Speech 1, Elements of Public Speaking

Santa Monica College

Summer 2007 (8 Weeks)

Instructor: Barry L. Preston

Class Hours:  6:30p-9:40p TTh   AET 120

Contact Information:  Campus mailbox or email at gkwillie@aol.com <please, no attachments> ***Email is the best way to contact me outside of class. I also show up early to class and can stay late if need be.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
TEXT: BUILDING A SPEECH by SHELDON METCALFE
**Also suggested is any Style Guide, like the Little Brown Handbook as we will be citing sources inside your outlines and using either the APA or MLA style, whichever you choose.  You will need to print various documents during the class from my website http://homepage.smc.edu/preston_barry

***REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: In addition to the predetermined goals for the class, each student should have personal priorities for what information or skills should be emphasized depending on their personal goals for the class. Preparation is by far the most effective step toward controlling nervousness about giving a speech. Also, proper preparation means no reading (typing out entire speech and reading it like its from a book to the class) your speech, but deliver it with eye contact to the entire audience.

CLASS ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES
1. Never read your speech. The highest possible grade you will receive will be a C and then only if it is a superb speech. This is an extemporaneous speaking class. We will draft outlines, Not scripts and deliver speeches on a daily basis. Outline your speech and practice its delivery and make eye contact! A script is when you write out your speech, word for word, then read it without looking at the audience. This results in an automatic C grade. Don’t let yourself down by doing this, its very obvious when a speech is read versus delivered. If you simply read your speech you will be stopped.
2. When it is your turn to speak give a copy of your outline to the instructor. Failure to do so will result in a lower grade. It should be in the proper outline form and typed.
3. Please participate, it’s your class. Listen when others speak. DO NOT WORK ON YOUR SPEECH OR OTHER MATERIAL WHEN ANOTHER STUDENT IS DELIVERING THEIR SPEECH. Doing so will result in a lower grade on your speech.
4. Students will evaluate each speech. Failure to do so will reduce your grade.
5. Students will participate in classroom speaking exercises. These exercises make up the participation portion of your grade. They are designed to improve your speaking skills. There is no make up for these exercises.
6. Any electronic device that makes noise is prohibited inside the classroom. Five points will be deducted from your grade for any type of distraction caused by your device. Do not bring them into class.
7. For disability related needs please contact SMC Disabled Student Center for accommodation.
8. No auditing of this class is allowed per Santa Monica College policy.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES (In addition to those above)
1. Keep this syllabus. Read it often, it is a guide to this course. It can answer many of your pressing questions. It can also help you plan your class. Your job is to attend this class, do assignments on time and study for the exams. Failure to do so will obviously result in a lower grade.
2. Be ready to speak on time. There is no acceptable excuse for being unprepared except a doctor’s written excuse for your absence. Being on time is a very important rule in this class as it will disrupt the schedule of everyone if you are not on time and prepared. This also means being on time to listen and evaluate the speeches. If you are absent on a speech delivery day, you must be ready to deliver your speech when you next appear in class and have a doctor’s written excuse for your absence at that time. The day you deliver to me the absence excuse is the day you deliver your speech. Leaving early for any reason except a legally recognized excuse under Santa Monica College policy will result in a reduction of your participation points. You are not a captive audience. Any excuse besides you being ill and with a doctor’s note on a speech day will result in a 20 pt. reduction of your participation points. More than one absence in any form makes you ineligible for the A class grade.
3. Speeches are due the first day they are assigned to be delivered. Example of this: You have a Tuesday, Thursday class and speeches are to be delivered both days. They are due on Tuesday even if your not chosen or do not volunteer to speak. You must be ready to go if your name is randomly chosen. If a student is not ready to deliver their speech at that time, the speech then is considered late and your participation points are subject to the above reduction. Outlines are also due on the first speaking day.
4. No eating in class.
5. If you are late getting to class, wait until any speech in progress is finished before entering the room. After class report to the instructor so that you will not be counted as absent.
6. If English is not your primary language, you still will be held to the level of English that is required to attend this class. Speaking with an accent is very acceptable. Hint: Keep your speeches simple! The biggest mistake non-native English speakers make is choosing a topic that is too difficult to explain, for example Cloning or Physics. Or thinking it best to write a script and then not being able to pronounce difficult words. **Use your own outline.
7. Laughing at or otherwise making fun of another student for any reason will result in loss of participation points. Being amused and having fun is fine. Do not talk while someone is delivering a speech. If I have to ask you to be quiet, your grade will be reduced. I am very sensitive on this issue.
8. The academic honesty policy of Santa Monica College will be strictly enforced.
9. Go to the restroom before class! When you enter class or any audience,it is rude to leave before the break. You will be afforded a 15 minute break exactly 1/2 way through the class.
 

ATTENDANCE POLICY
1. This is an eight-week course. Missing any class will cause you to miss one week’s material if it were a 16-week class.
2. Do not be absent on a day you are to deliver a speech. After one absence, your grade will be reduced, regardless of excuse, as you are missing participation in classroom exercises.
3. A student is eligible to be dropped after any unexcused absence. It is your responsibility to inform me of your reasons for being absent. If you just vanish for 2 classes, then arrive at the next class with *any excuse, it’s too late. I need notice sooner than that.
4. Each tardy will count 3 points. Title 5 regulations specify that students will attend class regularly, and that instructors will have a method of monitoring attendance on a regular basis. Tardy is anytime after class begins. Additionally, a student that is disruptive of the class will be dropped after one warning.
5. No adding until end of week 1. It is your responsibility to add or drop the class, not the instructor’s. You will not be able to sit in class unless you can prove you are enrolled. There will be no end of semester adding allowed.
6. You cannot be absent Week 8.
 GRADING (In addition to any prior grading criteria herein)
Grading of speeches will be by the Instructor. Student evaluations will NOT count towards your grade. On speech presentation days, students not delivering must evaluate. Evaluating is as important as speaking. Your speech’s grade will be reduced by 20 pts. if your absent for any reason and not evaluating on a speech presentation day. Your participation grade will be reduced by 20 pts. if your speech or test is late unless you submit a timely doctor’s excuse for that regularly scheduled day. Timely means the very next class after your absence. All late speeches may be made up, subject to the 20 pt. penalty, at the discretion of the instructor. There will be no makeup’s on the quizzes, classroom speaking exercises or homework. Under no circumstance may any assignment be made up after the last day of class. Participation means active, positive additions to the class and fulfillment of classroom exercises. Keep a running total of your points, it is easy to do.
 GRADING POINTS
Personal Experience Speech 60
Demonstration/Visual Aid Speech 75
Persuasive Speech 150 (Work Cited list mandatory)
Final Exam 100
Impromptu Speech 40
Quizzes 50
**Outlines 100
**Outlines must follow Chapter 10 format; Must be typed or legibly written. Stapled in the left hand corner, no folders, includes Work Cited list; Grammar and Spelling are part of this grade; Outlines are SEPARATE assignments and will be evaluated that way.)
Participation 75 (Homework Assignments/Classroom Exercises: Bugs Me, Weird, Non-verbal, Persuasive 1 minute speeches)
 

Total Points Scale
650 - 585 = A
584 - 520 = B
519 - 455 = C
454 - 390 = D
389 - F

**Note on Grading: Keep a running total of your points as you receive your assignments back from me. To receive an “A” on any assignment, there can be no errors in the assignment, you must hit on all the things we talk about in class or mention in this syllabus (so your presence in class is important). A “B” grade indicates you almost achieved “A” status, but fell short in one area. This is an important distinction as an “A” is work that clearly stands out as error free. A “C” grade is average, that means you did good, but nothing beyond the average level of performance. A “D” grade means you didn’t meet expectations and didn’t follow instructions. An “F” is total failure to follow course procedures and meet any objectives of the assignment. Under no circumstances are you to come to me after the course and tell me you need an A to transfer. If you need an A, you must earn it! I hear this far too often from SMC students. You are missing the point of education if you fall back on this type of psychology. You will be evaluated fairly, based on your work product and performance in class. Take your suggestions and learn from them. This may be the most important lesson you learn about education and life.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF CLASSES/ASSIGNMENTS: ****Students should be familiar with each chapter assigned prior to the start of class for which it is assigned. Note that you will
be reading some chapters out of order and that the reading is top heavy, more in the beginning than in the end. As you can see, the course is divided into weeks. That means the reading for each week will comprise the topics to discuss that week. Class time is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - this is where you will explore these concepts and those you discover on your own. Your speech drafting/outlining will begin in class, but to be successful, you should work on the speech continuously from week 1 through time to deliver. It is a process, not a last minute relay race.****

WEEK 1
Syllabus and Orientation
Class interviews/Introductions (Classroom Exercise #1)

Read Ch. on Reducing Apprehension (You will be discussing this throughout the course) A key is to take three deep breaths, in and out. Relax while you breathe in and out. Try it! Remember, if you do not take action to reduce anxiety, you will not improve in this area. There is no magic to reducing anxiety, it takes practice. Focus on your speech, not the feelings of anxiety that may arise. And prepare, prepare, prepare! Try to have fun with it. Another key is to just be yourself.

Here is some background on informative speaking: We will begin to construct your outlines.
Read Ch. on Building 1st Speech - Personal Experience, Demonstrative, Person, Place, or Thing.
Read Ch. on Selecting the Topic and Purpose (Your ideas are the KEY!!!! You must ***think*** for yourself, figure out what interests you and use that as a topic.) Remember, choose an *appropriate* topic for you and the audience, the First Amendment is very broad, but when addressing a class of students from all around the world, that eliminates certain topics. Also avoid overdone topics such as anything on smoking or cell phones unless you put a totally different and unique spin on the topic.

(Homework for Thursday Week 1 is to choose a topic. Topic is extremely important. Make it interesting to you, familiar and innovative and draft a CORRECT specific purpose and thesis.

WEEK 2
Read Ch. on Speaking to Inform - promotes understanding, enlightenment, educates. Look at
the different types of informative speeches.
Read Ch. on Analyzing Your Audience - Who are they? Do they all understand you? If you are an expert on a topic, you must convey it in an easy to understand way.
Read Ch. on Organizing the Body of the Speech - remember your time limit/Format. It is your responsibility to **know where you are time-wise in your speech.
Read Ch. on Considering Language - choose appropriate words carefully. Choose words
with impact/relevance to topic/avoid language not appropriate for audience.

Tuesday we are doing a Bugs Me speech - 1 minute.

NEXT Week QUIZ ON READING SELECTED BY INSTRUCTOR
**SHOULD HAVE GOOD START ON OUTLINE FOR INFO SPEECH-meaning you should have your body points and be developing them with sub-points, examples and interesting sources in your outline.

WEEK 3
Deliver Personal Experience speeches starting Tuesday! (3-4 minutes)

Quiz #1 - Keep your quizzes when returned to you. They will form the basis of the final exam. I will inform you what chapters will be on the final.
Read Ch. on Developing Your Delivery - Key is to Practice, Practice, Practice. Common mistakes are rapid rate, too much movement, monotone voice, little eye contact and READING!
Read Ch. on Choosing the Introduction and the Conclusion - done after main organizing. Key is to have a STRATEGY and make it brief and attention getting. The introduction includes at its end the SP and thesis. Common mistake here is to just begin, without an intro or make your intro too long. That ruins your time element for the speech. START WITH YOUR INTRO AND GET ATTENTION OF AUDIENCE!
Read Ch. on Using Audiovisual Aids - make them readable and use them effectively. SIMPLE
IS USUALLY BETTER! Just placing a picture near the podium is not effective. Think about your visual aid. If you plan a VCR or other device, practice with it. You only have 6 minutes.
Read Ch. on Improving Your Listening Skills - listen to speakers, don’t do other things. Auburn University study indicates listening takes place 52.5%, speaking 16%, 17% reading, 14% writing.

Week 4
Demonstration Speeches due! (4-5 minutes) You will speak on a voluntary basis. You must stay to evaluate the speeches, if you leave, you lose points. Make a copy of your outline for me to have when you are speaking. That is part of your grade.

Week 5
Begin Persuasive Speaking.
Ch. Speaking to Persuade - influences and alters the beliefs, feelings, or behavior of listeners; Pick a controversial topic or one that is unique
Understand Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Ask yourself: Am I being persuasive?
(Homework for Monday, Choose Topic for Persuasive Speech and write Specific Purpose/Proposition Statement and deliver to class) (Classroom Ex #4)

Week 6
Quiz #2 - Chapters TBA.
*****Impromptu Speeches - choose a quote, take 5 minutes to outline and deliver a 3 minute speech. Key is to relax, outline, and think!

Week 7
*****Quiz #3 -
Final Exam - Compilation of the past quiz questions and new questions. Pay attention to the quizzes.

We will do a special occasion speech this week - 1 minute!

Week 8
Persuasive Speeches-Must have a clear SP, thesis, smoothly mention sources and create logical arguments to have a chance at an A grade. For this assignment, you must choose an appropriate topic that is unique for the audience. For example, just arguing smoking is bad for your health is a given. Also, you need 3 separate sources, with credible authors. That means web sites with no authors aren’t accepted for the A requirement. Find articles on the web with credible authors. Or use other secondary sources. You can use a primary source if you wish, but the 3 sources rule above applies still. You will not receive this speech back unless you bring an envelope with a stamp for return of your speech if you deliver on the last day of class.

****Note that this is a tentative schedule of assignments. As class size varies every semester, the instructor may have to alter the syllabus during the semester. You will be afforded notice of any syllabus change or class announcement. You are considered notified when changes are announced in class even if you’re not present for the announcement for any reason. Please stay in touch with the class.