Course: / Speech 1301- 007; Meets MWF 11-11:50, FAB 327A
Course Materials: / Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 10TH ED. AND 1 SONY DVD+RW Handycam Mini Disc - 30 minutes available at bookstore
Office/Office Hours / 2112 Fine Arts Building; MWF 12:00-12:30
Course Prerequisites / None
E-Mail: / "UTA policy states that all students/faculty/staff use UTA e-mail for official university correspondence."
Web Page: / (be sure to spell my name correctly :-)
The instructor reserves the right to change any information contained in this document, when necessary, with adequate notice given to the student. We will discuss any changes in class.No E-mail assignments are accepted in this class. No assignments are accepted after the last class unless previously arranged with me.
COURSE GOALS
To provide an overview and practical understanding of the principles of the communication process and models.
The course will provide a foundation for improved oral communication and increased effectiveness in delivering oral presentations.
Poise and confidence in a variety of communication situations will be developed.
Each student will present an informative, persuasive, and ceremonial speech.
Audience demographics, occasions, and speaking strategies will be emphasized.
Students will become more effective oral communicators and develop skills in oral expression that will enhance their career skills.
COURSE POLICIES - VERY IMPORTANT –PLEASE READ!
Attendance: It is necessary that students attend class to learn theory and practical applications of preparation for pubic speaking and presentations.We will frequently work in small groups during class to implement some of the principals learned in the text. It is vital that you be here to be a part of such training.Getting to know the other students in the class will make your presentation experiences more comfortable. Also, our speakers need an audience and your support to ensure a positive learning environment. Your attendance grade starts at 100 points. Your first 3 absences are free to use for personal, illness, or other situations. After you use your free absences, you lose 5 points from the grade per absence. Coming in late, or leaving early without clearing it with me counts as an absence. Lateness is very disruptive to the class lectures and presentation. Arriving more than 5 minutes late will count the same as an absence. Leaving early will also constitute an absence unless you check with me first. .Attendance is a grade, so the above policy will be followed with no exceptions. Sleeping in class, listening to your IPod, text messaging, doing work for another class, you get the message I'm sure, results in an absence even though you may physically be in class.
Excused absences: Documentation to prove that the student was unable to attend class due to medical reasons only will allow a student to make-up missed speeches and tests. Documentation must be original, no faxes or emails.If you do need to make up a test, it will be a different test that was taken on time by the other students. There's a good chance it will be an essay test. Any bonus points given on the test will not be included in a make-up test. Note that work is not an excused absence. If you believe that work will interfere with your attendance, this class is not for you.
Late work: Late work accepted after the due date will receive a 10% grade penalty per day. This includes Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays. This means if the assignment is due on Monday and you bring it on Thursday, you will receive a 30% late penalty. Assignments are due at start of class, not later. Handing the assignment into the Communication Office, or bringing it after class, earns a 10% late deduction on the assignment. Excuses such as my printer ran out of ink won't work. Print it out early enough to make sure your printer is functioning. There are printers available for your use in the computer labs on campus. Assignments are given far enough in advance so you don't have to do last minute printing. .Please don't ask for extra time. If you come in late, your assignment is late and you will be deducted 10% on the assignment. In order to be fair to all the students, your assignment is due at the same time as the other students. Speeches have different rules. See below.
Missed Speeches: When you sign up to present your speech on a specific date, you are required to give the speech that day as the class has reserved this time for you. This is in fairness to students who are prepared on time. If you miss your speech, you will be allowed to make it up only if we can squeeze you in on another date that speeches are being given. You will automatically receive a 20 point grade reduction on the speech and outline grade. If we cannot squeeze in your speech, on another date, (this means you needs to be ready to present on the remaining speaking dates), you forfeit the opportunity to do the speech. If you are late on your speaking date and miss your turn in speaking, you will automatically receive a 10 point grade reduction on both the speech and outline grade.
Missed Tests: If you do miss a test you must be prepared to take the test immediately upon your return to class, and provide ORIGINAL documentation from a credible source to excuse your absence. If you do not have the documentation upon your return to class, you will not be allowed to make up the test. If you miss a test for any other reason, you will not be allowed to make it up since your lowest test grade is dropped. Arriving late, more than 5 minutes for a test, results in a grade reduction of 10%. Arriving late during a test is very disruptive to those taking the test. All tests are 50 minutes only - if you arrive late, the clock is already ticking.
GRADING
TEST 1, TEST 2, TEST 3, TEST 4 (Drop Lowest test grade) / 30%INTRODUCTION SPEECH / 5%
INFORMATIVE SPEECH WITH TYPED OUTLINE & TWO VISUAL AIDS / 20%
PERSUASIVE SPEECH WITH TYPED OUTLINE / 20%
CEREMONIAL SPEECH / 10%
SELF EVALUATIONS ON INFORMATIVE AND PERSUASIVE SPEECHES -2.5% EACH / 5%
ATTENDANCE / 10%
A=90-100 / B=80-89 / C=70-79 / D=60-69 / <60=F
NOTE: Grades are not rounded up. Example: Less than 90.0 = B, etc. as final grade. There is no extra credit in this class. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY NOTES OR ASSIGNMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED. NO E-MAIL ASSIGNMENTS ARE ACCEPTED.
Please - NO electronic devices such as cell phones, picture phones, beepers, etc. in the classroom. They are very disruptive to the rest of the class as is surfing the web.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Course Drop Policy: Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently) classes through self-service in MyMav from the beginning of the registration period through the late registration period. After the late registration period, students must see their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw. Undeclared students must see an advisor in the University Advising Center. Drops can continue through a point two-thirds of the way through the term or session. It is the student's responsibility to officially withdraw if they do not plan to attend after registering. Students will not be automatically dropped for non-attendance. Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be required as the result of dropping classes or withdrawing. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information
Americans With Disabilities Act: The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of all federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All instructors at UT Arlington are required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Any student requiring an accommodation for this course must provide the instructor with official documentation in the form of a letter certified by the staff in the Office for Students with Disabilities, University Hall 102. Only those students who have officially documented a need for an accommodation will have their request honored. Information regarding diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining disability-based academic accommodations can be found at or by calling the Office for Students with Disabilities at (817) 272-3364.
Student Support Services:The University of Texas at Arlington provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related to their courses. These resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs. For individualized referrals to resources for any reason, students may contact the Maverick Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107 or visit for more information.
Academic Integrity:It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University. According to the UT System Regents’ Rule 50101, §2.2, "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts."
Electronic Communication Policy:The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the University “MavMail” address as the sole official means of communication with students. MavMail is used to remind students of important deadlines, advertise events and activities, and permit the University to conduct official transactions exclusively by electronic means. For example, important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation are now sent to students through the MavMail system. All students are assigned a MavMail account. Students are responsible for checking their MavMail regularly. Information about activating and using MavMail is available at There is no additional charge to students for using this account, and it remains active even after they graduate from UT Arlington.
Speech 1301 Assignments
Introduction Speech - Here you are giving a 2-3 minute speech introducing yourself to the class. Along with you name, you can tell your major, hobbies, favorite activities, etc. Try to open with an introduction, move into a body (the details), and a simple conclusion. We will discuss this assignment in class beforehand. 5% of grade.Artifact - AssignmentCritique Sheet - This is an ungraded practice speaking assignment. You will earn 5 points for this assignment, which will be added to your highest test grade. You are to select an object that has special meaning to you, (photograph, teddy bear from childhood, souvenir, etc.) and give an oral presentation about the object. Your presentation will include an introduction, body, and conclusion describing what the object is, where you acquired it, and its significance to you. Again, this is a practice speaking assignment designed to introduce you to the components of a speech and become comfortable speaking in front of the class. Time: 3-4 minutes
Informative speech -Sample Informative Speech Informative Outline Form Informative Critique Sheet How To Use Power Point To Make A Computer Presentation Sample SlidesSample Video SpeechWhat Not To Do In Power Point Video
An informative speech is simply informing your audience about a topic, policy, procedure and the like. In this assignment, you will give an oral presentation on a topic of interest to the class. The choice of a topic is yours, but must be cleared with me. No religious or political topics please since we have a heterogeneous class. Instead of writing the speech out, you will present it from outline form. Elements will include an introduction, thesis, body, and conclusion. Also, you will need to use a visual aid with this speech in the form of two power point slides. All visual aids have to be made by you. This means no Xeroxing of someone else's work and using it on a slide, copying and pasting from the Internet, or scanning photos. To do so is plagiarism and violation of copyright laws. Just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it's free. I want you to learn how to make professional power point slides that you would be able to present in a business or school presentation.
This assignment requires you to hand in a typed outline, use a visual aid in the form of two power point slides, as well as give the oral presentation. The outline is due at the time of your speech, following the format in the Informative Sample Speech & Informative Outline Form, and must be neatly typed. No late outlines will be accepted. Grading will be on the typed outline, contents of the speech, oral presentation, and slides. Time for this speech is 3-5 minutes. The informative speech is 20% of your grade.
Informative Self-Evaluation - In a neatly typed 4 paragraph double spaced2 pagepaper using 12 pt. font with proper grammar and spelling so I can read what you wrote, answer the following questions: 2.5% YOUR ANSWERS MUST BE FULLY DEVELOPED TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT.
1. Why did you choose your topic?
2. What did you like or dislike about your delivery?
3. Do you feel you had good organization?
3. What goals do you have for your next presentation?
Answer each question separately! Do NOT copy and paste the questions onto your paper - just write #1, #2, #3, #4. I expect more than one word answers. Each question should have a developed explanation of why you feel this way. Latepenalties apply if you hand it in late.
Persuasive Speech - Persuasive Sample Speech Persuasive Outline Form Persuasive Speech Critique Sheet - In this assignment, you are trying to motivate your audience to some action, such as buying a product, changing an attitude, adopting a policy, starting or stopping a specific behavior, etc. Think of a salesperson - using persuasion to motivate the customer to action or a urging someone to adopt your point of view on a controversial topic such as the death penalty. The choice of a topic is yours, but must be cleared with me. No religious or political topics please since we have a heterogeneous class.
Like the informative speech, this assignment requires an introduction, thesis, body, and conclusion along with supporting documentation (research) to support your position. Your outline is due at the time of your speech following the Monroe Motivated Sequence as in the sample speech and must be neatly typed. No late outlines will be accepted. Grading will be on the typed outline, contents of the speech, and oral presentation. Time for this speech is 4-6 minutes. You may use a visual aid in the form of power point slides for a 5 point bonus if it is in the correct format as discussed in class. Time for this speech is 4-6 minutes. The persuasive speech is 20% of your grade.
Persuasive Self-Evaluation - In a neatly typed 4 paragraph double spaced two pagepaper using 12 pt. font with proper grammar and spelling so I can read what you wrote, answer the following questions: 2.5% YOUR ANSWERS MUST BE FULLY DEVELOPED TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT.
1. What were you trying to persuade your audience to do in your speech and why?
2.Do you feel you had good delivery skills? Why or why not?
3. How did you establish credibility in your presentation?
4. How effective or ineffective was your organization pattern in your speech?
Answer each question separately! Do NOT copy and paste the questions onto your paper - just write #1, #2, #3, #4. Each question should have a developed explanation of why you feel this way. Late penalties apply if not handed in on time.
Ceremonial Speech - Ceremonial Speech Assignment Ceremonial Critique Sheet - A eulogy, a toast, a commencement speech, a tribute to a special person, giving and accepting of an award (think Oscars), are all examples of ceremonial speeches. Ceremonial speeches use rich, colorful, descriptive language.
You are to choose one of the types of ceremonial speeches from the text and give an oral presentation to the class. Topic is of your choosing. Grading will be on the oral presentation - no outline or visual aid is required, although you may use a visual aid if you desire. Time is 3-4 minutes. This assignment is 10% of your grade.
Tests - Test 1 Review Sheet - Test 2 Review Sheet - Test 3 Review Sheet - Test 4 Review SheetDrop lowest or missed test grade. 30% of grade. 50 for each test. All tests are 50 MC or TF questions. An 882E Scantron is required.
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