Speech Communications Online SPC 2608 Instructor: Terri Moore Telephone: 321-433-5536 E-mail: mooret@brevardcc.edu Office: 1/220 - O This is a 3 credit hour online course in the Fundamentals of Speech Communications. It requires the use of ANGEL to facilitate your online learning. The virtual classroom will be frequently monitored by the professor to ensure student participation. You will need a computer with at least a modem 56K+ and an Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you don t own a computer, you are welcome to use on-campus computers in the BCC library, Learning Lab, Student Services area and/or Public Library. The goal of this course is for you to become more comfortable, more skillful and more effective as a communicator. Emphasis in this class is placed on public speaking and group communication, but we will also discuss methods of improving interpersonal communication in one-on-one relationships, and we will examine the importance of good listening skills. The study of theory and methods presented in your textbook, analysis of video clips of sample speeches, and practice in composing and delivering speeches to live audiences, will help you reach your communication goals. You will participate in group discussions leading to the completion of group assignments. Your discussion forum responses and assignments will be monitored and graded on a weekly basis. Assignments and other pertinent information for the class will be distributed through Blackboard. You will find your weekly assignments in the Folders that are marked for each week. As part of your grade, you are required to submit weekly discussion forum questions such as the following examples: According to the author of your text, improving listening skills will make you a better public speaker. Do you agree with this concept? Have you experienced what the author describes? Please explain why you fell this is an accurate or an inaccurate correlation. Timely submission of your comments in these forums will constitute your attendance grade for that week. Failure to comment during the week s assigned forum will result in an absence recorded for that week. In addition to internet access you will need the following materials for this class: Required Text: Public Speaking Handbook, Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe, Third Edition. ISBN: 987-0-205-64835-1 *Access to a videotaping equipment (camcorder). The library on the Melbourne Cocoa campuses of Brevard Community College have Speech Video Labs available for students should you choose to use that videotaping equipment for the recording and submission of your speech presentations.
*If you plan to use the speech lab, however, please note that two of your speech assignments have the requirement of a live audience, so you must be able to bring your audience members with you to your taping sessions on campus. You may also rent equipment for the time necessary to complete each of your three videotaped assignments. Students must have the capacity to upload their recordings into any of the following formats for submission to the online course room drop boxes: QuickTime, MP, Windows Media Player 4, Flash, Real Time. NO Speeches will be mailed to the instructor. Additionally, students much have an audience of at least seven (7) adults for the two of the required presentations. Any equipment that you use will be required to have the ability to pan the audience as part of the recording to prove that these presentations have been done as instructed with a live audience. Failing to have the required number of audience members in attendance will result in a failing grade for that speech. Course Description: This is a basic course in effective oral communication concentrating on improvement of speaking and listening through individual and group speech activities. Course Objectives: To explore the role of interpersonal, intercultural, small group and public communication. To gain practical skills for effective public communication in any of these settings, including speaking effectively to inform, to persuade, or to navigate issues of group problem solving. To learn how to listen more effectively and process information more critically. Course Competencies: As a student of SPC2600 upon successful completion of this course you will be able to: 1. Demonstrate audience centeredness. 2. Organize ideas. 3. Conduct research. 4. Demonstrate active listening 5. Apply effective delivery. 6. Incorporate effective presentational aids. 7. Manage speech anxiety. 8. Communicate effectively within a small group. 9. Model ethical and culturally respectful communication traits. 10. Apply strategies to the goals of informative and persuasive communications. Course Requirements: Speeches: (3) Recorded, (1) Written manuscript Self-Introduction Speech: a 2-3 minute speech introducing yourself. You should choose three objects which represent your past, your present and your future, and use these objects to organize your speech of self-introduction. This will be your first use of visual aids. This speech must be videotaped and placed in the drop box for the Self-Introduction Speech in the Angel course room. This is the ONLY presentation that doesn t require an audience of seven.
Informative Speech: a 5-7 minute informative speech, incorporating the use of a visual aid to help you teach a process or an idea. This speech must be delivered and videotaped before an audience of at least 7 adults. You are expected to answer questions and hold follow-up instruction with your audience immediately after your speech, and this question/answer session will be videotaped, as well. This speech must be videotaped and placed in the drop box for the Self-Introduction Speech in the Angel course room Persuasive Speech: a 5-7 minute persuasive speech in which you will be an advocate of an idea, a policy, a plan of action, a program or a product. This speech must be delivered and videotaped before an audience of at least 7 adults. Your audience members will conduct a feedback and discussion session with you immediately after your speech and this session will be videotaped. This speech must be videotaped and placed in the drop box for the Self-Introduction Speech in the Angel course room. Commemorative Speech: a 2-5 page manuscript speech in which you pay tribute to a person, a group of people, an institution or an idea. This speech must make use of advanced rhetorical techniques in language, structure and organization. Other Course Requirements: Speech Critique Paper: 3-5 page paper in which you analyze the speech strategies and methods used by another public speaker. You must attend a "live" (not taped, televised, filmed or recorded) speech in your community and write a critique of that speaker's performance. Group Work: Weekly Group Discussion: Each week, it is your responsibility to use the discussion forums to post discussion responses to the questions from the assigned reading. You will be expected to treat this as a genuine group discussion, not simply individual postings of your answers to questions. In other words, you should build on each other's comments, question and challenge each other as you would do in a face-to-face group discussion. I will not initiate group discussion, but will join in when it seems appropriate. I will monitor group discussion for evaluation of individual performance. This will count as your weekly attendance grade. Failure to respond during the assigned time for the discussion forum will result a report of nonattendance for that week. If you have any questions regarding the criteria for your responses, please review the discussion forum rubric. Group Problem Solving Project: You will be assigned to a group and your group will meet online to solve a problem. The group will be given two weeks to work on an issue and response in a 3-5 page group paper. The aim of this assignment is for you to practice consensus-building techniques in group problem solving. I will monitor group discussions for evaluation of individual performance. Explanation of requirements: Speech of introduction: This is a two-three minute presentation in which you introduce yourself using a number of visual aids that represent different aspects of your life or personality. It must be arranged in a logical format. Submission of a speech outline is required. Speech to inform: Present a five- to seven-minute speech designed to inform. You are expected to TEACH in this presentation and idea or process. The use of effective visual aids is required along with a bibliography with a minimum of 3 sources attached to your outline. Speech to persuade: This is a 7-10 minute speech designed to change listeners' opinions, beliefs or behaviors about an issue of importance. You will persuade the audience for or against a question of policy or persuade the audience on either a question of fact or value. This speech requires considerable research and skillful use of the methods of persuasion. Visuals are also required.
1. You will deliver your speech extemporaneously, though you may use note cards for your quotations, statistics or other information difficult to remember 2. You must turn in an outline using the form attached to this assignment and cite a minimum of 5 sources to support your arguments in your speech. 3. You must use the Monroe's Motivated Sequence format to deliver this speech. Commemorative Speech: A (2-5) page manuscript speech in which you pay tribute to a person, a group of people, an institution or an idea. This speech must make use of advanced rhetorical techniques in language, structure and organization. 1. Acquaint yourself with different forms of commemorative speeches by reading chapter 17 and viewing the relevant video clips from your CD-ROM. 2. Study the rhetorical techniques presented in chapter 11, particularly the material on using imagery and rhythm. View the accompanying video clips from your CD-ROM. 3. Decide on a hypothetical or real occasion when a commemorative speech would help bring people together in a special way. Determine what could be the topic or theme of such a speech. 4. Write a manuscript speech suitable for delivery at this occasion. Your speech should be between 2 and 5 double-spaced pages in length. Generally, it takes 1 minute to deliver 1 page of double-spaced text, so this would be a brief (2-5 minute) speech. Other requirements: Speech Critique: Find a public speaking event in your community to attend (you must be a member of the "live" audience -- this cannot be a broadcast or videotape). Newspapers generally list events that will have speakers. In the past, students have been able to attend a live public speaking event: at church (sermons, seminars), on campus (a guest speaker), at the public library (authors or experts), at a local bookstore (author book-signing or public lecture), at work (seminar, sales meeting with motivational speaker), at a local Toastmasters International chapter (see the "External Links" to find a Toastmasters club in your community), in their neighborhoods (home show, homeowners association meeting), at local city or county government buildings (viewing a court case, attending a city council meeting), or at their children's schools (PTA, Scouts). Attend the speech, but be sure to take a notebook to jot down your immediate impressions of the speaker, the message, the method, the audience reaction and the environment Write your "Speech Critique" paper based on your observations of the speech event. Be sure to include the following in your analysis: 1. The time, place, location and reason for the speech 2. The message strategies the speaker used 3. The delivery strategies the speaker used 4. The success of the speaker 5. The observable reactions of audience members 6. The overall "climate" of the event -- before, during and after the speech 7. Identify ways the speaker could have improved his/her speech
PLEASE NOTE: It is not necessary for you to summarize the content of the speech. You may need to make reference to content by way of making a point about the speaker's methods, but this paper should not be a "report" of the speech. It is, rather, an evaluation of the speaker's performance. Your 3-5 page paper should follow the format of a college essay (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, 1" margins) and should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Submit your paper as indicated in the course room. Small Group assignment: Small Group Assignments will be on the "Announcements" board. You will sign-in to your group's message board and discuss the question and assignment that you will present as a group paper. 1. You will receive your group's task via in your group s discussion forum. The task will be to choose between two issues and reach a group consensus and report on what you came up with. Use your group's private message board to coordinate your group's work in solving the assigned task. You may also use the "chat" feature of the Blackboard classroom to meet your group mates live online or meet in person. 2. Decide within your group who will report your group's solution to me via course room drop boxes. Your group's solution due date will be assigned when the group discussion forum is created with your group membership assignments. 3. After I receive your group's solution, please complete Peer Evaluation forms. 4. Your individual grade for this assignment will be based on your group's overall performance, the group member s evaluations of your performance, as well as my evaluation of your individual contribution to the group (based on the quality and quantity of your postings to the message board, group member's evaluations). Exams: There will be 2 exams during the term. A proctored midterm and a final completed online. Attendance Policy Attendance is also MANDATORY in the VIRTUAL CLASSROOM. All students are required to log on at least two times per week and respond to discussion questions and complete assignments. LATE responses will not be accepted! Excessive absences (more than 15% of class hours), either excused or unexcused, will negatively affect a student s grade. Being late on postings reduces your chance for good interaction with your peers concerning the issues suggested for reflection. Therefore, posts that are late may not be given credit. Late Work If you are late in submitting your speech presentations or other assignment s in the course drop boxes, a deduction of 10 points per day will be taken from your grade. (This results in a letter grade drop per day). A student wishing to withdraw from class is responsible for filling the necessary forms. Students who stop attending class without filing a withdrawal form will be continue to be reported as nonattending and may be dropped by the college or may receive a failing grade for the course.
Grading *Assignment Point Breakdown Speeches 400 (100 points per speech) Critique Paper 100 Discussion Forums 100 Group Problem 100 Midterm Exam 100 Final Exam 100 Attendance/ Participation 100 TOTAL POSSIBLE: 1000 Grading Scale: 900-1000 A 800-899 B 700-799 C 600-699 D 599 and below F Category Weights and Breakdown of Assignments Speeches Self Introductory Informative Persuasive Speech Critique Manuscript Speech 50% or 500 points Discussion Forums Discussion Forums 1-10 (each 1%) 10points each Tests MidTerm Final 20% or 200 points Participation Attendance.5% 10 points Student Information Sheet.5% 10 points Quizzes (1-18) (each.5%) 9.0 % 80 points Group Work Group Project 10% 100 points Total 100% or 1000 points Attendance Points Absence is counted by failure to make comments during the assigned Discussion Forum in each weekly discussion forum. 0 abs. = 100 pts. 3 abs. = 60 pts. (3 weeks) 1 abs. = 90 pts. (1 week) More than 3 absences = 0 pts. (4 weeks or more) 2 abs. = 80 pts. (2 weeks)
IMPORTANT NOTES: * Please note that you must complete ALL assigned presentations in order to receive a passing grade for the class, regardless of your grade average. ** If you are absent from the course room for more than 3 weeks, you will receive a 0 for attendance and it may not be possible to pass this course per college policy as that will constitute absences of more than 15% for the course. The above information is intended as an overview and orientation to the course. Please refer to the "Assignments" section of each week for specific guidelines and due dates of all coursework required in this class. The Discipline Coordinator for this course is: Robin Boggs: boggsr@brevardcc.edu You may also contact the campus HELPLINE [321-433-7600] to help you resolve any technical issues.