"If you want to share a vision or tell the truth, you pick up your pen and take your chances". --Nikki Giovanni--
Fridays 5-8pm
Office Hours by appointment and on Fridays
Mailing Address: Box 3528 Farmington, NM 87499
Residence: Lake Valley, NM
Phone Number: 505.786.7265
E-mail Address: fvitali@mailcity.com
Required Text: Foss, S. K. & Foss, K. A. (1994). Inviting transformation: Presentational speaking for a changing world. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.
Speech Communication is a public speaking course. It is intended to prepare you to speak thoughtfully, understandably, sensitively, and sometimes persuasively 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.
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 2 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 (River of Separation)
Present materials effectively both visually and orally, as outlined in Chapter 8 "Making Plans"
Prepare 3 speeches using MLA style citations, references, and bibliography
The first half of the semester will focus on oral presentations by way of stories and storytelling, culminating in a group dramatic presentation. Assignments will center on delivering stories-preparation, delivery and evolution.
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, rehearsal, 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.
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 1999-2000 Catalog, p. 16.)
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. Speech rewrites and story retellings must be delivered on the assigned date to receive full credit. No late assignments will be accepted. According to Dine' College attendance policy, if you miss three consecutive absences, you will be dropped from the class. 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.
Students will become familiar with the following communications technologies:
Students will have the opportunity to experience other speakers and speaking organizations outside the classroom setting.
Assignments: Each assignment carries equal weight in grading.
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 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.
"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--
FRIDAY Week 1 (1/18)
Introductions, E-mail addresses
Class Environment: safety, value, freedom, openness
Nacirema-group discussion
Impromptu – free flow writing Importance of Story-Brain-Storytelling Primates Video: Ray Golarz Assignment: 1. Read River of Separation creation story from Dine’ Bahane by Paul Zolbrod, pp. 57-70 (9-11) and Bring your own copy for next week Assignment: 2. Prepare a story to tell (5 minutes maximum)
FRIDAY Week 2 (1/25) Impromptu Stories: Character/problem/setting Purpose of Stories-5 interactional goals Story #1: Deliver Presentations Read from your copies: River of Separation Write summary of River of Separation
FRIDAY Week 3 (2/1) NO CLASS MEETING - Work at Home on: 1. Story telling #2 (10 minutes maximum) 2. River of Separation-tell story in a different medium other than ‘telling’. Use music, art, mime, etc. to briefly retell the story.
FRIDAY Week 4 (2/8) Storytelling presentation #2: (10 minutes Maximum)
FRIDAY Week 5 (2/15) NO CLASS – Work at Home on: Assignment: 1. River of Separation role responsibilities Assignment: 2. Identify a person to portray (Character Portrait) from book, movies, comics, radio, television, technology. Prepare a story (15 minute maximum) about this person or character for 2/22.
FRIDAY Week 6 (2/22) Impromptu speech CHARACTER PORTRAITS presentation #3 RIVER OF SEPARATION rehearsal
FRIDAY Week 7 (3/1) Dress Rehearsal of RIVER OF SEPARATION
FRIDAY Week 8 (3/8) Midterms SUNNY DOOLEY, Navajo Storyteller (5-7pm) Performance of River of Separation
FRIDAY Week 9 (3/15) Communication: models, transformation, flow, problem-solving, 5 interactional goals Video: Delivering a Speech Read: Chapters 3, 4 Assignment: Work on speech #1 Read: Chapters 1, 2, Sample presentations (p. 75) Presentation: Speech #1 [optional (written and practiced) - a learning/educational experience that stands out in your mind.] DUE on 3/22 Impromptu speech- Video excerpt FRIDAY Week 10 (3/22) Impromptu speeches Speaking Plans Read: Chapters 5, 6 Video excerpt
FRIDAY Week 12 (4/5)
Prepare Speech #2
PowerPoint
demonstrationMLA style
Tripod web page design demonstration
FRIDAY Week 14 (4/19)
Presentation: Speech #2
MLA style Quiz
FRIDAY Week 15 (4/26)
Internet research-impromptu topic
Week 16 (5/3)
Presentation: Speech #3. Final performance
Week 17 (5/10)
Optional: Final Exam
Snow Day Make-up
