Course Syllabus

SPCH 1311: Introduction to Speech Communication 

Course Title: Introduction to Speech Communication 
Course Prefix, Number, and Section Number: SPCH 1311.310
Semester/Year of course: Summer 2024
Semester start and end dates: 06/03/2024 - 07/03/2024
Modality: Online, Asynchronous
Class meeting location, days, and times: Online, Asynchronous
Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: Introduces basic human communication principles and theories embedded in a variety of contexts including interpersonal, small group, and public speaking.

Course prerequisites: There is no prerequisite for this course.

Required course materials: Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing Available for Free at: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/274

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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of instructor: Tamar Bell
Office location: Flower Mound Room #107
Telephone number: (940) 668-7731, ext. 8505
E-mail address: tbell@nctc.edu
Office Hours: Summer 2024 (By Appointment Only) Please message me on Canvas directly to set up a time for an online Webex session. 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments: See Course Summary in Canvas Syllabus.

Final grade scale: This course will be graded in weighted grade categories as noted below. Descriptions for each assignment can be found on our Canvas course homepage. 

• • Introduction Speech & Outline: 15%
  • Class Business-Group Speech: 25%
  • Reading Quizzes: 25%
  • Lesson Specific Assignments: 30%
  • Narrative Essay: 5%

Grading Policy & Procedures: See the course modules tab for a list of assignments and their values. Your course average is available to you in CANVAS. Grading is on a standard scale, noted below. 

• • 90-100% =  A
  • 80-89.9% = B
  • 70-79.9% = C
  • 60-69.9% = D
  • Below 60 =  F

Evaluation

• • “A” Work: This presentation is excellent and demonstrates excellence in development, organization, style and tone, and delivery mechanics. There is clear evidence of the speech making process (invention, research, outlining, editing, and delivery).
    •  A = 95   A- = 92   A-/B+ = 90

• • “B” Work: This is good work and delivers substantial information—that is, substantial in both quantity and interest-value. It is well-developed and unified around a clear organizing principle that is apparent early in the piece. There is evidence of the speech making process.  
    • B+ = 87  B = 85  B- = 8  B-/C+ = 80
  • “C” Work: This is an average piece that is generally competent in its development, organization, style, and tone, and delivery mechanics. It meets the needs of the assignment, has few mechanical errors, and is reasonably organized and developed with adequate delivery. This piece also shows some evidence of the speech making process.
    • C+ = 77  C = 75  C- = 72. C-/D+ = 70

• • “D” Work: This is below-average work that lacks development and is not effectively organized to facilitate the audience's understanding. The presentation also shows little or no evidence of the speech making process. 
    • D+ = 67  D = 65  D- = 62

• • “F” Work: This work fails in all aspects of the evaluation criteria.  There is no evidence of the speech making process, and the presentation fails in all aspects of development, organization, style, and delivery mechanics.
    • F (work submitted and attempted) = 55. F (no work submitted or attempted) = 0

COURSE POLICIES

Late-Work Policy: 

• One Week Late Deduction Submission:

  All assignments, with the exception of assignments submitted during the last 2 weeks of the semester can be submitted up to one week from the original assignment due date for a late grade deduction. These late grade submission deadlines are marked in Canvas as the "Available" date listed. Once the assignment is past the available date, and is locked it will no longer be available for any submission and the assignment will not be unlocked.

• Late Grade Deductions:
  
  • Assignments, Exams, Quizzes: an automatic (processed by Canvas) a 20% grade deduction.
  • Speeches/Application Project: an automatic (processed by Canvas) 50% grade deduction. 
• Technical Issues Not Valid: Technological issues are not a valid excuse for late work. Please allocate time into assignment preparation and planning for any/all possible technology issues. You are always welcome to contact technology support for help with any assignment submission: 940-668-4284 or by submitting a ticket: Help Desk Form Here! However, please be advised no exceptions will be made to the late work policy in citing technological issues as a reason.

Attendance Policy: 

• • Official NCTC College Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.
  • Instructor Attendance Policy: In addition to the College attendance policy please note that regular attendance in this course is required. Attendance in a asynchronous online course is taken by regular submission of and participation in all course assignments, speeches, discussions and quizzes.In the event students have not not submitted assignments for two or more weeks in the course the instructor reserves the right to drop the student administratively as citing excessive absences.

Missing Assignments: The instructor reserves the right to administratively withdraw the student from the course if they have had two or more weeks of missing assignment submissions, citing excessive absences. In addition, if the student has a failing grade in the class by the noted campus drop date, the instructor reserves the right to administratively drop the student. 

Major Speech Assignments: All major speech assignments are required. If you fail to turn in one of the major speeches, or the collaborative project, you cannot pass the course. I reserve the right to administratively drop any student who does not submit all major speech assignments: Introduction Speech & Collaborative Speech. Last, I will not place you in a group for the collaborative speech if you do not submit an introduction speech by the assignment deadline.

Email & Canvas Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to respond to students’ emails or canvas messages on a weekday and 48 hours on a weekend.  Emails or Canvas messages constitute correspondence between instructor and student; therefore, remember your audience when sending me emails. All emails should include:

• Specific & Clear Subject line
• Greeting & Professional Salutation (Hello Professor Bell...)
• Full sentence, well-written and proofread content.
• Signature (Regards, Student Name). 

Professionalism: Your college courses are also opportunities for you to learn what it means to be a “professional” in your field. Therefore, I expect you to act like a “professional” student in this course. Consider these suggestions:

• • Prepare and participate meaningfully in online discussion boards.
  • Be assertive. (An assertive student exhausts all available resources of information before contacting me. In other words, read the assignment carefully before e-mailing me to ask the time requirement for a speech, and if you are unsure how to cite a source, look it up in a reliable online source like the Purdue OWL.)
  • Consider the quality (and effort) of required research and daily assignments.
  • Turn in assignments on-time and as assigned.
  • Mind the quality and tone of email correspondence.

Last day to Withdraw: Last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of “W” is [Tuesday, June 25, 2024]. Instructions for Withdrawing from a Course: https://www.nctc.edu/drop-or-withdraw-from-a-class

Google Docs Policy: Please be advised that in the event a student is required to submit an editable google docs link for an assignment, if the link submitted does not work or is not viewable by the instructor, I reserve the right to fail the student on that given assignment.

AI Use Policy: Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated material on assignments is considered academic dishonesty, even if cited as a source and will result in a failing grade for the assignment. You may not use AI to write your papers, any course assignments or speech outlines. NCTC's Speech Department uses AI detectors to enforce this policy.

COURSE AND COLLEGE INFORMATION

The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Course Syllabus provides the following as required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB):

1. a brief description of the course including each major course requirement, assignment and examination;
2. the learning objectives for the course;
3. a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion; and
4. any required or recommended readings. 

Contact information for the instructor is also provided. The Course Syllabus also provides institutional information to indicate how this course supports NCTC’s purpose and mission. Information specific to a particular section of the course will be included in the Class Syllabus and distributed to enrolled students. 

Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete this course will meet the following learning outcomes:

1. Apply the principles of human communication including: perception, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, listening, and audience analysis.
2. Demonstrate how to establish and maintain relationships through the use of interpersonal communication.
3. Apply small group communication skills including: problem solving, group roles, leadership styles, and cohesiveness.
4. Develop, research, organize, and deliver formal public speeches.
5. Recognize how to communicate within diverse environments.

Foundational Component Area:  Communication

• Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
• Communication Skills (COM) - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
• Teamwork (TW)- to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
• Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making    

 Institutional Learning Goals. A quality general education curriculum in all associate degree programs.

• Quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences which parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities.
• Quality technical programs leading directly to careers in semi-skilled and skilled occupations, and quality technical education programs up to two years in length leading to certificates and associate degrees.
• Quality programs and services in support of adult literacy and basic skills development as a means of workforce enhancement and expanding access to higher education.

Institutional Learning Goals. A quality general education curriculum in all associate degree programs.

• Quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences which parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities.
• Quality technical programs leading directly to careers in semi-skilled and skilled occupations, and quality technical education programs up to two years in length leading to certificates and associate degrees.
• Quality programs and services in support of adult literacy and basic skills development as a mean of workforce enhancement and expanding access to higher education.

Program Purpose Statement. NCTC seeks to implement its goal of providing quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences that parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities by offering a coherent sequence of courses with appropriate breadth and depth to prepare a student for transfer to a university.

COLLEGE RESOURCES & POLICIES

NCTC Student Services: Here is a list of Student Services provided by NCTC: https://www.nctc.edu/lions

NCTC Student Handbook: 2023-2024 NCTC Student Hanbook PDFLinks to an external site.

OSD Accommodations: North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs. The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available through the  Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).  Students are responsible for notifying the OSD of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and psychological disorders are eligible for services.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration Building (100) or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112). https://www.nctc.edu/osd

Student Success/Tutoring: The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals.  This program also links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free 24/7 online tutoring and helps new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students.  All students are invited to visit the Student Success Center on the Corinth Campus, rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus, rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus, room 111; and on the Bowie Campus, room 124.

Financial Aid: The Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering a variety of programs for students who need assistance in financing their education.  The first step for financial aid is to complete a FAFSA.  For more information, please visit your nearest Financial Aid Office: https://www.nctc.edu/financial-aid

Veterans Services: The goal of the Veterans Services office, is to remove barriers student veterans face when transitioning from military to civilian-college life. We also strive to provide student veterans and their families with the resources and services they need to be successful in college during this transition period. https://www.nctc.edu/veterans Links to an external site.

EEOC Statement: North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.

Scholastic Integrity – Plagiarism: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.

Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and the planned action to his Department Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to the appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action. This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”

Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:

1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

Please be aware that I take plagiarism very seriously.  You may not have another person write, type, edit, or revise any parts of your Writing Assignments.  You may not use someone else’s Writing Assignment or buy one from a “professional” source.  You may not use the material on the internet or in print sources without documenting it.  Failure to follow the proper guidelines for documentation constitutes plagiarism. 

Considering the severity of the issue, if you ever have any questions or concerns regarding plagiarism, please consider this an open invitation to visit with me about the issue. If I discover that a student has committed intentional plagiarism, the Writing Assignment that has plagiarized materials will receive a zero, and I will recommend to the English Department Head that the student fails the course.

Student Rights & Responsibilities: NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct.  These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog.  All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted authority, and observe correct standards of conduct.