Communication Studies 01: Public Speaking Syllabus
Instructor: Ms. Meg Farrell
Office: LA 4e
EMAIL: meg_farrell@westvalley.edu
Course Objectives: This course is designed to provide you with the basic theories and practical skills of effective communication. You will come to appreciate yourself and others as both speaker and listener, and you will learn how to be a more comfortable, confident, engaging, professional, articulate and competent extemporaneous speaker in front of groups of all sizes.
Prerequisites: This class involves extensive writing and critical thinking skills. You will more successful if you possess both skill sets. Exam format is true/false. Log-on to Angel regularly for course updates at wvmccd.angellearning.com. Use your first and last initial followed by student ID# for access.
Material Requirements:
Fujishin, R. (2003). The natural speaker, 5th Edition (consider Textbooks for Food program)
Farrell, M. (2006). The art of public speaking course reader (print off ANGEL during first week)
Service Requirements: This class is dedicated to community service learning. You will be required to complete five or more hours of community service work as part of the course.
Course Requirements:
| Assignments | Points |
| Mini Speeches (four @ five points each) | 20 |
| Speech One | 20 |
| Outline One | 15 |
| Speech Two | 25 |
| Outline Two | 20 |
| Speech Three | 30 |
| Analysis Three | 15 |
| Outline Three | 20 |
| Community Service | 10 |
| Exam #1 | 40 |
| Exam #2 | 40 |
| Journals | 20 |
| Participation & Homework | 25 |
| Total | 300 |
Grading: You will be given a point total based on clearly defined criteria. Assignments are not formally graded on a curve. Outlines, journal writings, and papers must be typewritten to receive credit. Homework does not need to be typed. You will not be allowed to give a major speech without submitting your topic for approval, and submitting a typed outline prior to giving it. You will likely not pass the course if you miss a major speech. It is recommended that you keep copies of your graded assignments.
Participation: Active class participation, completion of homework assignments and readings, contribution to class discussions and activities, and supportive listening behaviors during speeches are essential to this course. Lack of the above will result in a lowered participation grade. Each student starts the semester with 25 participation points. Points are subtracted when participation is a problem or when assignments are neglected (i.e. no homework = minus 5 pts).
Attendance: Attendance and tardiness are recorded daily. You may miss one week of class without penalty. After that, each weekly class missed will result in minus 15 points from your overall grade, each bi-weekly minus ten. There are no excused absences. The only exception to this policy is a life or death situation. If this should unfortunately occur, please contact me as soon as possible by phone and email. You may arrive to class late three times without penalty. After that, tardiness will result in a minus five points per tardy. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what was covered. If you are tardy on your speech day, you may not be allowed to give your speech. Most students who fail this class do so because they donŐt show up. If you want to do well -- be here, be prepared, and be on time.
Make-Up Policy: There are no make-up speeches, in-class assignments, homework or exams. Outlines will be accepted one class period late for 50% credit, as long as they are received before you give your speech. Outlines without source citations and/or a reference section will receive five points off if revisions are completed by the end of that day and submitted via ANGEL, 50% credit if revisions are completed by the next class, and no credit without revisions. You are only given the privilege to speak to the class if you submit a typed outline prior to your speech. No outline indicates a lack of preparation. You will know the dates you are scheduled to speak within the first weeks of class. If you cannot make a speaking date, you may switch dates with someone else, as long as I am notified ahead of time. If a major life emergency arises, please contact me regarding any possible exceptions. Being sick is not fun, but it is not an emergency. In the unlikely event that the instructor is absent during Speech #2 or #3, class should proceed as normal with students videotaping their speeches.
Dropping The Class: I drop students who miss any class period during the first two weeks without notification. I also reserve the right to drop students who miss more than six hours of class. If you are considering dropping the course for personal or academic reasons, please contact me before you officially drop. I would appreciate the opportunity to try to work with you to pass.
Academic Dishonesty: Cheating on test or assignments, plagiarizing speeches or assignments, falsifying community service hours are all examples of academic dishonesty. Examples of plagiarism include not citing sources in your outline and/or not providing a reference section. All forms of academic dishonesty and plagiarism are grounds for failing the assignment and the course, and for academic probation.
Disabilities: This instructor and West Valley College make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Please contact DESP (731-2010) and me privately to discuss your needs.
Anxiety: If public speaking is the #1 fear of the majority of Americans, than this class is likely to make you feel nervous. I will do my best to help you with this as I know it is very challenging for some. If you find that your anxiety begins to affect your eating or sleeping habits, please come see me right away. Let me know if you have any medical condition or disability that might be triggered or aggravated by anxiety.
Student Conduct: Students are treated like professionals and are therefore expected to act in turn. Keep cell phones, sunglasses, and audio headphones off during class time. Dress professionally on speech days and do not wear hats during speeches. Disorderly conduct and illegal, dangerous or acutely distracting behavior will not be tolerated. Sexual, cultural, or racial discrimination will be grounds for dismissal.
Success: If you sincerely try, you will achieve success in this class. Sincerely trying means: keeping up with assignments, being on time and prepared for class, supporting your classmates, developing organized outlines and speech notes, utilizing technology for research and visuals, demonstrating professionalism and effective listening behaviors, and delivering a practiced speech. I want you to be successful; however there is only so much I can do to help make that happen. The rest is up to you. You are accountable for your experience in this class. Make it a positive one!