The Communication Studies Department at Austin Community College requires that all students who take SPCH 1315: Public Speaking successfully complete these minimum requirements:

1. Speeches: SPCH 1315 will have the students complete 4 speeches throughout the semester.  

Students will be assessed over their ability to reflect and consider multiple points:

1. One Informative speech
2. One Persuasive speech
3. One Special Occasion speech
4. One introductory speech  
   1. Students will complete a manuscript or memorized introductory speech where the students will describe something important about themselves as a means for me and the class to get to know them better. Speech will be delivered in front of the class.
   2. Students will complete an informative speech assignment where they will learn, the brainstorming method for topic section, selecting a specific informative topic, methods of researching, how to create an informative speech outline, and how to deliver an extemporaneous informative speech. Students will also assess each other during each speech to practice developing feedback to a speaker.
   3. Students will complete an group persuasive speech assignment where they will learn how to create an argument, analyze a problem, develop an argument for what is causing the problem, and argue for solutions that can potentially help lesson the problem. The assignment will be presented in front of a class with a REQUIRED visual aid while other students assess the groups ability to work effectively with one another and their abilities to create constructive arguments throughout their group speech. This speech will be extemporaneous.
   4. Students will create a special occasion speech that will be a manuscript speech. The speech is designed for students to use what they have learned in the class to design a speech and visual aid where they celebrate a special occasion they have or will experience thanks to an individual or group.

1. Argument Analysis: After reviewing the concept of persuasion and methods of persuasion, students will analyze a form of persuasion from a video of two people arguing, debating, a persuasive speech, etc, and analyze the effectiveness of the persuasion taking place and how possible bias might impact the argument.
2. Impromptu Reflection Speech: Towards the end of the semester where the class will do a recap of the course (what was learned throughout the semester), students will deliver a 3-minute speech that they will have 10 minutes to prepare before presenting in front of the class. During the 10 minutes of prep, students can create notes they can use during their impromptu speech. Students will discuss where they started as a public speaker at the beginning of the semester, what they originally thought the class would be like, and what they learned throughout the semester in front of the class.
3. Exams: Students will complete a total of 2 multiple choice exams in the course that will be completed via blackboard. Exams are designed for students to test their knowledge over the material they have learned during the semester. The questions will range from definition based, scenarios where one will have to identify the concept being presented within said scenario and reviewing guidelines to specific actions/ concepts in regards to public speaking. Exams are to be completed outside of class time before the due date. Exams are timed. 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the exam. Once the exam is started, the time will continue. You CANNOT exit the exam and come back. The timer will continue to proceed. The exam will automatically submit itself once the time has run out if you are not finished. Exams will be available a week before the exam is due.

Lucas, S., & Stob, P. (2020). The art of public speaking. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education. 13th edition

Course Rationale

Developing communication skills can give students a competitive edge in their professional and academic career. Not only are communication skills highly valued in the workplace, communication courses taken at ACC transfer to all colleges and universities in Texas. Communication skills are essential to personal and professional success. A public speaking class is incredibly valuable to any college graduate - so much so that Carmine Gallo, communication coach and speaker, calls public speaking an essential skill for every job field. Students may feel some natural anxiety about giving speeches. However, public speaking is a skill that is learned and developed over time and through practice. In this course, students will learn skills to help them elevate their public speaking skills such as confidence, organization, and clarity of thought and expression. These life-long skills are used by professionals in every industry.  

Course Description

Public Speaking is the application of communication theory and practice within the public speaking context. Emphasis is placed on audience analysis, speaker delivery, ethics of communication, cultural diversity, and speech organizational techniques to develop students' speaking abilities, as well as ability to effectively evaluate oral presentations.  Additional emphasis given to the use of verbal and non-verbal skills to make points clear and effective, and reducing stress when speaking publicly.

1. Demonstrate skills in researching, planning, organizing, rehearsing, and delivering a variety of speeches individually and/or in groups.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the foundation models of communication leading to effective and ethical communication based on audience and context. 
3. Illustrate and appropriately employ verbal and nonverbal various modes of delivery in oral communication (e.g. manuscript, extemporaneous, impromptu, memorized).
4. Recognize and use principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency in gathering information for the development of oral presentations and argument. 
5. Employ appropriate research and provide speeches with appropriate documentation.
6. Practice effective use of computer-based technology in communicating and acquiring information.
7. Recognize the roles that public speaking plays in civic awareness.
8. Identify how culture, ethnicity and gender influence communication. 
9. Utilize listening skills for analysis and evaluation of a speaker’s message. 
10. Participate in teamwork situations to foster interpersonal and collaboration skills. 
11. Practice strategies for reducing stress while presenting to an audience. 

Personal Expectations

Make sure to come to class prepared and ready to learn. We are here in this class to learn from each other, which includes learning from your peers by respecting what they contribute to the class. Make sure to raise your hand when you have a question or have something you would like to contribute to the class.

Make sure you allows read the chapter that is going to be discussed in class before you arrive so that you are prepared for our class discussions.

Feel free to ask questions when and if appropriate. There are no silly questions if the question contributes to your overall learning in the course. If you have or need accommodations, please let me know so I can assist you.

Feel free to ask me questions before or after class. If you have a question outside of class, you are welcome to email me. During the week, I will make sure to respond to you within 24 hours.

Make sure to check your email regularly. Specifically your ACC Email. Your ACC email will be how I maintain communication with you all outside of class. Failure to keep up with class emails can result in falling behind in the course and possible decrease in your overall grade.

More information in regards to my policy on assignments and late work can be found in the course policies and procedures section of the syllabus.

I expect you to be prepared when you come to class. Make sure you read the chapter we are discussing that day prior to class starting. The more prepared you are for class, the more you are going to benefit from class that day. If you have questions over what you read, write the question down and ask the question in class if it contributes to the discussion. Ask questions during class and make sure you take notes during class over what I am saying about the material.

Lastly, phones must be put up during class. If you need it for an assignment or activity, please let me know. But if you are casually on your phone, you are distracting from the learning of not just you but those around you. There is a time and place to be on your phone, but my class is not that place.

Overall, come prepared to class, check your email, read the chapters before class (you will have to for a grade), and make sure to respect each other when we contribute to class discussions. We can get the most out of the class if you do not contribute and it is only me talking. Which is why coming to class is important. See more in the section of the syllabus about preparing for class.

Grading Policy/Schema

Each of your assignments will be assessed with a rubric. You will always have access to the rubric as you work on assignments, so you know how I am grading your work. Your homework assignments will be graded within 7 days. If homework assignments are not graded within the 7 day timeframe, students will be informed of any delays (this rarely happens). The informative speech, persuasive speech, exams, and any other major assignments will be graded within 1-2 weeks. That way I will have enough time to effectively assess your completed work.

Your grades are based on what you turned in, not on what you believe you should earn. Before an assignment is, you can always have me preview your current work so that I may give you feedback on your work before the assignment is due. You can ask me to preview your no later than 5 days before the assignment is due. I will not preview your work the day before or the day that an assignment is due. You are responsible for reaching out a reasonable time beforehand if you would like to have feedback provided to your work.

Also, please do not ask me to change your grade or if you can do an assignment again due after the due date to confusion on an assignment (need to reach out ahead of time if you are struggling), how hard you worked on the assignment, or personal difficulties you may experience. These are things you need to let me know about ahead of time so that I can assist as best as I can. Even with that, I cannot adjust your grade based on factors I personally cannot observed or know how much they influence the work you turn in.

Whenever I am done grading an assignment for the whole class, I will email the whole class via blackboard to let everyone know that grades have been updated. You can check how you are doing on blackboard by clicking on grades. I will have both the percentage and number of points earned on the assignment on display for you to see. If you has any questions regarding the expectations of an assignment, always feel free to seek clarification about your grade.

If a student has concerns or questions regarding a grade given on an assignment, please wait 24 hours after your grade is posted on blackboard for discussion before discussing. During that time, review the assignment and grading criteria, contemplate the feedback given on the work, and then contact if they still have questions about the grade given on the assignment. Don’t wait too long, however. Grades are only open for discussion for a period of 7 days after they have been handed back to the class, whether a student was present that day or not. Always track points/grade throughout the semester.

Students are highly encouraged to talk with the professor before or after class, during office hours, or a scheduled appointment if there are concerns about how to improve in the class based on assignment grades and classroom performance. Doing so will allow a student to understand their strengths and weaknesses while also further developing more awareness on how to improve their Public Speaking Skills.

Email Etiquette:

Since communication is such an essential skill, we must practice effective communication as much as we can. When you send me an email, you should make sure your email represents how you want to present yourself. Practicing sending emails that are respectful is a way to help create and build your own professional identity. Always include a subject in your email so the reader can get an idea of the emails purpose before reading the message. Always greet the receiver the email before describing the purpose of the email. Make sure to remind the sender of who you are and the class you are in. Describe the purpose of the email by being clear and concise as possible. Be aware of word choice and how it could come off to the reader. Word choice is important to display you respect the person you are emailing.

Sending an email with only a desired question to be answered with no formal greeting, description of the problem, or closing remake will result in being resulted in being redirected towards this section of the syllabus. If the message was urgent or sent as an emergency (transportation problems, important life circumstances, accidents, etc), you will not be redirected here.

I will make sure to replay to your email as best as I can Monday – Friday within 24 hours. On weekends, I will not respond to emails usually around 48 hours after the email is sent. During either time frame, if you have not heard back within the given time frame, please email again if necessary.

Preparing for class

          Before class:

Check course calendar to see what will be review in the following class

Make sure to read the chapter for the following class before coming to class

Take notes as you read the chapter before class

Write down questions you may have over material you do not understand

Check your email for classroom updates

During Class:

Arrive to class on time

Have chapter notes, material to take notes with, and other thing else you believe you might need for class each day

Put away electronic devices and remove headphones

Actively engage during class through participation

Respect the input of your classmates

Learn to become aware of what you say and how you say information

No derogatory language during class

Ask questions

Express your ideas and know that I am not hear to pass judgment on what you may say