in this class to get an “A”; however, it is important to keep up with the course in order to accomplish this goal. The class is designed to begin with the most fundamental understanding of communication process and skills and build upon that understanding to develop ever increasing competence in complex communication skills. All assignments will be graded for the elements of structure, substance and delivery. Consequently, to succeed in this course you must keep up with all your assignments and use the feedback from each assignment to improve on your next performance.
A summary of assignments, their value and point totals can be found on page 4 of the workbook.
Students who provide a valid excuse for missing major assignments or for submitting/presenting major assignments late will have the opportunity to submit/present the work within one week of the original assignment date, but they will receive percentage deductions unless prior arrangements were made with the instructor. The only excuses that are automatically accepted are a death in the immediate family, illness requiring hospitalization, or an institutional absence; documentation will be required. The instructor will decide what other excuses may be valid. Personal appointments should be scheduled at non-class times. Students should notify the instructor in advance of any absence and should submit/present major assignments in advance of absences when possible. Since the goal is to be fair to all, students are expected to attend all class sessions and to meet all due dates. Take note, you cannot pass this class without giving all the assigned speech presentations.
Students cannot make-up work done in regular class sessions.
VIDEOTAPING POLICY
Each student’s speech presentations will be videotaped on a Mini-DVD in order for students to watch them self and evaluate their own performance. Therefore, students will provide a Sony (or another compatible brand) Mini-DVD+RW (do not purchase a DVD-RW) on which each of their required speeches will be taped.
PLAGARISM
Do your own work and do not steal others’ words, materials, or ideas. All work, written or spoken, must be your own original work. Ideas and information drawn form other sources must be acknowledged. Turning in work that is not your own will result in a 0 for the assignment and may lead to more severe penalties from the university. See p. 2 for more on institutional policy regarding this topic. Please take this seriously.
This syllabus is not considered a legal document and is subject to change as circumstances dictate.
CMM 103: Fall 2009 Schedule
TR Section 121
(Activity Key: WB77 = Student Workbook, page 77)
Date Topic/Assignment Reading
AUG
25 Introduction & Overview/Getting Acquainted
Importance of Public Speaking Ch 1
Rhetorical Situation/Ethics
* Rhetorical analysis of everyday communication
* Who Said That? WB111
*Communication Diary WB109
27 Principles of Public Speaking Ch 2
Goals/Topic/Purpose/Thesis/Support/Delivery
Introductions/Body/Conclusions
Assign: Introductory Speech WB35
Assign: Pretest Online
SEP
1 Introductory Speeches
3 Beginning the Speech Ch 5
Choosing a Topic/Strategic Planning/Purposes
* Topics & Purposes WB113
8 Investigating the Topic: Types of Support/Finding Support Ch6
Assign: Informative Speech Proposal WB11
10 Analyzing the Audience Ch 4
Demographics/Culture/Psychology
* Audience Analysis Profile WB9
15 Critical Listening: Strategies, Skills, Evaluation Ch 3
Speech Analysis of Video 3 (see WB15)
Assign: Critical Listening Assignment WB15
17 Principles of Informative Speaking Ch 14
Strategic Planning/Types of Informative Speaking
DUE: Informative Speech Proposal
Assign: Supporting a Claim WB43
Assign: Informative Speech WB51
22 EXAM #1: Chapters 1-6 [Study Guide WB129]
24 Speech Structure: Organizing Main and Supporting Points Ch 8
* Coordination & Subordination WB31
DUE: Informative Speech Proposal
Assign: Scrambled Outline WB33 [Answer Key WB127]
29 Outlining the Speech Ch 10
Finish Scrambled Outline
OCT
1 Polishing the Speech: Introductions, Conclusions, Transitions Ch 9
6 Due: Supporting a Claim Assignment
8 Using Visual Aids Ch 13
Presentational Skills Ch 12
CMM 103: Fall 2009 Schedule
13 Informative Speeches/ Peer Feedback
20 Informative Speeches/Peer Feedback
22 Informative Speeches/Peer Feedback
27 EXAM #2: Chapters 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14
29 Persuasive Speaking: Ch 15
Purposes, Strategies, Constraints & Resources * Resistance Methods used by Students
Assign: Persuasive Speech Proposal WB 11
Assign: Persuasive Speech WB77
NOV
3 Logos: Argument and Reasoning Ch 7 & WB 103-108
Name that Claim WB117
Assign Creating an Argument WB 67
DUE: Persuasive Speech Proposal
5 Faulty Reasoning Ch 7 pp. 185-187
Name that Fallacy WB123
Ethos: Identification & Credibility
Due: Creating an Argument
Pathos: Language & Emotional Appeals Ch 11
Defining/Clarity, Rhythm, & Vividness
Language Clarity & Language Style
Special Occasion Speaking Ch 16 pp. 430-445 Assign Ceremonial Speeches WB93-99
10 Persuasive Speeches/Peer Feedback
Due: Persuasive Strategic Planning Outlines
12 Persuasive Speeches/Peer Feedback
17 Persuasive Speeches/Peer Feedback
19 Persuasive Speeches/Peer Feedback
23 – 27 THANKSGIVING BREAK
DEC
1 Ceremonial Speeches
3 Ceremonial Speeches
8 Review & Evaluation
Assign Post-test Online
Administer Course Evaluations WB133-4
Thursday, December 10 8am-10am FINAL EXAMINATION (Comprehensive)
Significant dates to note:
Oct 30 Last day to drop a full semester individual course
Nov2-Dec 8 Complete Withdrawals Only
December2-8 Dead week
December 8 Last class of semester