SYLLABUS
Oral Communication, COS 101, Section 26
Fall, 2005
Instructor: Kathy Espin Classroom: WRI C-309
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Text:
Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking, 8th edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Instructor Phone: 895-5135 Fax: 895-4805 Office: CDC-1116
E-mail: espin@unlv.nevada.edu Office Hours: MTWR 10-11:30 a.m. or by appointment
Course Requirements
Attendance: Regular attendance is very important to your success in this class. Students missing more than two classes during the term will be penalized. The third absence will result in a five-point reduction in the final grade. Each absence thereafter will result in an additional five-point reduction for each absence. The two classes for which you will not be penalized constitute your “sick leave.” Do not bring doctors’ notes for additional excused absences.
Graded Assignments: Your grade will be dependent on your performance on four speeches and two examinations. The value of each assignment is as follows:
Assignment Value Date Due
Speech 1, 3-5 min. 10 percent Sept. 27-29
Speech 2, 5-7 min. 15 percent Oct. 20-27
Speech 3, 5-7 min 15 percent Nov. 10-17
Speech 4, 8-10 min 25 percent Nov. 29-Dec. 6
Midterm Exam 15 percent Oct. 13
Final Exam 20 percent Dec. 15, 10:10 a.m.
Examinations
Exams will be multiple choice. The midterm will cover chapters 1-9. The final exam will cover all 18 chapters. A Scantron sheet and number 2 pencil will be required for both tests.
Grade Distribution
100-93 percent = A
92-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C-
69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
62-60 = D-
59 and below = F
Other Important Guidelines
Class Materials – Handouts and other class materials will be available online. It is the student’s responsibility to download and print out materials needed for class. Instructions for accessing these materials will be available.
Late Assignments – Due to the innate aversion we all have to speaking in public, no excuses will be accepted for not presenting you speech on your assigned day. Assignments will be made well in advance. If you have an important conflict for that day, notify the instructor so that assignments can be adjusted. No exemptions will be granted for this policy.
Classroom Behavior – Respect and courtesy will be shown to every member of the class. Students will not talk among themselves while others are making presentations. Disrespectful or discourteous behavior may lead to expulsion from class.
Tardiness -- Arriving late to class is rude and shows a lack of respect for your classmates and your instructor. Rare occasional tardiness can be forgiven but excessive tardiness will result in grade penalties. DO NOT enter the classroom while one of your classmates is presenting a speech. Wait until the student is finished before entering.
Academic Honesty – All graded assignments must be original work. Students guilty of presenting or attempting to present another person’s work as their own will receive an “F” for the course. Students allowing others to use or copy their work will also receive an “F” for the course. Students suspecting acts of plagiarism or cheating should consult the instructor. Make yourself familiar with the UNLV policy on academic honesty in the most recent edition of the Undergraduate Catalog.
Disability Resource Center – If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability Resource Center for coordination of your academic accommodations. The DRC is located in the Reynolds Student Services Complex room 137. The phone number is 895-0866, TDD 895-0652.
Grading Criteria for Speeches
Criteria For A Grade of “D”:
· The speech much meet the time limit requirements.
· The speaker must turn in a type-written outline of the speech to the instructor before beginning to speak. The outline must follow proper form.
· The outline must include a bibliography of the required number of published sources used in the speech. Source citations in the bibliography must conform to APA or MLA style.
· The speech must be delivered extemporaneously. The notes used during the speech must conform to the requirements announced by the instructor.
Criteria For a Grade of “C”:
· The speech must meet all of the requirements for a grade of “D”.
· The speech must be intellectually sound in developing a topic of worth.
· The speech must be of the type assigned.
· The speech must present a clearly recognizable thesis statement that reflects the purpose in terms of audience response.
· The main points supporting the thesis statement must be easy to identify and organized in a clear pattern that is appropriate for the assignment.
· There must be a reasonable effort to establish the speaker’s credibility on the topic and to identify with the audience.
· Appropriate transitions in the speech must be clearly recognizable and easy to follow.
· The speech must incorporate supporting material from the required number of published sources. Those sources must be listed in the bibliography, in proper form—either MLA or APA.
· Supporting material used in the speech must be attributed orally to its source during the speech.
· Both content and delivery of the speech must be reasonably well adapted to the audience.
· Delivery must be reasonably direct and communicative and free of gross errors in grammar, pronunciation, and articulation that detract from the message.
· Delivery must be free of mannerisms, unnecessary movements, poor posture, etc., that detract from the message.
· Reasonable eye contact with the audience must be maintained.
Criteria For a Grade of “B”:
· The speech must meet all of the requirements for a grade of “C”.
· The speech must provide new and relevant insight into the topic.
· Both content and delivery of the speech must be particularly well adapted to the audience.
· Delivery must incorporate appropriate nonverbal elements—movement, gesture, facial expression, and the like.
· Delivery must be above average in terms of fluency, vocal variety, poise, and preparation.
Criteria For a Grade of “A”:
· The speech must meet all of the requirements for a grade of “B”.
· The speech must make a genuinely individual contribution to the thinking of the audience with regard to a topic of importance and salience.
· The speech must establish a high degree of rapport through exceptional adaptation of both content and delivery to the audience.
· Delivery must be exceptional in terms of fluency, vocal variety, poise, and preparation.
Schedule
Date Topic Reading Assignment
Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Course Introduction
Speaking in Public Chapter 1
Sept. 6-8 Selecting Topic/Purpose Chapter 4
Speaking to Inform Chapter 14
Delivery Chapter 12 Speech Topic Due
Sept. 13-15 Practice Speech 6 copies of evaluation form
Sept. 20-22 Organization/Outlining Chapter 8, 10 Outlines due
Supporting Materials Chapter 7
Gathering Materials Chapter 6
Sept. 27-29 Speech 1
Oct. 4-6 Ethics Chapter 2
Oct. 11 Review for Exam
Oct. 13 Exam Outlines Due
Oct. 18 Delivery continued
Oct. 20 Speech 2 6 copies of eval form
Oct. 25-27 Speech 2
Nov. 1-3 Beginning/Ending speeches Chapter 9 Outlines Due
Speaking to Pursuade Chapter 15
Nov. 8 Analyzing the Audience Chapter 5
Using Language Chapter 11 Text of King Speech
Nov. 10 Speech 3 6 copies of eval form
Nov. 14-16 Speech 3
Nov. 22-24 Persuasive Methods Chapter 16 Outlines Due
Visual Aids Chapter 13
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 Speech 4 6 copies of eval form
Dec. 6 Speech 4
Dec. 8 Review for Exam
Dec. 15 Final Exam, 10:10 a.m.