SPE 211: Fundamentals of Speech

Professor: Dr. Teri Maddox, Professor of Speech

Office: Classroom Bldg 247

Phone: (731) 424-3520 ext 217 or 1-800-355-5722 ext 217

Email tmaddox@jscc.edu

Office Hours: Posted on office door

Supplies

1. Mastering Public Speaking 6^th Edition by George L. Grice and John F. Skinner

Course Description

Speech 211 gives the student practical experience in the basic principles of speech preparation and delivery. It emphasizes researching, organizing, and writing as well as the techniques of effective delivery. Three credit hours

Objectives. To pass the course, the student must demonstrate the ability to:

1. Analyze and evaluate oral and/or written expression by listening and reading critically for elements that reflect an awareness of situation, audience, purpose, and divers points of view.
2. Distill a primary purpose into a single, compelling statement and order and develop major points in a reasonable and convincing manner based on that purpose.
3. Develop appropriate rhetorical patterns and other special functions while demonstrating writing and/or speaking skills from process to product.
4. Understand that the writing and/or speaking processes include procedures such as planning, organizing, composing, revising, and editing.
5. Make written and/or oral presentations employing correct diction,, syntax, usage, grammar, and mechanics.
6. Manage and coordinate basic information gathered from multiple sources for the purposes of problem solving and decision-making.
7. Recognize the use of evidence, analysis and persuasive strategies, including basic distinctions among opinions, facts and inferences.

Class Policies

1. Turn off your cell phone before class begins. Do not use your cell phone to make or receive calls, to text message, as a calculator, or as a recording device. If you must leave your phone on due to family emergencies, be sure to notify the professor.
2. Do not enter or exit the classroom while a classmate is delivering a speech.
3. Grades will not be discussed in the classroom. If you have a question, please make an appointment with me to discuss it in my office.
4. The Buckley Amendment/FERPA recognizes college students as adults, thus controlling contact between parents, spouses, etc. and professors.
5. Your final grades will be available on the web. By law, I cannot post your final grades or tell you them over the phone. If you must know your grade before it is officially posted, you may give me a stamped, self-addressed envelope and I will mail your final grade to you.

Attendance

Attendance in this class is required, whether you are a speaker or an audience member. An excellent (A) student will have a minimum of absences; a poor (D) student may have more. Below you will find the maximum number of absences possible for maintaining your overall grade. For example, if you have a B average but miss class five times, your overall grade for the class will be a C. If, however, you missed only twice, yur grade remains a B.

A 3 absences

B 4 absences

C 5 absences

D 6 absences

There are no excused or unexcused absences. All absences count, not matter the reason for the absence. Therefore, you should use your allowable absences only for severe, unforeseeable medical-personal hardships.

Your attendance is recorded and “counts” beginning with the first class meeting after your enrollment in the course.

There will be a single make up day for missed speeches or absences.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain class notes and assignments from another member of the class. Also check Web CT.

Quizzes may not be made up. The mid-term and final exams will only be made up under emergency circumstances and with documentation. Bring a pencil for exams.

Three late arrivals and/or early departures from class will count as an absence.

If you are absent on the day we sign up for speeches, you will be scheduled to speak on the first day of the round.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct is defined in the student handbook:

• The instructor has the primary responsibility for control of classroom behavior and maintenance of academic integrity, and can order the temporary removal or exclusion from the classroom of any student engaged in disruptive conduct or conduct which violates the general rules and regulations of the institution.

• Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly, through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions, which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures, as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an “F” or a zero for the exercise or examination, or to assign an “F” in the course.

• Disruptive behavior in the classroom may be defined as, but is not limited to, behavior that obstructs or disrupts the learning environment (e.g., offensive language, harassment of students and professors, repeated outbursts from a student which disrupt the flow of instruction or prevent concentration on the subject taught, failure to cooperate in maintaining classroom decorum, etc.), the continued use of any electronic or other noise or light emitting device which disturbs others (e.g., disturbing noises from beepers, cell phones, palm pilots, lap-top computers, games, etc.).

ADA/Disabilities

Any students with a documented physical, mental, or learning disability addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act must contact the instructor and Fred Deaton in Room 12 of the Student Union immediately in order to verify documentation and receive appropriate accommodation. A specific, reasonable plan, agreeable and fair to all parties and to the learning experience itself will be developed during a student-professor conference in the professor’s office only after this has occurred. ADA status must be renewed each semester and is not applied retroactively. All ADA-protected discussions remain confidential.

Attendance of Others

Children and others not registered for this course are not to attend for legal reasons and so as not to compromise the adult learning community environment.

Inclement Weather

In case of inclement weather, one of the following decisions will be made:

1. Open on regular schedule.
Normally, in this situation, no announcements are made on radio or television. The College is open if no announcement is made. Students should use their own discretion.

2. Open on Snow Day Schedule. 8:00 am class will meet 9:30-10:10.
Radio and television will be notified in the pre-dawn hours of the day involved because it is usually necessary to wait until then to determine the appropriate decision. In some instances of severe weather the decision can be made the previous night so as to get the information broadcast before bedtime.

3. Classes cancelled (in case of severe weather).

Your professor reserves the right to make adjustments to this syllabus and to the course schedule as necessary. By continuing enrollment in this course upon receipt of this syllabus, you are agreeing to abide by its policies.