COMM 1113 Speech Communication; Jeff Gentry, Instructor
Office: Baird Hall 209-A; Office phone: 343-7742; e-mail <jgentry@rsu.edu>
Office hours: Daily 8:30-9:30. Additional office hours available by appointment. Required text: The Art of Public Speaking (8th edition) by Stephen Lucas (McGraw-Hill).
Course description: Introduction to basic communication theory and practice with emphasis on effective listening, organizational skills, basic logic, and techniques of speech delivery in various situations.
Course objectives: Students will develop their reading, research, listening, writing, and speaking skills to become more effective citizens and potential leaders in work and community.
Teaching methods: Lecture & discussion, reading; writing and speaking assignments. Important: be sure to read the assigned chapters before the class in which they are discussed.
June 1 Introduction to course and assignments; introductory speech assignment
2 Public speaking and society (Chapter 1); Introductory speeches: Everyone
6 Ethics in communication (Chapter 2); Effective listening (Chapter 3)
7 Speech organization (Chapters 8 and 9); visual aids speech assignment
8 More organization; delivery (Chapter 12)
9 Extemporaneous delivery; Visual aids topics due & returned
13 Visual aids (Chapter 13)
14 Group project day; Preview Visual aids speeches
15 Visual aids speeches: group 1
16 Visual aids speeches: group 2
20 Discovery speech assignment; midterm review
21 Exam 1; group 2 draw
22 Using evidence (Chapter 7); group 1 draw
23 Library research (Chapter 6)
27 More library research; preview discovery speeches
28 Discovery speeches: group 2
29 Discovery speeches: group 1; informative topic assignment handed out
30 Speaking to inform (Chapter 14); informative topic/speech assignments
July 5 The preparation outline (Chapter 10); informative topic assignment due & returned
6 More on outlining and informative preparation; informative topics announced
7 Group project day; Preview informative speeches
11 Informative speeches: group 1; persuasive topic assignment handed out
12 Informative speeches: group 2
13 Speaking to persuade (Chapter 16); persuasive topic/speech assignments
14 More persuasion; Persuasive topic assignment due & returned
18 Style (Chapter 11)
19 Critical thinking; Persuasive topics announced
20 Audience analysis (Chapter 5)
21 Exam 2
To be continued…
Speech Communications Syllabus, continued
July 25 Preview persuasive speeches
26 Persuasive speeches: group 2
27 Persuasive speeches: group 1
Course Success and Assignments
1) Attendance: Class attendance has been proven essential to student success, and will be graded. Students are strongly advised to attend each class to best understand the material. Missed classes do not qualify you for personal instruction during office hours. If late do not disrupt the class, and do not let cell phones ring during class. Students with better than 90% attendance earn an A; 80% =B, etc.
2) Outlines: Typed outlines are required on the informative & persuasive speeches, turned in when you are called on to speak. In order to receive credit, (1) your name must be printed in the same font as the rest of the outline, and (2) it must utilize the assigned formatting. Late outlines are dropped one letter grade; accepted only up to 1 week late.
3) Assignments: To be prepared for class, reading assignments should be completed in advance of the class in which they are discussed, not after. All speeches and quizzes must be completed on the due date. If you cannot be in class on your speech day, you must find another speaker, in advance, who will switch days with you. No make-ups will be allowed, excluding documented emergencies. Students should avoid personal crises on these few days.
4) Grade breakdown: Visual aids speech: 10%; Discovery speech: 10%; Informative speech: 15%; Persuasive speech: 20%; Attendance: 5%; Informative and Persuasive outlines: 10% each; Quiz grade: 20%. An A earns 4 grade points, A- =3.5, B=3, etc. If all work is completed, a 3.5 average =A for the course, 2.75=B, 2.0=C, 1.25=D. No one can pass the class with more than one missed assignment.
5) Academic Integrity. Please see the RSU Code of Academic Conduct. Plagiarism is not acceptable and is easy to detect. Any violation will result in an "F" for the course in addition to any penalties imposed by the university.