NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

SPCH 1321 COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Name & Number

Bus and Prof Comm

SPCH 1321-344

online

Semester & Year

 Spring 2018

Course Description

Study and application of communication within the business and professional context.  Special emphasis will be given to communication competencies in presentations, dyads, teams and technologically mediated formats. [Rev 8-14-17

Instructor’s Name

Shelley Rover

Office Contact

Melisa Cisneros

Instructor’s Office #

COR RM 201

Office Fax #

940-498-6413

E-mail Address

CANVAS via our class SPCH 1321

Office Hours

TT: 9:30-11:00

TT: 1:50-3:00

Dept. Chair

Rochelle Gregory

rgregory@nctc.edu

940-498-6297

Textbooks &  Materials

Required / Recommended

Communicating at Work  (Strategies for Success in Business and the Professions), McGraw Hill, 11th ed.

Required or Recommended Course Materials

1. Textbook or Online version

2. Stapler

3. 3x5 White Notecards  ONLY (no 4x6)

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete SPCH 1321 will meet the following learning outcomes:

1.Demonstrate communication competence and critical thinking through an understanding of the foundational  communication models.

2. Demonstrate essential public speaking skills in professional presentations.

3.Demonstrate written and oral competencies as it relates to   employment (including job searches, interviews, interpersonal

interaction, conflict management, leadership and performance appraisals).

4. Apply essential dyadic and small group processes as they relate to the workplace.

5.Utilize various technologies as they relate to competent communication.

6. Demonstrate effective cross-cultural communication. [Rev 8-4-17]

Core Objectives

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]

Grading Procedures

·       All assignments are due as specified on the CANVAS class calendar.

·       If it is necessary to change a due date, that information will be given in announcements in CANVAS. 

·       Failure to know of a changed assignment due date announced in CANVAS because of absence checking class on CANVAS or any other reason will NOT be excused. 

·       KEEP back-up copies of EVERYTHING in the event that your instructor would ask you to re-submit a document or submit a document in hard-copy format. TECHNOLOGY DOES FAIL US FROM TIME TO TIME!

·       Due dates and times will be clearly articulated by the instructor ahead of time.  No late work and/or make-ups are accepted, unless an official university-approved excuse is submitted prior to the due date.  The instructor reserves the right to re-negotiate new due dates, under special circumstances; penalties for negotiated due dates may be incurred.  THE INSTRUCTOR WILL GRADE ASSIGNMENTS AND POST GRADES WITHIN 7  DAYS OF THE DUE DATE.  Please check your grades in CANVAS on a regular basis and let the instructor know within 2 WEEKS of the due date if a grade has not been posted for you.

·       Assignments:  All major assignments are designed for you to integrate gained knowledge from this course.  YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS in order to receive a passing grade for this course.  Failure to complete any major assignment will result in failure of this course (i.e., speeches, major papers).

Grading

The final grade will be determined by the following point system.

The student’s grade is determined by totaling the number of points accumulated for the semester and dividing by the total number of points possible for the class.

FINAL GRADE

90-100%= A

80-89%  = B

70-79%  = C

60-69%  = D

0-59%    = F

·       Pop-quizzes may be posted in CANVAS based on the reading assignment and recent lectures. 

·       Speeches are to be delivered extemporaneously from a brief speaking outline on note cards.  If you read your speech (manuscript form) points will be deducted up to 20 points.  If you read plagiarized materials you will receive a “0” on the speech.  See Academic Integrity below.

Attendance Policy

·      Attendance in this course is tracked via login.  Students must stay current in the course by logging in to the course at least 3 times per week for course information and communication with the instructor.Per NCTC policy, ALL INSTRUCTORS are required to take attendance every class meeting for reporting purposes.  [Rev. 5-2014]

·       Absences are sometimes excused.  If you feel you have justification, then email your request to the instructor and discuss it with me.  If you have a medical/sick reason a doctor’s note must be shown in order to excuse any absence at the instructor’s discretion.

·       Drops – The last day to drop class with an automatic assignment of ‘W’ grade for Spring 2018 is April 5, 2018

·       If you miss your scheduled speech due date.  Your speech may be deducted up to 50% of the points. 

·       Each speech needs to be attempted; researched on a topic that is relevant to the assignment (ex. Persuasion, needs to be persuasion speech), completed and handed in outline, and you need to speak.  Instructor will determine if you attempted the speech. (Topic needs approved ahead of time).

Outlines

·       Speeches and outlines will be prepared using techniques presented in lectures that are posted.  When there is a discrepancy between the book and instructor, use the instructor’s methods.  The textbook is to be considered an information resource. 

·       A complete outline is due the week prior the speech due date. OUTLINES HANDED IN ANYTIME after  the scheduled due date WILL BE DOWNGRADED (-10 pts or up to half the points).  You are not allowed to use the outline during speech; you will only be allowed to use notecards – No paper.

·       Outlines which are late will be downgraded by up to 20 points.   You are required to turn in an outline before you deliver your speech.  If I have not received your outline, you will not receive a grade for your speech and may receive a 0. You must speak from notecards ONLY – no paper outlines

·       All outlines must include your name, course name, speech name and date and instructor name. Outlines that are not typed and stapled will not be accepted.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements

Student Conduct

·Speeches will be recorded in front of an audience you have assembled.  Speeches will be recorded using a device of your choice (webcam, smartphone, digital camera, tablet, etc.) and uploaded using a program in CANVAS called Arc which can be accessed from the Arc Media Tools. 

·Students in this course are responsible for gathering an audience of at least six members. Family, friends, and classmates are good choices.  All speeches must be given in a formal environment - an environment where a speech would normally occur, such as a classroom, auditorium, or work conference room.  Living rooms, dorm rooms, bedrooms, garages, and the outdoors, will NOT work for your speech assignments.

·Six adults (age 15 or over) must be present. Students in the course are encouraged to form groups.   Do not email the instructor with reasons why 6 audience members could not be achieved.

·Online instruction requires students who are self-disciplined and can work independently. Students are required to complete the CANVAS orientation before they can access the Speech course.  The instructor has the right to drop any student who does not complete the orientation the first week of class.  Therefore, it is critical for students to begin working on the course the first day of class .

·For NCTC's complete policy  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.on netiquette, see the NCTC e-learning webpage. 

·       General guidelines that online students should follow include:

§  Use proper language in all communications.

§  Harassment of any type will not be tolerated.

§  No jokes, insults, or threats of a personal, racial, or sexual nature.

§  Do not use all CAPITAL letters in your writing.

This is considered shouting in the online environment.

Recording Speeches

·       When recording the speech, the speaker should be STANDING and visible at least from the waist up. Speak loudly enough for the webcam microphone to pick you up.

·       If the instructor is unable to see the speaker clearly (the room is too dark), or unable to hear the speaker clearly, the student will not receive credit for the speech.  Students should view the speech video before submitting it to verify they are visible and audible.

·       The speaker should be dressed appropriately for a presentation.  Dress as if you were teaching the course for the day. This means: no hats, no shorts, a solid shirt (no writing on shirt), no sunglasses, no ripped jeans.  Eyes should be visible.  Pull hair back if necessary, and wear shoes.

·       The audience should be shown in the video (without pauses or edits) before and after the speech. If you do not show 6 adults at the beginning and end of your taped speech, you will not receive full credit for the speech.  You will lose 10 pts. for each absent audience member.  For example, 5 audience members (-10 pts); 4 audience members (-20) pts, etc. 

·       Late speeches will be downgraded for each day it is late.  For example, 1 day, -10 points, 2 days -20 points, 3 days -30 points, etc.  Students are allowed to drop one individual speech grade - Demonstration, Informative, or Persuasive.

·       The order for the recording should be: view of speaker, view of each note card (zoomed in where the instructor can see what is written on them), view of audience of 6 adults (include camera operator if counted in the 6), view of speaker giving the speech, view of audience of 6 adults. 

·       Audience members must be attentive to the speaker (not texting, working on a computer, or watching television.)

·       Speeches are to be delivered extemporaneously from a brief speaking outline on note cards.  If you READ your speech (manuscript form) 20 points will be deducted.  DO NOT write your speech out word-for-word on your note cards.  If you do, you will read it, and you will lose 20 points.  You should use your key word outline when presenting your speech.  You may not use more than 5 note cards.  If you read plagiarized materials you will receive a “0” on the speech. 

·       Do NOT have the camera operator zoom in.  If the audience/viewer is unable to see something, it is too small. 

·       Do  NOT use cue cards (posters (or a computer screen, teleprompter app) with the entire speech written on them) when delivering your speech.  This is obvious, and you will NOT receive credit for your speech.  The purpose of this course is for students to learn extemporaneous delivery.  Your speeches are fairly brief, and you should be able to speak from notes on note cards, rather than reading. 

·       You may not use more than 3 PowerPoint slides. 

·       You may use a chair as an easel for posters.

·       DO NOT use a podium.  

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

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 of the planned action to his Department Chair.  The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to 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.

[Rev. 3-20-2012–Plagiarism text added cb

       Class Activity                                                               Reading                   LO/ CO

Week 1            Introduction to the Course/Syllabus           Syllabus                  

                           Syllabus Quiz/ Intro Discussion Board                                               

Week 2            Intro/Artifact Speech Outline              

Week 3            Artifact Speech / Selecting Topic & Purpose

                           Analyze Audience

Week 4           

                            Inform Speaking/ Demo Speech Info

Week 5            Submit Demonstration Speech topic

Week 6            Demonstration Speeches                     

                            Intro/ Conclusion/

Week 7            Presentation Aids

                           Group Speech topic due

Week 8            Organiz Pers Sp                                         

                           Presentation Aids

                           SPRING BREAK

Week 9            Persuasive Sales Topic Due

Week 10            Persuasive Sales Outline Due

                          Method of Delivery/ The Voice/Body       

Week 11          Persuasive Sales Speech  

Week 12          Career Speech topic due                      

Week 13          Career Inform Outline due      

Week 14          Career Informative Speeches

Week 15            Review for Final Exam

Week 16          Final Exam