The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Course Syllabus provides the following as required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB):
- a brief description of the course including each major course requirement, assignment and examination;
- the learning objectives for the course;
- a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion; and
- 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.
Course Name & Number: SPCH 1315 (Public Speaking)
Semester & Year: Fall 2020
Catalog Description Application of communication theory and practice to the public speaking context, with emphasis 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. [Rev 8-14-17]
Instructor's Name: Sarah Spikeston
Office Phone #: none presently, please use Remind by clicking here remind.com/join/spch-1315
Email Address: sspikeston@nctc.edu
Online Office Hours: M, T, W, R, F 12-2pm via Remind, students can schedule video hours through Remind for a time that is convenient for the student and the insrtuctor during office hours. Professor Spikeston will make herself available outside of those hours when possible.
Textbooks & Materials:
- White 3x5 notecards, blank on the back, lined or unlined on the front is accessible
COURSE AND COLLEGE INFORMATION
Learning Outcomes. Students who successfully complete this course will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational models of communication.
- Apply elements of audience analysis.
- Demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills by analyzing presentations for evidence and logic
- Research, develop and deliver extemporaneous speeches with effective verbal and nonverbal techniques.
- Demonstrate effective usage of technology when researching and/or presenting speeches.
- Identify how culture, ethnicity and gender influence communication.
- Develop proficiency in presenting a variety of speeches as an individual or group (e.g. narrative, informative or persuasive).
Foundational Component Area: Communication
Core Objectives. Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
- 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 [Rev. 5-2014 THECB]
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.
Course Type: Academic General Education Course (from Academic Course Guide Manual but not in NCTC Core). Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course. WECM Course
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.
Departmental Purpose Statement. The Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language provides quality instruction to students pursuing their academic and career goals.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
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's responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgment 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. A student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon the 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 adequate cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)
For online coursework, the expectation is that students log in regularly and submit assignments in a timely manner. Logging in daily is preferable, but at a minimum every 48 hours.
Disability 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). http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/disability-services/index.html (Links to an external site.)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.
Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Services: 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: http://www.nctc.edu/financial-aid/index.html.
Last day to Withdraw: Last day to drop a class with a grade of “W” is October 30, 2020
Instructions for Withdrawing from a Course - https://www.nctc.edu/current-students/drop-withdraw-course.html (Links to an external site.)
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:
- Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
- 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;
- Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
- Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
- Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
- 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.
Students are required to complete a plagarism certification test prior to completing coursework. Students are encouraged to schedule time with the instructor if they are having difficulties completing the certificate before the due date. Recognizing academic honesty is the key to avoiding it.
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.
Student Success: 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.
Tobacco-Free Campus. NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, which cumulates unsightly tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second-hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Student Services at 940-668-4240.
Grading Policy & Procedures. The course is not weighted. Points are accumulated and are of equal weight to one another. 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
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.
Late-Work Policy: A major speech is due on the day listed on Canvas. If you need an extension, contact me in advance of the due date to make this request. I reserve the right not to evaluate any work submitted more than five days late. Students are provided wide latitude in self managing their deadlines. However, stated deadlines are hard deadlines. Students are expected to communicate issues early to avoid issues. Once a module has been closed off for all students, no late work for that section is accepted without prior written approval.
OTHER AREAS OF CONSIDERATION
Email Correspondence: I reserve 48-36 hours to respond to students’ emails. Emails sent to me become my personal property, and I may disclose them to third parties if I determine it’s necessary. Emails constitute correspondence between instructor and student; therefore, remember your audience when sending me emails. Email correspondence may contribute positively or negatively to your professionalism grade. Students are highly encouraged to use Remind rather than email to facilitate quicker communication.
Gender Identity: This course affirms people of all gender expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than is what on the class roster, please let me know. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records, and so I may call you by your preferred name and pronoun. Students are also encouraged to set their pronouns in Canvas (under Settings). I will do my best to affirm your preferred name and pronouns. However, please keep in mind, mistakes may happen as Canvas has its limitations. Although you can affirm your pronouns in Canvas, Canvas does not allow students to put in custom names. So while I may see your preferred pronoun, I may not see your preferred name. Please sign up for Remind with your preferred name to help reduce my clumsy confusion. This is more likely to happen in an online class where I only see your work attached to your "Canvas name" rather than your preferred name. I am far less likely to make this mistake with face to face students as your work (your speeches) is attached to your face and the name I call out during roll. Apologies in advance and please, inform me of your name so I can make a concious effort to counter the name identified in Canvas.
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:
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- 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.