VU-Speech 143
3 Credits           Welcome to Speech 143!

Instructor
Becky Cooper  
E-mail  the instructor
Mailbox
VU Office, Bldg. 853, NBK Bremerton

Location:  NBK Bremerton
Virtual Study
Office Hours
Virtual Study
by appointment via BoldChat
Meet me here to discuss questions related to the course material or to talk about any other concerns.

Course Description
In this course you will learn how to speak in public effectively and will practice doing so in each class session. Class activities and assignments include audience analysis, outlining, research, delivery, critical listening, evaluation, and the use of visual aids/technology.  In addition to learning about the fundamental concepts and skills of public speaking, you will be required to demonstrate the following performance outcomes.

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course the student will have demonstrated the following skills in composing and presenting effective speeches:
Adapt the content and delivery of a speech to communicate successfully with a particular audience
Conduct library and Internet research to find material appropriate and sufficient to support the main point of a speech
Write a logical and complete outline of a speech to be presented
Deliver a speech with enthusiasm and without paralyzing stage fright
Use visual aids and technology to enhance communication and credibility
Use language that is precise, concrete, and unpretentious
Listen critically to the speeches of others
Evaluate speeches according to set criteria
Recognize ethical considerations involved in public speaking

Required Text
The Art of Public Speaking, 7th Ed., by Stephen E. Lucas (McGraw-Hill, 2001)

Please check out a textbook from the Vincennes University office and return it promptly upon completion of the course. Students are required to pay for lost or unreturned textbooks (see Site Policies for details).

Required Video Tape (if camcorder is available)
Each student is to bring a quality VHS (name brand) videotape to each class.  This tape will be used to record a number of your presentations.

Attendance
This class requires active participation in the form of critical listening, in addition to delivering speeches, and students are expected to attend all hours in order to be eligible to earn credit.  However, you will be allowed to make up work that is missed because of exceptional circumstances, such as being on watch/duty, so the instructor will ask you to provide a list of duty dates at the first class meeting. Some classes will begin with a five-minute freewrite about anything that is on your mind. These will be collected and assigned credit; they cannot be made up, so you will need to be on time to earn credit.

 Grade Scale & Grade Allotment
        
4.0 = A
(95 +)
3.0 = B
(84-87)
2.0 = C
(72-77)
3.7 = A-
(91-94)
2.7 = B-
(81-83)
1.0 = D
(57-71)
3.3 = B+
(88-90)
2.3 = C+
(78-80)
0.0 = F
(below 57)
Category
Weight
Midterm and Final
20 %
Personal Self-evaluation Journal & Practice Log  
30 %
Outlines, Speeches, and Symposia

40 %
Audience skills: attentive listening & tactful feedback
10%
Total Weight   
100 %

  Grade Category Descriptions

Class Participation includes contributions to class discussions, coming prepared to class, and any activity that takes place during class. You may complete weekly online study questions (Textbook Support Site) over the reading material (mandatory for those who must miss a symposium).  

Tactful Feedback refers to the feedback that you will offer for each of your peers' speeches. The Personal Journal, which will be collected in batches each week, is a reflective and analytic journal that you will keep in order to chart your own progress in the course.  It is a form of ongoing self-assessment and will record your subjective response to each of your presentations as well as an objective analysis. A separate handout with details will be provided at the second class meeting.

Outlines refer to the form you will complete before you deliver your speech.  On the Outline Guide, you will provide the type of information that is found in Outlining the Speech in Chapter Ten of the textbook.

You will present one individual Speech per week that will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Preparation
Outline and notes
Research, when relevant
Rehearsal (documented in your practice log)
Delivery
Composure and enthusiasm
Audience contact and sincerity
Volume, inflection, and pace of delivery
Addressing the assignment
A clear main point
Appropriate and sufficient support within the allotted time
Effective use of language (appropriate, precise, grammatically correct)
Strong beginning and end
Visual aids/props, when appropriate


    Schedule of Speeches

Formal 3-5 Minute (minimum) Speeches  
Relevant Pages
 Date
Week
Speech of Introduction
436-439  
Reading from a Manuscript
285, 289-296  
Speech of Tribute
441-445     
Speech of Inspiration
handout
Panel Discussion Midterm Review 8/15 Written Midterm Exam 8/17
Informative Speech (object)
341-343
How-to Speech
343-345
Something I Endorse  
(Persuasive Speech I)
376-377
Written Final Exam 9/14
Policy --should or shouldn't--Speech (Persuasive II)
378-394
Symposia on Assigned Chapters (participation in approximately one symposium per week)

Because this course intensive and becoming a confident and competent public speaker requires practice, practice, and more practice, you will be given as many opportunities as possible to apply the concepts in class, both individually and as a member of a team. A symposium is a form of team presentation (see pages 469-470); it is the format you will use to cover an assigned chapter from the course textbook for your classmates.

Symposia Sequence
Date
Chapters
Topic
18, 11
Speaking in Small Groups/Using Language
1, 2
Speaking in Public/Ethics and Public Speaking
3,12, 17
Listening/Delivery/Special Occasions
4, 5, 7
Selecting Topic and Purpose/Analyzing the Audience/Supporting Your Ideas
1-5, 7,11, 12,17,18
Panel Review and Midterm
8, 9,10
Speech Preparation: Organizing & Outlining
14, 6
Speaking to Inform/Gathering Materials
15-16
Speaking to Persuade/Methods of Persuasion
Panel Review for Final
Written Final
Revision Speeches
Name and e-mail or phone number of class buddy who can pick up missed assignments for you if you are ill or have duty:






 University and Site Policies

Class Closures: If you wish to verify any possible class closures, please telephone the instructor, not the business offices.

Incomplete Grade: A grade of Incomplete will only be recorded in cases of emergency (with written documentation) when the student has completed all but some small item of the course.  The instructor must be notified immediately, and the course must be completed within three weeks after the end of the semester. An official Incomplete Contract must be filled out by the Instructor and signed by the instructor, site director, and the student and submitted with the instructor's Final Grade Sheet.  No “I” grades can be used without this documentation.

Grade Scale & Grade Allotment:
4.0 = A
(95 +)
3.0 = B
(84-87)
2.0 = C
(72-77)
3.7 = A-
(91-94)
2.7 = B-
(81-83)
1.0 = D
(57-71)
3.3 = B+
(88-90)
2.3 = C+
(78-80)
0.0 = F
(below 57)

Text Loan and Fines:  When you use the Loan System, you will sign out your books from the Central Office.  There will be one week after the semester ends to turn in your textbooks.  The only place texts can be returned is to the Business Office at PSNS.  Your instructor cannot accept textbooks.  Thereafter, the student's account will be charged for the full replacement price of the text.  

Student Conduct/Cheating/Plagiarism: All instances of deliberate cheating, including plagiarism, result in immediate failure of the course and referral to the Site Director for disciplinary action.

Drop Date:  The official Drop Date is one week following the beginning of the term.
ADD Date:  The official ADD Date is one week following the beginning of the term.
If a student discontinues attendance but does not complete an official Drop Form by the drop date, all tuition and fees become the responsibility of that student.  Instructors cannot “drop” students from classes.  Use the current VU Dateline for important dates related to your schedule.

TA Vouchers:  Tuition Vouchers must be submitted no later than the ADD Date.  Students will not be able to check out textbooks unless Tuition Vouchers are submitted.  If vouchers have not been submitted by the ADD Date, payment for full tuition will immediately become the responsibility of the student.  If payment is not received by the DROP Date, the student will no longer be able to attend class.

Refunds:  Assuming a zero beginning balance, all student payments made for tuition during the registration period for a particular semester, will be refunded 100% through the posted Drop Date for that semester.  No refunds will be made after the Drop Date unless a student has completed an official Drop Form.



Student Questionnaire


Name                                                                 Phone                                                      

E-mail address                                                Do you have a computer?                      

What days will you have to miss this semester because of duty/watch?     

What are your goals?

Academic                                                                                                                           

Career                                                                                                                                

Personal                                                                                                                             

What languages do you speak?                                                                                      

What is your first language?                                                                                            

What public speaking experience do you have?                                                         


What are your expectations for this course?                                                                



What are you going to do to ensure your success in this course?                            




What word best describes how you feel about this class right now?                        

Tell me anything else that you would like me to know.                                                 


What would you like to know about me?