University of North Alabama

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Communication and Theatre


Course Syllabus

Communication 201: Credit Hours: Course Description: Placement: Class Schedule: Faculty: Textbook: Objectives: Teaching Methods: Student Grades: Speeches: Important Dates: Reading Assignments:

Fundamentals of Speech 3 semester hours Practical training in speech, with emphasis on social and professional needs. Summer 2006, First Session Com 201 MTWHF, 7:30 -- 9:30 am, CB 201 Com 201 MTWHF, 9:40 -- 11:40 am, CB 201 Avon Edward Foote, Ph.D. Associate Professor Room 108 Office: (256) 765-4489 E-mail: aefoote@una.edu FAX: (256) 765-4839 Office Hours: MTWHF 11:40 AM to 12:40 PM and by appointment Metcalfe, Sheldon (5th edition). Building a speech. Harcourt College Publishers. Upon completion of this course the student will be able to: 1. List variables for effectiveness of communications. 2. Understand and adapt the skills of an effective speaker. 3. Speak before a group on various topics. 4. Implement coping techniques to allay speech anxiety. 5. Understand speaking competencies. 6. Assess the impact of speaker-listener perceptions on outcome of public communication. 7. Utilize media resources to enhance speech results. 8. Practice selected topics for improvement of organization of presentation. Assigned readings, lectures, group discussions, evaluation sessions with professor and individual presentations. The following are methods by which the course objectives will be evaluated: 1. Midterm exam ----------- 20% 2. Final exam ------------- 30% 3. Speeches (4) ----------- 50% A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=<60 Attendance: Required by University policy. After one week of absences your grade will be become an "F" as announced in University literature. Otherwise, attendance will be considered always important but especially significant during announced speech days. Students must meet all class requirements which includes attendance when speeches are scheduled to be given. Grade may be lowered for excessive absences over three. 1. Introductory. 2 to 3 minutes. June 9, 2006. 2. Internet Source Evaluation. 3 to 4 minutes. June 16, 2006. 3. Informative. 4 to 5 minutes. June 22 & 23, 2006. 4. Persuasive. 6 to 8 minutes. June 27, 28 & 29, 2006. The persuasive speech topic must be approved by professor by June 20, 2006. You must follow the motivated sequence in the persuasive speech and use guidelines from the text. You will turn in outlines in sentence style with bibliography for the last speech at the class meeting one day before the date that you are scheduled to give the speech. For all speeches, you may use no more than two note cards for presentation notes. Attempting to read a speech will result in termination of the presentation and an automatic grade of "F" for that exercise. Special arrangements will be made with those students using a laptop computer. If using Power Point on laptop, the prompting and outline modes must be disabled during the presentation and regular paper-stock notecards used. Visual aids are highly recommended on speeches 3 and 4. The use of visual aids to improve speeches will be evaluated and therefore directly affect the grade received. Since you are living in the age of the electronic media, you will be required to use a microphone for all of your speeches. Speech four may be digitally recorded to improve the evaluation and grading process. You will meet with professor outside of class to view and discuss your performance evaluations each week before starting the next scheduled speech. Evaluation criteria for each of the speech series will be published on the web as an amendment to the syllabus or handed out in class in advance of speech delivery. The order of giving speeches will be determined at the beginning of the semester. If they desire, students may exchange the speaking-order position which they draw for a more satisfactory position. Once the order is determined, after exchanges, the sequence of giving speeches remains the same all semester for all four speech series, and cannot be changed without the professor’s prior approval. Readings: Assignments in text must be completed before coming to class and untaking the weekly speech assignment. June 6,  Tuesday --- Classes begin June 20,  Tuesday --- Midterm Exam June 29,  Thursday --- Last Day of classes June 30,  Friday --- Final exam Unit One -- Read Chapters 1, 2, 3. Present Introductory Speech Unit Two -- Read Chapters 7, 8, 9. Present Internet Source Evaluation Unit Three -- Read Chapters 6, 11, 14. Present Informative Speech Unit Four -- Read Chapters 5, 15, 16. Present Persuasive Speech

University of North Alabama Policy regarding student disabilities is on separate web page.

Evaluation Criteria for Speech 1, Summer 2006 Professor Foote hopes that the evaluation criteria help you prepare for the first speech. Content The introduction made the class want to really hear the announced pretend speech topic. Topic points were included in the introduction with "teasing" and "suspense" added to establish higher audience expectations about the value of listening to the pretend speech. Reference to the pretend speaker was frequent with paraphrasing and quoting of what the pretend speaker told the person delivering the introduction in the interviews. The transition to the pretend speaker was original and appropriate. The pretend topic was given at least twice in the introduction. Delivery Clear voice Body movement and stance Mic use is correct Mic level matching Note cards used effectively Eye contact with audience and pretend speaker Acknowledges pretend speaker with gestures and other non-verbals Language Good grammar Correct pronunciation Phrasing and word choice is appropriate Few word stumbles or use of fillers such as "uh" Involvement and readiness of student giving introduction of pretend speaker Sincere Enthusiastic Within announced time limits of  2 to 3 minutes