Instructor: Hillary Palmer Email
Instructor: Hillary Palmer Email:
Office & Hours: Hellems 10 (West basement) Wednesday 11am-1pm & by appointment
REQUIRED TEXTS
· The Art of Public Speaking by Stephen E. Lucas (10th Edition)
· Any additional readings will be made available online
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to introduce you to the concepts of public speaking and provide you with a space to develop and refine the skills needed to communicate effectively in a variety of public settings. You will be exposed to and participate in a wide variety of speeches that will familiarize you with multiple delivery styles that you will be able to utilize outside the classroom—from interview situations and boardroom meetings to public speeches and social contexts. We will focus on the practical application of rhetorical concepts, while maintaining an emphasis on self-empowerment and civic engagement.
Objectives:
· Become a confident, articulate and ethical speaker.
· Gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of public speaking.
· Learn to analyze and adapt speech content and delivery for different audiences.
· Learn to research and organize ideas to create a clear, concise and engaging presentation.
· Practice public speaking skills as both a speaker and an observer.
· Become familiar with introductory concepts in rhetoric.
· Begin to think rhetorically.
ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING
Assignments Point Value Approximate Length
Diagnostic Speech --- 2-3 minutes
Informative Speech 100 4-5 minutes
Persuasive Speech 150 6-7 minutes
Significant Speech 150 5-6 minutes
Ceremonial Speech 100 4-5 minutes
Midterm Exam 100
Final Exam 150
Class Activity Points 150
· Quizzes
· Speech Critiques
· Peer Review
· Impromptus
Self-Evaluation 50
Classroom Citizenship/Participation 50
TOTAL 1000 total points
The approximate letter grade distribution for grades will be as follows:
A 90-100 Outstanding. A model for other students.
B 80-89 Strong effort. Completed assignment with style and thoughtfulness.
C 70-79 Completed the assignment.
D 60-69 Inadequate.
F 59-0 Failed to complete the assignment
The final grades for this course will be calculated as follows:
A 1000 – 933
A- 932 – 900
B+ 899 – 866
B 865 – 833
B- 832 – 800
C+ 799 – 766
C 765 – 733
C- 732 – 700
D+ 699 – 666
D 665 – 633
D- 632 – 600
F 599-0
ASSIGNMENT FORMATTING GUIDELINES
Assignments are always due at the start of class in hard copy. This means physically handing in a piece of paper, not sending me an email attachment or just showing me something on your phone. Assignments must be typed unless you are otherwise instructed (1-inch margins, 12 pt Times New Roman font, double-spaced).
Occasionally assignments will be submitted on D2L. These are expected to be formatted as WORD DOCUMENTS (.doc or .docx). Even if you do not use Microsoft Word, you must submit all D2L assignments in the proper format or you will not receive credit.
Late work will not be accepted (this includes speeches). Computer/Printer/Internet malfunctions happen. (Translation: Don’t wait until the last minute)
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance: Attendance is one of the most fundamental components to this course. There is no penalty for missing three recitation days during the course of the semester. For every class you miss after three, you will be penalized 10 points from your final point total for the class. The only exception to this policy is for a documented religious, legal, University, or physician’s excuse. Please note, you do not get three “extra” absences in addition to those that are excused. It is your responsibility to keep track of your attendance and to provide any excused absence documentation upon your return to class.
You will commit to a speaking schedule for the semester. You are responsible for adhering to this schedule. If you fail to speak on your schedule date, you will get a grade of ZERO for that speech. There are NO exceptions to this policy.
Tardiness: I expect everyone to on time everyday. I also understand that we’re all human, so if you know in advance that you will be late, please let me know. If you arrive late on a speech day, wait outside the classroom until you hear applause. Interrupting someone else’s speech will negatively affect your grade. Three tardies constitute one absence.
Email: Email is an official form of communication at the University of Colorado, so please check your CU email often for class announcements and updates. Before emailing me, ask yourself if this is something email appropriate, or if it would be better to stop by my office hours and speak in person. I will do my best to respond as quickly as possible, but cannot guarantee an immediate response so please plan accordingly.
Electronic Devices: Please turn off ALL electronic devices during recitation. This means NO laptops, cell phones, ipods, etc. This class is all about speaking and interacting with each other, so you can survive without these things for 50 minutes. If laptops for visual aides (i.e. PowerPoint presentations) are going to be used later in the semester, I will let you know in advance. Violating this policy could negatively affect your speech grades and participation.
Assignments: Readings and class materials are your responsibility to keep up with. If you miss class it is your responsibility to get notes from another classmate. I am willing to discuss any course material, but I WILL NOT just give out notes when you miss class. Late work will not be accepted. If you are going to be absent when something is due, it is your responsibility to make an arrangement with me. Unscheduled graded activities will occur throughout the semester during recitation. Grade appeals must be submitted in written form within 24 hours of receiving the grade.
Classroom Citizenship: In this class we will have discussions, some lectures, and class presentations. Learning involves more than simply the dissemination of factual information, and this is especially true when we are working on building our communication skills. Everyone needs to have respect for one another. Our classroom will be a safe environment where everyone should be comfortable speaking and learning together. No disruptions to this environment will be tolerated.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Disability Statement - If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, or http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/
Decorum Statement - Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which students express opinions. Additional information may be found at http://www.Colorado.edu/policieslclassbehavior.html
Honor Code - All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Additional information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.Colorado.edu/policies/honor.html. If you have any questions, please see one of your COMM 1300 instructors.
Religious Observance - Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. If you have a potential class conflict because of religious observance, you must inform one of your COMM 1300 instructors by the 3rd week of class. See policy details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Sexual Harassment - The University of Colorado Policy on Sexual Harassment applies to all students, staff and faculty. Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention. It can involve intimidation, threats, coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive. Harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite gender and between any combination of members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Harassment can occur anywhere on campus, including the classroom, the workplace, or a residence hall. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the OSH and the campus resources available to assist individuals who believe they have been sexually harassed can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh/