Instructor: Kelly L. Adams
Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: kadams@centralmethodist.edu
Course Time: T/Th 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Course Room: Cupples Hall, Rm. 330
Catalog description: Students study the theory of speech communication to develop skills in public speaking situations. Topics include the speech-communication process, ethics, listening, intercultural considerations, speech-topic selection, audience analysis, research, use of evidence in a speech, speech organization, language usage, speech delivery, presentation aides, and the types of public speaking. Students present introductory, impromptu, commemorative, informative, and persuasive speeches as well as group presentations to improve their public speaking skills.
Class Recordings:
https://centralmethodist.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Sessions/List.aspx?folderID=9119bdae-8f05-4337-809a-aca6014b5190
Textbook:
Lucas, Stephen. The Art of Public Speaking, 9th edition. (PDF of textbook available via My CMU)
Central Methodist University Creed:
The Central Methodist University community believes in:
- Seeking knowledge, truth, and wisdom;
- Valuing freedom, honesty, civility, and diversity;
- Living lives of service and leadership; and
- Taking responsibility for ourselves and the communities in which we live.
Course objectives: Public speaking is a skill that is essential to both societal and individual well-being. It is important not only in your path through college but will also be important in your career. When you consider its role in our society, your career, and social life, you will realize that public speaking is very important!
In this course, you will have the opportunity to improve your competence as a public speaker, but also as an effective listener. It is my goal that each of you becomes a more confident, ethical speaker, as well as finding yourself enjoying the experience. Upon completion of this course students should:
- Know the concepts, principles, and theories necessary for understanding public speaking.
- Understand the ethical responsibilities of a public speaker and understand how it can be used to promote the common good. Students shall develop an ability to discern and analyze ethical issues in public speaking.
- Develop specific skills related to presenting an effective speech such as: audience analysis, conducting research, organizing material, using language and delivery style elegantly, and properly using presentational aides.
- Develop specific skills related to effective listening such as critical evaluation of content, responding appropriately, and giving constructive feedback.
- Start to enjoy public speaking and find themselves looking forward to giving speeches.
ADA policy: Please refer to the “students with disabilities policy” in the University Catalog. It is your responsibility to register with the Center for Learning and Teaching; thereafter, you are invited to speak with me about accommodations.
Grievance Policy: Central Methodist University has established a grievance policy and process designed to provide students and others with a process to resolve potential issues. This policy and process is established to provide persons with an avenue to file a written concern and to establish a process to track and implement changes as a result of said concern. For more detailed information consult the CLAS catalog at: http://www.centralmethodist.edu/academics/catalog/clas-catalog/policies/index.php.
If an issue cannot be solved through consultation with the faculty or division chair, students can report an incident/issue within 30 days of the event via the online web form (https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?CentralMethodistUniv)
MyCMU/e-mail: This is how the University communicates with you. Please check yours regularly. I send A LOT OF EMAILS throughout the semester (I do not kid. I send a ton of emails)!
Readings: You are expected to have read the text material, as well as any other assigned readings outside of class, before the class lecture over that material begins. Student involvement and discussion over the material make the class more interesting and helps students to comprehend and retain concepts more easily.
Attendance and Participation: During every class session, you will have the opportunity to learn new information and develop important public speaking skills. You are fostering professional habits by being prompt and prepared for each class period. Each of you has unique contributions to make to the class and you should endeavor to add to the discussion whenever appropriate.
Because your participation in class is vital to your success, you are expected to attend every class session in person. The only excused absences are for official university activities for which I am notified in advance by the student and the faculty sponsor and COVID-quarantine/isolation mandated by OSD or the CMU Nurse Practitioner.
If you are in quarantine or isolation, you will want to participate in class on Zoom. For participation, you will need a device situated so the camera is on your face at all times, and a separate device for class activities. If there are extenuating circumstances, contact me about participating with the camera off (Link will be emailed to you when you are absent for an official university activity or for COVID)
I want to work with you so you can be successful. Effective communication is the key to making that happen.
University sanctioned travel: If you are a member of a university-sanctioned organization (e.g., athletic teams or performing groups) that travels out of town and will miss class for this reason, you must provide me (in writing) the dates that you will miss at least one week prior to the absence. If I do not receive notice from you regarding these absences, they will be unexcused. These absences will be verified and will not count against your attendance record.
Make-up exams/assignments: Late work is not acceptable and will result in half points lost for that assignment. Students traveling with university sanctioned organizations need to complete work prior to their absence. Absolutely no late work will be accepted after the final exam period. Remember that no in class assignments can be made up no matter the reason.
In-Class activities: Students are expected to prepare for each class by completing the assigned reading and homework. Homework will be submitted electronically on My CMU prior to class. Students will also complete in-class assignments using their iPads. Therefore, they need to bring their iPads to class during each class period. If students are not prepared for class, they will be asked to leave and will be counted as absent for the day.
Assignments: When students are to turn in assignments in class they will be collected at the beginning. If they are not turned in at that point, they are considered late and will receive a grade deduction. They must be typed and double-spaced with 12-point font unless otherwise mentioned. Speech outlines should always be typed and turned in at the start of the student’s speech. Each outline must also include a typed reference page.
Academic Conduct: This policy is taken very seriously. Students caught breaking this policy will receive a zero for the assignment and will be reported to the Dean. Students who are dishonest more than once will fail the class. As per the course catalog:
Academic Conduct requires that each person accept the obligation to uphold professional standards in all academic endeavors. Any conduct that unprofessionally represents a student’s academic performance violates CMU’s Academic Conduct Policy. Unprofessional practices include but are not limited to the following:
a. CHEATING in any form (e.g., ghost-written papers; cheat sheets or notes; copying during exams, quizzes, or other graded class work; allowing any-one access to your courseware account to misrepresent their coursework as yours, or your coursework as theirs, etc.);
b. UNAUTHORIZED COLLABORATION with others on work to be presented in ways contrary to the stated rules of the course or the specifications of a particular assignment;
c. STEALING or having unauthorized access to examination or course materials,
d. FALSIFYING INFORMATION (records, or laboratory or other data);
e. SUBMITTING WORK PREVIOUSLY PRE-SENTED IN ANOTHER COURSE without the advance consent of the second instructor;
f. ASSISTING ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT (intentionally or unintentionally)—This includes allowing any other student to use or submit your academic work or performance, or other academic work supplied by you, under a name different from the author of the work; and
g. PLAGIARISM. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to (1) representing as your own work a paper, speech, or report written in whole or in part by someone else (from the un-credited use of significant phrases to the un-credited use of larger portions of material), including material found on the internet, (2) failing to provide appropriate recognition of the sources of borrowed material through the proper use of quotation marks, proper attribution of paraphrases, and proper reference citations. Always provide appropriate recognition of all borrowed materials and sources.
Classroom conduct: Students must conduct themselves so others will not be distracted from the pursuit of learning. Students may be disciplined for any conduct, which constitutes a hazard to the health, safety, or wellbeing of members of the college community or which is deemed detrimental to the college’s interest. To maximize class efforts, I require cooperative behavior in the class. Please respect others in the class for their experience and ideas.
Speech Etiquette: On the days of presentations, those individuals performing should not be interrupted by latecomers. Please wait until you hear applause before entering. Additionally, there will be no in-class studying, preparation of notes, etc. during presentations. You will be asked to leave and counted as absent for the day.
Appearance in class: This is a communication class, and a student’s appearance in class sends non-verbal messages to others. Therefore, no hats or dark glasses are allowed in class. Eyes are an important mode of non-verbal communication. Students caught reading other materials, doing homework for another class, sleeping, or any other behavior that is not related to this class will be asked to leave class and will be counted as absent for that day.
Cell phones: All electronic devices need to be silenced in class. I should never see your phone during class time. Put your phone away!
MyCMU: Announcements, grades, and other supplementary materials will be available through MyCMU. Please check regularly to be aware of any class announcements.
Out of Class Expectation: In college you must take responsibility for your own learning. By taking ownership, you understand that not all your learning will take place in the classroom. For every hour of class time you are expected to study two hours outside of class. This may include, but is not limited to: reading, study groups, exercises, or activities.
Course Assignments
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Total Points - 850
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Speeches
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470
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Outlines
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80
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Introduction Speech
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50
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Demonstration Speech
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25
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Demonstration Speech
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100
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Narrative Speech
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25
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Narrative Speech
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100
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Persuasive Speech
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30
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Persuasive Speech
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120
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Impromptu (4 speeches)
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25 (each)
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Participation
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200
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Exams
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100
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In class activities
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200
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Midterm Exam
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50
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Final Exam
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50
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Grading Scale: (%)
100 - 90% = A
89 - 80% = B
79 - 70% = C
69 - 60% = D
59 - 0% = F
Grading: It is my philosophy that for grades to be meaningful a C should be average and high grades must be reserved for exceptional work. Cs (not Bs or As) will be given for work that is acceptable and of average college level quality. The grade of C, therefore, does not indicate any shortcoming and may be the most common grade given. This means that you have met the basic requirements, but there is more that could be done to improve upon. Grading will be done as follows:
A: Represents achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements. This work is superior in every respect and represents the highest level of achievement. Its quality is so good that it would be unreasonable to ask a college student to improve upon it.
B: Represents achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements. Not only were all the basic expectations met, it exceeded minimum expected quality levels. This work probably showed one or more of the following characteristics: excellent understanding of the class material, excellent application of theory to practice, unusual thoroughness in thought and preparation.
C: Represents achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect. This score does not indicate any shortcoming. All the work was done adequately and completely, and the work showed basic understanding and mastery of the course material.
D: Represents achievement that is worthy of credit even though it does not fully meet course requirements. While there was merit to what was done, there were also deficiencies that meant the work did not fully meet the minimal expectations.
F: Represents performance that fails to meet the course requirements and is unworthy of credit. This work shows serious deficiencies in regard to the expectations for the assignment.