Professor: Dr. Dennis Robertson Office Phone: 903-923-2290

SPCH 1311.07 Fundamentals of Speech Communication Spring, 2016

Professor: Dr. Dennis Robertson Office Phone: 903-923-2290 Office: SCRB 107 Home Phone: 903-845-1999 E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: M – F 8 to 9 a.m.; 3 to 4 p.m.

“The most important thing I learned in school was how to communicate” -Lee Iacocca, Former Chrysler CEO

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to improve the student’s oral communication skills. Emphasis is placed on understanding the communication process as it takes place in the interpersonal, small group, and public communication contexts. Classroom exercises involve the student in various oral communication activities. 3 credit hours.

REQUIRED TEXT: Adler, R. B., Rodman, G., & duPre, A. (2014). Understanding human communication, 12th ed. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-19-933432-2

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Human communication plays a central role in life. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with others is essential to one’s professional and personal success. In this course students will learn how people communicate in various contexts. Students will also develop skills needed to communicate more effectively in those contexts. Specifically, the objectives of SPCH 1311 are: 1. Students will develop a basic understanding of the human communication process. 2. Students will demonstrate effective listening skills. 3. Students will demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills. 4. Students will demonstrate effective informative speaking skills. 5. Students will demonstrate effective persuasive speaking skills. 6. Students will demonstrate effective small group communication skills. 7. Students will develop critical thinking skills useful to a communicator and a consumer of communicated messages.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD:

This course is a combination of lectures, discussions, and student participation. Students are expected to read the assigned chapters in the textbook and any additional handouts. Lectures are supplements to the readings.

Attendance: Attendance is expected. Due to the nature of this course, regular attendance is critical. After the THIRD unexcused absence, every additional absence WILL result in a 2% deduction from the student’s average final grade for the semester. You must have an excused absence if you miss a day when there is an examination or speaking assignment. If you do not, you will receive a zero for the exam or presentation and you will not be allowed to make up the assignment at a later date. Students absent on days of quizzes or other daily activities will not be allowed to make up the assignment unless they are off campus because of a university obligation. All makeup exams must be taken within two weeks of the date of absence. Students missing more than 25% of class meetings over the semester will receive an “F” in accordance with ETBU policy.

If, for any reason, you will be unable to make a presentation on the assigned day, you should contact the professor or leave a message to that effect prior to class time.

Punctuality is also of extreme importance. To minimize habitual tardiness, three tardies will equal one unexcused absence. If you are late for a class, DO NOT enter the classroom if another student is speaking. Wait until the student completes his/her presentation and then enter quietly. If you are late for class, you are responsible for coming to me immediately after class and seeing to it that the appropriate adjustment is made in the roll sheet. Changes will not be made under any other circumstances. NOTE: It is up to the student to explain to the professor each absence for which he/she wishes to be excused. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to meet with our professor to discuss having the absence excused. Absences are only excused for documented family or medical emergencies or participation in college sponsored events. If no meeting is arranged, the absence will be considered “unexcused.”

You are responsible for obtaining any assignments which are made during your absence and for seeing to it that you complete those assignments by the due date.

Cell Phones: Cell phones are very distracting to the class. Please turn off all phones for the duration of the class period.

Hats/Caps: Students are NOT ALLOWED to wear hat/caps of any type on days of presentations or exams.

Written Work: All written work must be typed. Multiple pages must be stapled together in the top, left corner. Work that is not stapled WILL NOT be accepted.

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s creative or intellectual work as your own. This definition applies to both written and oral work. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: 1) using direct quotations or close paraphrases of material without indicating the source; 2) using an author’s words or another student's material as if it were your own work; 3) using another's ideas, language, or development without proper attribution.

Any student found guilty of plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, the giving or receiving of aid on an examination will be subject to the established college policy on academic dishonesty.

Additional information on plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found at www.plagiarism.org. Students should also read and understand the ETBU policy on academic integrity.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION: A student with a disability may request appropriate accommodations for this course by contacting the Office of Academic Success and Graduate Services, Marshall Hall, Room 301, and providing the required documentation. If the accommodations are approved by the Disability Accommodations Committee, the Office of Academic Success and Graduate Services will notify you and your professor of the approved accommodations. You must then discuss these accommodations with your professor.

JQE REQUIREMENT: All ETBU students must pass the oral communication competency portion of the Junior Qualifying Exam (the JQE) in order to graduate. Students enrolled in SPCH 1311 can pass the oral communication competency portion of the Junior Qualifying Exam by successful completion of all portions of the JQE assessment assignment. Students who fail to meet these requirements will have to make arrangements to complete the oral competency part of the JQE through the advising office.

GRADE COMPUTATION: “ Ice Breaker” Presentation = 50 points Informative Presentation = 100 points Persuasive Presentation = 100 points Group Panel Presentation = 100 points Exams: 3 @ 100 points each Participation and additional assignments = 50 points Reading Quizzes: 5 @ 10 points each

Total Points Possible: 750

A= 90 to 100%; B= 80 to 89%; C= 70 to 79%; D= 60 to 69%; F= 59% and below

Exams: will consist of multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and discussion questions. Presentations: Each student will present 3 major speeches during the semester. A written handout will explain each assignment in detail including due dates.

S C H E D U L E Tentative schedule. Adjustments may need to be made over the course of the semester.

Week 1 August 23, 25

Orientation, introductions. What is communication? Functions, types and models.

Read: Chapter 1

Reading Quiz 1 Assignment 1: Ice Breaker Speech – 90 seconds. Due Thursday, August 25. Assignment 2: Concept presentation from Chapter 2. Due Tuesday, August 30.

Week 2 August 30, Sept. 1

The self, perception, and communication: how perceptions play a key role in how we think of ourselves and others.

Read: Chapter 2

Reading Quiz 2 Assignment 2: Concept presentation from Chapter 2 due on Tuesday.

Week 3 Sept. 6, 8

Communicating within cultures and co-cultures: interpersonal communication with people from different backgrounds.

Read: Chapter 3

Reading Quiz 3 on Tuesday.

Assignment 2 due on Tuesday: Concept presentation – 3 minute presentation

Week 4 Sept. 13, 15

Language and listening: symbols, attitudes, and personal listening styles.

Read: Chapters 4 and 5

Exam 1 is on Thursday (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5) BRING SCANTRON AND #2 PENCIL

Assignment 3: Research an idea for your INFORM speech. Week 5 September 20, 22

Speech preparation: research, interviewing, and organizing your speech.

Read: Chapter 11

Review of Exam 1 on Tuesday: questions, answers, and scoring.

Assignment 4: Prepare your formal outline and speaking notes for the INFORM speech. Due Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Week 6 Sept. 27, 29

The INFORM speech: organizing and structuring your speech.

Reading Quiz 4 on Thursday.

Assignment 5: prepare the introduction of the INFORM speech. Due next Tuesday, October 4.

Week 7 October 4

Presentation of the introduction to each speaker’s INFORM speech; one-and-a-half minutes. Read: No assigned readings for Tuesday.

NO CLASS THURSDAY. FALL BREAK. ENJOY THE EXTRA-LONG WEEKEND!

Week 8 October 11, 13

Inform Speeches # 1-10 on Tuesday. Inform Speeches # 11-20 on Thursday

Inform Speeches # 21-24 on Tuesday.

Understanding and improving interpersonal relationships.

Reading Quiz 5 on Thursday.

Nonverbal communication: communicating messages using no words at all.

Read: Chapter 6 EXAM 2 next Tuesday (Chapters 6, 7 and 8) Week 11 November 1, 3

EXAM 2 ON TUESDAY (Chapters 6, 7 and 8) BRING SCANTRON AND #2 PENCIL

Review of Exam 2 on Thursday: questions, answers, and scoring.

Also on Thursday, Persuasive speaking: motivating someone through communication.

Read: Chapter 14

Choose Persuasive speech topic, build outline and speaking notes for next Tuesday, November 8.

Week 12 November 8, 10

Persuasive Speeches # 1-12 on Tuesday. Persuasive Speeches # 13-24 on Thursday.

Week 13 November 15, 17

On Tuesday: Communicating and Solving Problems in Groups and Teams.

Choose working Groups; groups decide on a topic for presentation. On Thursday, Groups present their topic and give reasons why they chose the topic. Groups will present to the class things they will learn about in the Group presentation.

Week 14 November 23

EXAM 3 on Tuesday (Chapters 9, 10, and 14) BRING SCANTRON AND #2 PENCIL

NO CLASS ON THURSDAY. THANKSGIVING BREAK. ENJOY!

Week 15 November 29, December 1

Tuesday: Groups # 1-3 give their presentations. Thursday: Groups # 4-6 give their presentations.

Week 16 April 24, 26

FINAL EXAM is Tuesday, December 6, 8 – 9:30 a.m. BRING SCANTRON AND #2 PENCIL Informative Presentation Evaluation Form 100 points Name______Topic ______

Not in speech Average Superior Scale 0 1 2 3 4 5

Choice of Subject 0 1 2 3 4 5

Introduction Gains attention 0 1 2 3 4 5 Establishes rapport/credibility 0 1 2 3 4 5 Clarifies topic/relevancy 0 1 2 3 4 5 Previews main points 0 1 2 3 4 5

Body Main ideas clearly identified 0 1 2 3 4 5 Main ideas clearly organized 0 1 2 3 4 5 Use of supporting materials 0 1 2 3 4 5 Factual depth, research 0 1 2 3 4 5 Cited sources of information 0 1 2 3 4 5

Conclusion Summary/review 0 1 2 3 4 5 Closing 0 1 2 3 4 5

Language Clear, specific wording & style 0 1 2 3 4 5

Audience Adaptation 0 1 2 3 4 5

Nonverbal Message Use of body (movement, gestures) 0 1 2 3 4 5 Eye contact 0 1 2 3 4 5 Vocal delivery (volume, rate, etc.) 0 1 2 3 4 5 Object language (stand, notes, etc.) 0 1 2 3 4 5 Confidence, enthusiasm 0 1 2 3 4 5

Achieved Purpose 0 1 2 3 4 5

Written Assignment Completed? ______Yes No Speech completed within time limit? ______(-5 points) Yes No

Grade: ______

SYLLABUS AGREEMENT

Must be signed by January 13 You will receive five bonus points if signed by January 11

I, the undersigned, have read and understand all of the statements and conditions set forth in this syllabus. I certify that this syllabus has been discussed in detail by the professor and I have been given ample opportunity to have any questions clarified by the professor.

Name: ______(Please Print)

Signature: ______

Date: ______