COMM 101 Fall 2017
Public Speaking
Instructor:
Dr. Joseph Faina
Phone: 818-947-5807
Office: Campus Center Basement—LAVC Speech & Debate Team Room
Office Hours: Posted online via Canvas
E-mail:
Required Text:
The Speaker’s Primer by Valenzano, Braden, & Broeckelman-Post
Required Materials:
Computer with Internet access—either home computer, laptop, or LAVC computers.
Course Objectives:
1. Explain the basic principles of Human Communication.
2. Compose speeches and then performatively demonstrate speech structure, stressing organization and form.
3. Performatively demonstrate knowledge of public speaking basics in front of an audience.
4. Demonstrate careful and critical thinking and communication, both as speakers and listeners.
5. Explain the relationship and ethical responsibilities to others involved in the communication transaction.
6. Analyze audience and be able to plan and develop appropriate material for listeners.
7. Differentiate between informative and persuasive speeches.
Student Learning Objectives:
COM 101: Deliver a speech to a public audience, demonstrating appropriate speechstructure and public speaking basics.
Assignments:
Grade Category / Description / PointsSyllabus Scavenger Hunt / Short questionnaire designed to identify important course policies / 10
Informative Speech / Informative Speech presentation / 60
Informative Speech Topic / Written topic proposal for the informative speech. / 10
Informative Speech Outline / Full sentence outline of the Informative Speech / 20
Informative Self-Evaluation / Written evaluation of the informative speech. / 10
Persuasive Speech / Persuasive Speech presentation / 60
Persuasive Speech Topic / Written topic proposal for the persuasive speech. / 10
Persuasive Speech Outline / Full sentence outline of the persuasive speech. / 20
Persuasive Speech Self Evaluation / Written evaluation of the persuasive speech / 10
Special Occasion Speech / Special occasion presentation / 50
Special Occasion Speech Topic / Written topic proposal for the special occasion speech. / 10
Elevator Speech / Short introductory speech. / 40
Quizzes / 3 Quizzes worth 30 points each. / 90
Total / 400
Grading Scale:
A= 360-400 points (90-100%)
B=320- 359 points (80-89%)
C=280-319 points (70-79%)
D= 240- 279 points (60-69%)
F= 0-239 points (0-59%)
Classroom Rules and Guidelines:
1. Be prepared to speak in class everyday.
2. You will get the grade you earn. The guidelines for all activities are very clear. Failure
to follow those guidelines will adversely affect your grade. If you do not understand
assignments, make sure to ask questions in class or make an appointment to see me
personally.
3. If you are absent for lecture make sure to get the notes from a classmate. Get an email
address or phone number from one of your classmates. I do not respond to emails asking “I did not come to class today, what did I miss?” I also do not respond to emails that do the opposite: “I am not going to be in class on this day, will there be anything important?”
4. There will be no make-ups on exams. If you do not complete a test in the time period allowed, you will receive a zero (“0”) on that test.
5. Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is very important to your overall success in the course. There are regular class activities and discussions that cannot be made up. The only acceptable excuses for missing class are medical emergencies (with documentation), religious holidays, college-sponsored activities (athletics, forensics, etc.) It is your responsibility to let me know in advance of an excused absence whenever possible. Leaving a message via e-mail or with the department office is not acceptable.
Per Valley regulations I reserve the right to exclude you from class if your absences
exceed more hours than the class meets in one week. Excessive absences may result in removal from the course.
6. Any classroom disruptions or odd behavior will be reported immediately.
7. Email Policy:When you send an e-mail to me, I expect that your e-mail will be signed with your name. I cannot always tell who is sending me an e-mail based on the e-mail address. As such, I will not respond to e-mails that do not identify the author. Please make sure you are aware of which email account you are using when sending me an email. I cannot discuss grades via email, you must come in to office hours to do so.
Emails should contain the following information: 1) Student name 2) Question/comment/concern referencing a specific part of class. Vaguely worded emails are difficult to address and will not be responded. I generally respond to emails within 24 hours, excluding weekends.
8. Silence cel phones before you enter class. Phones going off are very distracting, especially during presentations. If your phone rings while class is in session I may ask you to leave or deduct attendance points for the day.
9. When others are giving presentations, strive to be the best possible audience member.
Points may be deducted from your presentation if: A) You walk in
when someone else is speaking. (If you are late, wait outside until you hear applause);
B) Your cellular phone rings while someone is speaking; C) You are doing anything
but being a good audience member.
10. All work must be turned in typed. Any hand-written work will not be accepted.
11. Keep up with the reading. This will make your life much easier. If you read the
chapters before I present them in class, you will do much better with the material.
12. I understand that speaking in front of others can make people nervous.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of speaking in front of others, talk to me. It is my job to help you get through the course.
13. Assignments are due at the beginning of class and no longer accepted after 7 days, regardless of circumstance. You are encouraged to request additional feedback on or clarification of graded assignments.Keep all assignments in case of a grade dispute. You have one week (7 days) from when an assignment is handed back to request additional feedback or clarification. Requests for reevaluation must also be during that time and in writing to be considered.
14. Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
15. You are responsible for dropping this course. If you stop attending and do not drop,
you will FAIL this course. I will NOT drop you.
16. Class cheating policy:
In accordance with college guidelines, this class will have a strict no cheating policy.
You will receive a fail on your assignment and risk possible failure in the class and being reported to the campus discipline officer if you:
A. Submit someone else's work as your own. Do not take another paper that you did not write and turn it in as your own. Do not take information that other people wrote (i.e information you learned from books, magazines, etc.) and turn it as your own. You must reference all outside material.
B. Falsify source material; i.e. say you got something from a book, magazine, or journal that you did not.
C. Turn in the same material/paper someone else did.
D. Bring in outside material to cheat from on your tests. For a test you are only allowed a pencil or pen, and an empty blue book and/or scantron.
E. Cheat from another person during quizzes.
17. Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to
register with Disabled Student Programs and Services and Programs (DSPS). A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSPS. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the term as possible. The phone number for DSPS is 818-947-2681.
18. This syllabus is available in alternative formats, including online via Canvas.
19. By continuing to be enrolled in this class you are agreeing to all rules and guidelines
presented in this syllabus.
20. I reserve the right to add, delete or otherwise change this syllabus if the need arises. Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in class ahead of time.