NOTE:  The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary. 
Normally, this will be done at least once in class and published on the course web page. 

Professor:  Dr. W.A. Kelly Huff               Phone:  (706) 542-4893                e-mail address:   khuff@uga.edu

Office:  140 Terrell Hall                 Office Hours:  T-TH 12:30-1:45pm and T 3:30-4:45pm

Textbook:  Lucas, Stephen E.  (2007).  The Art of Public Speaking (9th Ed.).  Boston:  McGraw-Hill. 

Web Page URL:  http://www.wakh.net/
                          
        Check the web page frequently for information about course schedules, assignments, exams, etc.  
        Click on “Information for Students;” then “SPCM 2150H – Perspective on Public Communication;” then
        “Announcements/Schedules;” then click on the section for your class. 
 
Catalog Course Description:  “Not open to students with credit in SPCM 1100.  Prerequisite: Permission of
        Honors.  Practice in delivery and criticism of speeches, employing models from great speakers and
        speeches in history.”  
 
Course Goal:  The goal of this course is to help students become better communicators.  We intend to teach
        students how to speak effectively in public. We intend to help students understand why some people are
        more effective and others less effective as public speakers. In short, we seek to help students become better
        speakers and critics of public communication. 

Course Objectives: 

        1.    The student will understand the need for effective public speaking skills in a variety of contexts.  
        2.    The student will use research skills in the preparation of speeches. 
        3.    The student will practice listening skills. 
        4.    The student will learn the vocabulary of public speech. 
        5.    The student will practice various types of public speech.
 
Academic Honesty:  “Academic honesty is-defined broadly and simply-the performance of all academic work
        without cheating, lying, stealing, or receiving assistance from any other person or using any source of
        information not appropriately authorized or attributed” (From the Preamble to “A Culture of Honesty”). 
        The University, the Department of Speech Communication, and I personally take academic honesty very
        seriously.  Every student at the University of Georgia should be familiar with the booklet, “A Culture of
        Honesty:  Policies and Procedures on academic dishonesty.”  If you are not, please obtain one of these
        booklets and read it carefully.  It is available on the web at:  http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/honesty/acadhon.htm.
        This document has a thorough presentation of four types of academic dishonesty including plagiarism, unauthorized
        assistance, lying/tampering, and theft, as well as the procedures that are in place to adjudicate alleged incidents of
        academic dishonesty. The policies and procedures described in “A Culture of Honesty” will be strictly followed. 

Grade Scale:  90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D, Below 60=F.  (There is no rounding of grades.)  

Grading:  Following Department of Speech Communication policy, two examinations account for 40% of the
        grade.  Each counts 20%.  Students are responsible for bringing their own “number 2” pencils.  Speeches
        account for 50% of the grade on a scale of 100 possible points.  The initial speech of introduction counts
        5%, the speech of definition counts 10%, the speech of exposition counts 15%, and the speech to persuade
        counts 20%.  Each speech will be assigned minimum and maximum time limits, with a penalty assessed for
        violations.  The student will be penalized five points for each 15-second period the speech goes under or
        over time, which indicates a true lack of preparedness.  A speech that goes over is just as ill prepared as one
        that goes under time.  For speeches, the instructor will use critique sheets for grading.  Critique sheets will
        be explained in class and may be seen on the course web page.  Students will be required to complete a

        variety of in-class assignments including pop quizzes, assignments, and participation as an audience
        member.  In order for public speaking to take place, there must be an audience.  Students must attend class
        and complete these assignments.  In line with departmental policy, such activities will go toward your final
        course grade (10%) and cannot be made up regardless the reason for the absence.  You may be given a
        letter grade or numerical grade or both on assignments.  If you receive a letter grade on a speech or other assignment,
        then the numerical equivalent would be:  A+ (98), A (95), A- (92), B+ (88), B (85), B- (82), and so on with
        Cs and Ds.  F can be anything from 0-59 and would normally be assigned numerically and with a letter. 

Attendance Policy for this course:  You are allowed to be absent a total of class meetings equivalent to one week’s 
       classes.  For a class that meets three times per week over the 16-week term, three absences are allowed
       without penalty.  For a class that meets two times per week over the 16-week term, two absences are
       allowed without penalty.  For a class that meets during an 8-week term, just one absence is allowed without
       penalty.  For a class that meets once per week during a 16-week term, just one absence is allowed without
       penalty.  Allowable absences will not be penalized unless the student misses an in-class assignment, a
       speech, or an exam.  Excused or not, an absence is still an absence on the attendance record.  You are
       given a week’s worth of sick leave.  Use it when you need it and don’t waste it frivolously.  

       For each absence beyond the respective limits described above, your final grade will be reduced by three
       points.   For short session summer, May, and once per week classes, the penalties are doubled.  Each time a
       student is late to class or leaves class early will count as one-half an absence.  Two of these in any
       combination count as one absence.  For each partial absence over the limit, i.e. a tardy, 1.5 points will be
       deducted from the final grade.  

       You will be assigned speech and examination times in advance.  DO NOT miss an exam or speech.  The
        instructor, through a random assignment of speaker position numbers, will determine speech times.  The
        speech times will be posted on the course web page.  When your time comes, you must complete the
        speech and/or exam or forfeit the grade with zero (F).  If you are absent or tardy, you may under some
        conditions be able to make up an exam or speech, but you cannot make up for not being in class and
        the absence counts on your attendance record – even if the excuse is accepted.  If you know in advance that
        you will be taking one of your allowable absences for an important reason, then inform the professor right 

        away in person and in writing and arrangements can be made.  You may NOT exchange speaking times
        with other students without the written permission of the professor.  There is just one exception to the zero
        ruling.  Makeup tests or speeches are only allowable if the professor is informed in advance that the student 

Written Work:  Outlines, Sources and Visual Aids:  All written work must be typed or word-processed on 8.5 by
        11 inch white paper using one-inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides.  Each of the three major
        speeches will require a typed formal outline due on the day of the speech.  Problems with computers (“it ate
        my outline”) are not acceptable excuses for failure to turn in an outline.  Failure to turn in the outline when
        it is your turn to speak will result in your automatic failure on the speech without exception; no outline
        means no speech and a grade of zero.  If the outline is handed in but not typed, a 10-point penalty will be
        assessed on the speech.  The outline must follow the example that will be given to you by the instructor. 
        The outline will constitute part of the grade, so it must be well done. 

        Each speech will also require research.  At least three sources of credibility will always be required –
        sometimes more – depending on your topic and purpose.  You may use as many sources beyond three as
        you like, but at least two must be old-fashioned library sources and may not be Internet sources.  You must
       document the sources in proper APA or MLA style.  You will find examples of APA documentation on the
        web page.  A uniform point penalty will be assessed for violations.  Five points will be taken off for each
        source under the limit, with a maximum penalty of 15 points.  These sources will be typed and handed in
        with the outline.  Failure to type the sources will result in a five-point penalty.  Poorly documented sources
        are not acceptable and 5 points will be deducted for each under three with a maximum of 15 total points. 

        Some speeches require visual aids.  Failure to comply will result in a minimum automatic 15-point grade
        reduction.  A visual aid must be well thought out and be integral to the speech.  Some examples of what not
        to do:  Hastily writing something on a piece of paper to show the class; Hanging a picture on the wall while
        you speak; Laying an object on the table; Visuals that cannot be seen adequately by the instructor, etc. 
        These examples and similar instances would still result in a 15-point penalty.  The visual aid must be
        pertinent to, and integrated into, the speech and must be done effectively.  An age-old trick is waiting to
        introduce the visual aids at the end so that the student can stall to meet minimum time limits.  Under such
        circumstances, the instructor will end the timing of the speech at the point of transgression and will deduct
        points for failure to integrate appropriately the visual aids into the body of the speech.  Visual aid
        guidelines may be found on the web page.  

        To summarize:  

        Make-Up Work:  Public speech presentations and examinations are clearly scheduled on the web page. 
        Students must give speeches and take examinations on the assigned day.  Students who miss a speech or
        examination must inform the instructor by phone and/or e-mail as soon as possible before the class meets
        and upon returning to class must present a bona fide written reason to the instructor (i.e. written letter to the
        instructor and valid medical excuse).   This is covered under the same policies that govern final exams; for
        example, serious illness,* a University-sponsored event that is documented in writing and in advance,** or
        a death in one’s immediate family.***  For any of these reasons, the student must notify the instructor in
        advance of the absence and then later present his/her case to the instructor in person and in written form. 
        An excused absence results in a grade of zero.  Remember, in line with departmental policy, students
        cannot make up in-class assignments regardless the reason for the absence. 

        * Illness:  The student must contact the instructor prior to the exam or assignment.  If the student is unable
        to do so, have a friend or family member do so.  (Note:  Under most circumstances the make-up must be
        scheduled prior to the next class period or within the same week of the exam or assignment.  Students may
        not take a makeup without an official medical excuse presented to validate.)  If you use the Student Health
        Center to get an excuse, you MUST get a “Plan of Care/Instructions” from the student health center.  To get
        a note from the Student Health Center, I do NOT mean the traditional form indicating that the student “was
        seen” at the Health Center.  Instead you must ask for a form that says “Plan of Care/Instructions.”  Ask the
        doctor to write on that form: “In my opinion, this student should not be in classes today, tomorrow, next
        two weeks, etc.”  A doctor, physician’s assistant, or a nurse practitioner will write that note if you ask.  If
        you don’t ask, it is unlikely they will do so. The note does not have to say why you can’t attend class, just
        that you are not fit for attending class.  NOTE: A nurse CANNOT and WILL NOT fill out the plan of
        care /instructions.  Thus you must request seeing someone other than a nurse.  Without a note from
        your doctor stating that you were too sick to attend the exam or the “Plan of Care/Instructions” form from
        the Health Center indicating you were too sick to give the speech or exam, you will receive a ZERO for
        that speech and/or exam.  Excused or not, an absence is still an absence on the attendance record.  That is
        why you are given a week’s worth of sick leave.  Use it when you need it and don’t waste it frivolously. 
 
        ** University-sponsored event:  The student must submit a written request to the instructor prior to the
        event and must complete arrangements to make up the speech or exam in advance.

        *** Family death:  Students must contact the instructor prior to the exam or assignment.  The university
        typically verifies that the student must miss class because of a family death.  At the very least, leave an e-
        mail message or a phone message at UGA and see the instructor as soon as possible. 
 
Classroom courtesy:

    Students are expected to support this class with good attendance, punctuality, attentiveness, and respect for
    other students and the professor.  Attendance in class is mandatory.

    No private conversations are allowed during class.  We will have polite class discussions with no rude arguing.
    Violators will be asked to leave, counted absent, and must meet with the instructor prior to attending future class
    meetings.  Upon any other conduct deemed by the professor as disruptive to the class, the student will be asked
    to leave for the day and will receive an unexcused absence.  On the second such occurrence, the student will be
    referred to the Director of Instruction and asked to “show cause” as to why he/she should be allowed to continue
    with the class.     

    If you come in late on the day of an exam, you have only until the last person who came on time turns in
    his/her exam to finish yours.  

    No one will go to anyone else about a problem with the class, instructor, or other students without first
    meeting with the instructor.  Failure to follow the first or any other step in the hierarchy will result in
    forfeiture of any rights to an appeal.

Special Notes:

    You must fill out and sign the form* given to you in class that acknowledges receipt and understanding of this
    syllabus.  You will return the form to the professor when you receive it or you will be assigned a zero for the final
    grade.  Not receiving a form will not be accepted as an excuse, since the form and syllabus will be available to all
    students during the first week of class meetings.

    Students who have a need for special accommodations due to any type of disability should notify the instructor
    in writing within (depending on the session) the equivalent of the first two weeks of the class.