Speech Communication

English 121

FALL 2002

Spring 2001

Spring 2002

Dine' College

Frances K. Vitali, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty

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Speech Communication Course Syllabus

Semester | Instructor |
Text | Description |
Objectives | Opportunities |
Your Choices | Technology Opportunities |
Field Trips | Grading Criteria |
Schedule | Make-up |
Speech Example | Speaking Plan Example



"If you want to share a vision or tell the truth, you pick up your pen and take your chances". --Nikki Giovanni--



Spring Semester 2002

Mondays 5-8pm

Office Hours by appointment and on Mondays



Course Instructor

Frances Vitali

Instructor's Promise

Mailing Address: Box 3528 Farmington, NM 87499

Residence: Lake Valley, NM

Phone Number: 505.786.7265

E-mail Address: fvitali@mailcity.com

Frances Vitali



Course Text

Required Text: Foss, S. K. & Foss, K. A. (1994). Inviting transformation: Presentational speaking for a changing world. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.

Course Description

Speech Communication is a public speaking course. It is intended to prepare you to speak thoughtfully, understandably, sensitively, and sometimes persuasively and entertainingly to small or large audiences. To do this well, speakers learn how to understand their audiences; how to choose a topic; how to select, research, and organize material for optimal understanding; and how to present this material in an interesting, thought-provoking, and engaging manner. This semester a performing component will be added. The goal of the course is for you to achieve this competency through classroom activities and discussion; assignments inside and outside of class; and lots of practice.



Course Objectives

At the end of this class, students will be able to:

Analyze an audience with cultural sensitivity.

Gather information into major ideas, appropriate to the interactional goals and audience needs

Perform in front of an audience

Deliver 3 dramatic oral presentations such as storytelling and character portrayals

Create and use technology supports

Create comprehensive speaking plans

Prepare and perform in one multi-member (group) presentation (Poetry Performance)

Present materials effectively both visually and orally, as outlined in Chapter 8 "Making Plans"

Prepare 3 speeches using MLA style citations, references, and bibliography when needed



Course Opportunities

The first half of the semester will focus on ORAL presentations by way of stories and storytelling, culminating in a group dramatic POETRY presentation. Assignments will center on delivering stories-preparation, delivery evaluation.

The second half of the semester will focus on the delivery of prepared speech (TEXT) presentations. These assignments will center on delivering speeches--the preparation, delivery, and evaluation. Some of this work will be done in class. Other elements--gathering information, rehearsing, preparing technology supports, will be on your own time outside of class. For each speech you deliver, you will prepare a speaking plan, and if necessary, a bibliography using MLA style.

Choices You Make

Respect is always given; however, trust must be earned. As a student in this class, you have academic priorities. As your instructor, your learning and education are my priority. Please read and sign My Promise as your commitment to this class.


Attendance is expected at classes. Grades will be based upon attendance. Others in the class will appreciate your attendance when they speak, and we all can learn a great deal from the presentations of others.


Students with excessive absences will be dropped from the class according to Dine’ College policy.


ONE absence is allowed with all completed assignments handed in on time. Each subsequent absence will result in the lowering of one final grade point.


Speaking plans must be turned in on the day that you speak with your text. Without a speaking plan, you cannot deliver your speech and will not receive a grade.


Students must deliver presentations (oral or text) on the scheduled days. If you are ill, late, or can't make it, call the instructor before the class begins. Failure to deliver presentations (oral or text) on your scheduled days will result in two grades lower than what is deserved.


If you miss a class, you are responsible for all missed work; getting the assignment to the instructor. OPTIONAL: For extra credit, choose a make-up assignment from the speech communications website at https://members.tripod.com/vitali1868/spcommake-up.html to be submitted the following week to the instructor. No late make-up assignments will be accepted.


Assigned work must be turned in for the assigned class. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. I may under special circumstances, read a late assignment and make comments, but the assignment itself earns a zero.


Students may be asked to rewrite and redeliver their speeches. Grading of the speech will be withheld until the rewritten speech is satisfactory to both student and instructor. The rewritten speech is due the following week. If not returned the following week, no grade will be given for the speech.


Students are responsible for maintaining academic integrity and honesty in their work. Penalties may include the following: grade reduction, failing course grade, dismissal from the class, suspension or academic probation. (See Dine' College 2002-2003 Catalog, p. 21.)


With the exception of the impromptu speeches, all of the speech (text) presentations given in class should be delivered extemporaneously--not memorized or read from a manuscript but spoken conversationally, using notes.


All of the dramatic oral presentations performed should be given without the assistance of notes or books.

By standing in front of the class audience, we assume you are prepared and practiced. Please show respect for yourself and others by being prepared when delivering your speeches. An unprepared speech delivery will result in an F Grade. Prepare and prepare well.


Speech rewrites and story retellings must be delivered on the assigned date to receive full credit. No late assignments will be accepted.


If you miss three consecutive absences, you will be dropped from the class. According to Dine' College Class Attendance Policy, instructors "have the final authority in excusing students from class...conflicts about excused and unexcused absences must be resolved between the student and instructor" (Dine' College 2002-2003 Catalog, p. 17).


If you miss two consecutive assignments, you will be dropped from the class.


Allow extra time to get to class. If you are habitually late, your overall grade will suffer. Under ordinary circumstances more than 15 minutes late will be considered half an unexcused absence.


You must do all the assigned stories, dramatic group presentation, speeches with rewrites, impromptus, assignments, class participation to earn a C Grade. The quality of your work will determine a higher than C Grade.


Feel free to approach any faculty member about research questions or concerns.

Teaching and learning are synonymous, so our dual role will be learning from each other throughout the course.



Technology Opportunities

Students will become familiar with the following communications technologies, time permitting:

  • E-mail correspondence--a class e-mail address list will be made for communication purposes
  • Power Point Presentations
  • Internet Research Search Strategies


Field Trips

Students will have the opportunity to experience other speakers and speaking organizations outside the classroom setting.

  • San Juan College Toastmasters Club is a public speaking organization in Farmington.
  • Midterm will be a POETRY PRESENTATION.
  • Final presentations will be performed at local schools or community centers when possible.
  • The Speech Communications class will take advantage of the local and neighboring resources and events in local and surrounding areas, including Crownpoint, Farmington, Gallup, and Albuquerque.


Grading Criteria

Assignments: Each assignment carries equal weight in grading.

  • Impromptu Speeches
  • 3 prepared Speeches with text and speaking plan
  • 1 Dramatic Group Poetry Presentation (individual & group grades) at midterm
  • 1 Oral Delivery of a Story
  • Class Participation
  • Assignments
  • Quizzes

GRADES

A GRADE – completes all course assignments and projects with a high level of academic excellence and no absences.

B GRADE – completes all course assignments and projects with an above average level of academic excellence and one absence.

C GRADE – completes all course assignments and projects with a satisfactory level of academic excellence with one absence.

F GRADE - fails to show competency in course work and content.

No incomplete grades will be given.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is mandatory during the 16-week course. Notify the instructor in advance of lateness or absences. In accordance with Dine’ College policy, three consecutive absences will result in dropping the course.

Each unexcused absence will result in lowering by one letter grade. Tardiness by more than 15 minutes will count as one-half an absence (unexcused).

This course is a participatory, accumulative course where attendance is required to complete the course material. Students are responsible for consulting with instructor and other students about missed work and getting assignments to the instructor. The instructor has the responsibility to recommend that a student take a prerequisite course level, if necessary.

Tentative Schedule

"The stories we tell not only explain things to others, they explain them to ourselves". --Donald Norman--

"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak". --Epictetus--

MONDAY Week 1 (8/26)

Introductions, E-mail addresses

Class Environment: safety, value, freedom, openness

Story Quotes-group discussion

Importance of Story-Brain/Storytelling Primates

Video: Ray Golarz

Assignment: 1. Choose Poem of interest to you and memorize

Assignment: 2. Prepare a story to tell (5 minutes maximum) and Map out story for Presentation for Week #3

MONDAY Week 2 (9/2)

NO CLASS MEETING – LABOR DAY

Continue to practice and memorize Poem for Week #3

Continue to prepare story to tell (5 minutes maximum) and map out story for Presentation for Week #3

MONDAY Week 3 (9/9)

Impromptu Stories: Character/problem/setting

Purpose of Stories-5 interactional goals

Storytelling Presentation: Abiyoyo, Juniper Tree or Foolish Frog< /p>

Poetry Rehearsal

Story #1 Presentations

MONDAY Week 4 (9/16)

Impromptu – free flow writing or opinion stance

Poetry Rehearsal

MONDAY Week 5 (9/23)

Theater exercises

POETRY Rehearsal

MONDAY Week 6 (9/30)

Impromptu speech

POETRY Rehearsal

MONDAY Week 7 (10/7)

MIDTERM

Tentative: SUNNY DOOLEY, Navajo Storyteller (6-7pm)

POETRY Performance (5-6pm)

MONDAY Week 8 (10/14)

NO CLASS – NED HATATHLI DAY

Last Day for Drops/Withrawal from class

MONDAY Week 9 (10/21)

Communication: models, transformation, flow, problem-solving, 5 interactional goals

Writing Review: Topic and support sentences; prefixes and suffixes, pronunciation-syllabication

Story Relay

Speaking Plans

Begin to outline Speech #1 as Draft

MONDAY Week 10 (10/28)

Video: Delivering a Speech

Read: Chapters 3, 4

Assignment: Work on and outline SPEECH #1

Read: Chapters 1, 2, Sample presentations (p. 75)

MLA style overview

MONDAY Week 12 (11/4)

Presentation: Speech #1 Securing Adherence (Persuasion)

Impromptu speeches

Read: Chapters 5, 6

Video excerpt

Prepare and map out Speech #2 (Discovering Knowledge)

Rewrite speech exercise

PowerPoint demonstration

MONDAY Week 13 (11/11)

NO CLASS – VETERANS DAY

Nov. 15 Last Day for Instructor Drops

MONDAY Week 14 (11/18)

Presentation: Speech #2 -Discovering Knowledge

MLA style Quiz

Video excerpt

Bring in your own video excerpt as Quiz on 5 Interactional Goals for next week

Rewrite speech exercise

MONDAY Week 15 (11/25)

Internet research-impromptu topic

Speech delivery of impromptu topic

Bring in own video excerpt for Quiz on 5 Interactional Goalsand Delivering a Speech

Begin draft outline for Speech #3 - your own choice excluding Securing Adherence and Discovering Knowledge

MONDAY Week 16 (12/2)

Presentation: Speech #3 - FINAL SPEECH DELIVERY

Class POTLUCK

Week 17 (12/9)

Optional: Final Exam

Rewrites of final speeches requested by instructor

Individual student sessions with instructor by arrangement

Speech Communications Course Syllabus

Semester | Instructor |
Text | Description |
Objectives | Opportunities |
Class Policies | Technology Opportunities |
Field Trips | Grading Criteria |
Schedule | Make-up |
Speech Example | Speaking Plan Example


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Created August 22, 1999 by the author,

Frances Vitali

Last Updated 24 August 2002 by the author

Copyright August 1999

All rights reserved