SP 220: Public Speaking
Fall 2005            CRN 13299       TR 10:00-11:50

Instructor: Emma Gray
E-mail: emmag@pdx.edu

Please note: If you are sending me an email, please put your name in the subject line along with "SP 220". Because of the threat of email viruses, I will not open any emails without proper identification. Assignments may not be submitted via email without prior permission.

Telephone: (503) 725-2929

Office: Neuberger 53

Office Hours: Monday 9:30-10:30 ; Tuesday 9-10 and by appointment

Materials:

1. DeVito, J.A. (2006). The Essential Elements of Public Speaking. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
2. One blank VHS tape
3. 4x6 Notecards
4. Access to VCR for VHS tape viewing (available in the PSU library)

Course Description:

In this course, you will acquire and/or develop your public speaking skills. This course is appropriate for both inexperienced and experienced speakers. You will deliver four prepared speeches this term. These will be a self-introduction speech, a special occasion speech, an informative speech, and a sales speech. Our major focus points will be: managing anxiety, delivery, audience analysis/topic selection, organization, research and style. We will also cover ethics in public speaking and will work on presenting constructive criticism and using active listening skills. The techniques you will learn will be useful in academia, business and daily life.

Course Objectives:

• Students will explore the value of public speaking to their daily lives and the ethics involved in its practice.
• Students will employ anxiety-reducing methods in order to feel comfortable engaging in extemporaneous speaking under a variety of situations.
• Students will develop active listening skills and be able to engage in constructive criticism that reflects critical thinking while offering appropriate and useful feedback to speakers.
• Through outlining and other methods, students will use appropriate organization in their speeches.
• Students will learn a variety of delivery and presentation skills that will allow them to communicate competently and persuasively through the medium of the public speech.
• Most importantly, my hope is that students will learn to enjoy speaking and learn how to give speeches that other people actually want to listen to.

Course Policies: If you will not be able to adhere to these policies, please do not take this course.

1. Attendance This is a course that is absolutely dependent on participation to fully develop your public speaking skills. I enforce attendance "silently" by attaching value and grades to many of the activities we do in-class. Graded, in-class assignments CANNOT be made-up and written assignments that are not turned in on the due date can only be turned in late for half credit. Therefore, in spite of the fact that I do not take roll, if you choose to take your attendance in this class less than seriously it will be impossible to receive a high grade. It is your responsibility to be aware of the impact your attendance is having on your work.


2. There are no make-up speeches offered and in-class participation points can only be earned if you are present. Speech days are identified on the course calendar. If you know that you will be absent on one of these days, please speak to me IMMEDIATELY. If you are involved in school activities that will require you to miss class, you must inform me now of the dates you will be gone. If pre-planned activities and/or travel plans will necessitate more than three absences I would suggest that you consider taking a different section of this course or taking it in a subsequent term. Please see me if you have extenuating circumstances.


• Attendance on speech days is required even if you are not speaking. If you are absent on any speech day, 25 pts. will be deducted from your final grade.
• If you are late on a speech day, I reserve the right to deduct up to 10 pts. from your final grade.
• Late work can be turned in for reduced credit. All work is due at the beginning of class. I will be happy to give you feedback on any late work, but you will only receive half points.


3. Courtesy is always expected. Good listening is as important as good speaking.


• Please do not walk in during someone's speech if you are late. Please wait until you hear applause. Likewise, do not walk out during someone's speech.
• Food and drink are acceptable as long as you are not being disruptive. Exception: No food on speech days.
• Please respect the views of the others in the class and help create an open, trustful environment. Disagreement is expected, but please remember to disagree with ideas. I will not tolerate personal attacks.
• Cell phones must be off during class. Likewise, text messaging during class will not be accepted.
• Do not work on other assignments or talk during class.


4. Grade dispute policy: If you disagree with a grade you've received, please explain your argument in writing. It is also VERY HELPFUL if your dispute is with a speech, for you to provide the tape of that speech. I will respond within a week after I have received a written complaint. I WILL NOT discuss grades in class. You must come to office hours or make an appointment. Please note that I will not accept any argument for a grade change based on any comparison of other's grades. I will discuss your performance and your performance only.


5. Students with disabilities: If you have a disability of any type and require academic assistance, contact the Disability Resource Center at (503) 725-4240 or (503) 725-4150. Additionally, please notify me.

Support Services

Communication Studies Mentors: This is an advanced group of Communication students who assist undergraduates with their academic concerns including: library research, paper organization and editing, concept and theory interpretation, and other coursework questions in Communication. If you are interested in learning more, please contact our department website www.comm.pdx.edu.

Assignments: Unless otherwise noted by the instructor, all assignments are to be typed in 12-point font and double-spaced using APA style guidelines for citations. Assignments that do not meet these criteria are subject to point reduction. Detailed information regarding each assignment will be handed out in class.

Prepared Speeches (and their accompanying outlines) will total 50% of your grade.

Please note:

• Outlines for every speech will be due from everyone on the first day of each speech round. Each outline will be worth 10 pts. independent of the speech.
• The instructor reserves the right to approve all speech topics. Unapproved speeches will receive a zero.