SPCM 1100 -- Introduction to Public
Speaking*
University of Georgia
Fall 2008
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: MWF 11:30am-12noon and by appointment
Textbook: Huff, W.A. Kelly. (2008). Public
Speaking: A Concise Overview for the Twenty-First Century.
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 1100 –
Introduction to Public Speaking;” then
“Announcements/Schedules;”
then click on the section for your class.
Catalog Course Description: “The fundamental principles
and
practices of public speaking, including systematic
library research, creative
analysis and
synthesis of topics, organization, language, delivery, audience
adaptation,
reasoning, arguments, and
supporting
materials.”
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.
Grading:
|
Examination I |
20 percent |
|
Examination II |
20 percent |
|
Introduction Speech (2-4 minutes) |
5 percent |
|
Definition Speech (3-5 minutes) |
10 percent |
|
Exposition, Instruction, |
15 percent |
|
Persuasive Speech (5-7 minutes) |
20 percent |
|
Papers, etc. |
10 percent |
|
Attendance/Participation/Comm Requirement |
See Policy |
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.
Each
examination will consist of a
combination
of true-false, multiple choice, and matching format items. Exams
cover material from lectures and
the
textbook. I do not lecture on all of the material in your text so
ensure
you have done the readings before
exams. The final exam will be given at the assigned time per the
official
University schedule. The
final
exam will NOT be given early or at a different time unless
changed by
the University.
There are no exceptions to this
policy. Please mark your calendars and make your travel plans
based on
the final exam
times found on the
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. This
scale
is not the
same as
the final grade +/- scale.
Grade Scale: Per new university
policies and
regulations, the plus-minus grading system became effective during the
Summer 2006
term. The percentages reflected in the table are for final grades
and should
not be confused
with the
information
for assignments found in the previous section of this syllabus.
There
will be no
rounding
of grades or extra credit in any form.
|
|
93-100%=A |
90-92.99%=A- |
|
88-89.99%=B+ |
83-87.99%=B |
80-82.99%=B- |
|
78-79.99%=C+ |
73-77.99%=C |
70-72.99%=C- |
|
|
60-69.99%=D |
|
|
|
59.99% and below=F |
|
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. In addition to the hard copy of
the
outline the
student will hand to the
instructor on
the day of the speech, the student/speaker will send to the instructor
on the
day of the speech an MS-Word
version of
the outline as an e-mail attachment.
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:
|
No outline |
Automatic zero grade for speech |
|
Untyped outline |
10 point penalty |
|
Untyped sources |
5 point penalty |
|
No visual aid |
15 point penalty |
|
Inadequate visual aid |
Penalty depends on extent of inadequacy; 15 point maximum |
|
Inadequate sources and/or poorly documented sources |
5-point penalty for each under three with a 15 point maximum |
|
Overtime/Undertime Speech |
5-point penalty every 15 seconds |
Research Requirement: Every person taking SPCM
1100 or
its equivalent (SPCM 2550H) has to satisfy the
Department of Speech Communication Research
Requirement. Failure to complete the requirement will
result in failure of the class. This
requirement may
be satisfied in one of three ways: (1) participation in a
research project conducted by the Department of
Speech
Communication, (2) a summary and analysis of a
communication research article, or (3) attendance at
and a
written analysis of a colloquium presentation at
the Department of Speech Communication. For
information about all three options, you can visit the
following URL for information: http://www.uga.edu/%7Espc/Undergrad/syllabi/research.pdf.
The site contains The
UGA Speech Communication Research
Participation:
Information for Students. Note: You will need to
complete a separate research project or paper for
each
Speech Communication class that requires or offers
research participation.
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
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.
Cheating has never been
tolerated, but using electronic equipment to do so has taken cheating
to a
whole new level. Anyone
possessing a phone or other
electronic
device that goes off or is used during class will be asked to leave and
will be
counted as absent,
regardless of what point the
transgression occurs in the class meeting -- beginning, middle, or end.
If it goes off during a speech, an exam,
or a quiz, the student will turn
in the
exam or quiz at that point and it will be graded -- finished or
not. For
speeches, the student will
be penalized 10 points on his/her own
speech
for that round.
Violators must meet with the
instructor prior to attending future class meetings. If cheating
is
suspected, then university procedures
will be followed.
Attendance Policy:
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.
In MWF classes, each time a student is late to class
or
leaves class early will count as one-third an absence.
Three of these in any combination count as one
absence. In T-Th and M-W classes, 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. In eight-week evening session
classes
that meet twice weekly, or 16-week classes that
meet once weekly, 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 absence over the respective limits
described above,
except in classes that meet just once per week,
your final grade will be reduced by one point.
For classes meeting once per week or daily during short
May or summer sessions, the final grade will be
reduced by two
points. If one has a partial absence over the
limit, i.e. a tardy, then one-half point for
T-TH and
one-third point for MWF will be deducted from the final grade.
For classes meeting once per week, or daily during
short May
or summer sessions, the partial absence will result in
a one-point reduction.
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.
Participation and Make-Up Work:
Participation extends beyond mere attendance. Your regular
attendance is
necessary as examinations cover material from the
book and
material covered only in lectures. Students must be
prepared
to contribute to all aspects of classroom activity
(for
example, paying attention to the speeches of others, discussions,
exercises, and short written assignments). In
order to
participate students will be expected to read the assigned
readings and prepare any required materials by the
date
specified. Students who are habitually unprepared to participate
substantially in class will have points deducted
from their
final grade as determined by the instructor. Per
departmental policy, there are no make-ups for
daily
in-class activities.
Additionally, class activities and pop quizzes will
be
scattered throughout the semester. Such activities will go
toward your final course grade and – per
departmental
policy – cannot be made up regardless of the
reason for the absence. Please note that
if you
should you miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain
missed materials from a classmate, not from the
instructor.
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.
IF the student provides a valid medical excuse for
an
illness as outlined below, the speech or exam may
be made up. The professor is the final
authority on
the validity and acceptance of an excuse. Excused
or not, an absence is still an absence on the
record. However, the exam will not be multiple choice, but
will
be in written form. In the case of illness,
the
student, prior to returning to class, will also be required to
present a valid doctor’s excuse and a written
explanation from the student to the professor.
* Illness:
The
student must contact the instructor prior to the speech, 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
seen” at 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
that speech and/or exam. Excused or not,
an absence
is still an absence. Don’t be foolish in cutting class.
** University-sponsored event
:
Note: The student must submit a written request to the instructor
prior
to
the event and must complete arrangements to make up
the
assignment or exam in advance.
*** Family death: Students must
contact
the instructor prior to the exam or discussion. 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.
All phones, beepers, pagers,
radios, etc.
must be turned off before class begins and will remain off and packed
away
throughout
class. No headphones will be allowed during
class. You
will not even be allowed to touch or look at a phone or other electronic
devices during an exam or quiz. You will put
such
items away so that no one, including yourself, can see the phone or
other
device.
During class time none of the following will be
tolerated:
Studying for
other
classes.
Reading outside
materials
of any kind.
Doing
crossword
puzzles or anything similar.
Any student deemed by the professor as disruptive to
the
conduct of the class will be asked to leave for the
day, will receive an unexcused absence, and be asked
to
“show cause” as to why he/she should be allowed to
continue with the class.
Arrive on time and leave on time. During a
speech
in progress, no one will be allowed to enter the
classroom. If you are late, wait outside until
the
speaker is finished. Failure to comply will result in a 10-
point penalty on your own grade for that round of
speeches.
If you come in late on the day of an exam, you
have only
until the last person who came on time turns in
theirs to finish yours.
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.
Any students who need special accommodations for learning or who have
particular needs are invited to share these
concerns or requests with me as soon as possible.
The
written documentation that specifies the needed
modifications (i.e., note taker, extra time for tests) to the
instructor.
If you
have not contacted the
Grievance Procedure: Occasionally, students are
unsatisfied with
some dimension of the course. If you have a concern at
any time during the course, please come speak with
me
directly either during office hours, by appointment, or via
email. If you
want to appeal a grade, the department policy is
that you must
make the grade appeal in writing to me. Prepare and
submit a
typed argument indicating what your specific appeal
is and
what grade you believe you deserved. Turn in the appeal before or
after class, during office hours, or at a scheduled
appointment within one week of the grade being returned. If you have
employed
these measures and are still dissatisfied, or feel
that an
appropriate resolution may not be reached by working with me, then I
encourage you to contact the Basic Course Director,
who will
also need a written grade appeal in order to help you.
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.
*In class, you will receive a form that says:
"I
have read the online syllabus and attendance policy and I have had the
opportunity to ask
questions about anything I did not understand.
I
understand the syllabus and agree to abide by its provisions. I
also
understand
that some changes may be necessary and will be made
by the
instructor as needed and announced at least once in class."