Course Syllabus

Indiana University Northwest

S121 Public Speaking

Dr. Evelyn "Eve" Bottando

bottando@iun.edu

Office: 228 Hawthorn Hall

Phone: 219-980-6538

Office Hours: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. M & W

Skype: evelyn_b_b

Twitter: @evebottando

 

Texts:

 

Ige, D.W.K & Montalbano, L.L (2013) Public Speaking and Responsibility in a Changing World.  Kendall/Hunt Publishing.

 

 

Required Material

In order to successfully complete this course you must:

 

1)            Be available for “live/synchronous” delivery of 4 speeches during four weeks of the semester online through Adobe Connect.

2)            Have a webcam and a microphone attached to your computer.

3)            Have the following software: Microsoft Office (for PowerPoint and Word)

    

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO PURCHASE THE REQUIRED EQUIPMENT OR PERFORM THE TECHNICAL TASKS REQUIRED FOR PARTICIPATION, YOU SHOULD AVOID ENROLLING IN THIS COURSE.

Course Introduction: Welcome to S121

Welcome to S121 Public Speaking and your introduction to the study and theories of communication. Communication is not just talk. While communication manifests itself in a myriad of ways (gossip, blogs, speeches, tweets, texts, instagramming, facebooking, talking to ourselves, hashtags, etc.), it is through communication that we come to an understanding and perform who we are in the world.

Course Goals

This course has several goals. First, we will cover the theories and practice of communication broadly and argumentation in specific. 

Second, we will focus on the techniques and tips for helping you become a more fluid and impactful public speaker. As a general studies course, it is understood that this class brings together students from wide and varied backgrounds. We focus in this class on drawing from the group's strengths in order to help everyone grow in their ability to deliver strong speech performances. 

Third, this course serves as a gateway to the world of scholarly discussion and research. The library is your friend. You will review and be (re)introduced to the basic methods of research and organization of ideas. 

Our Three Goals:

1. Study the theories of communication and argumentation

2. Learn and apply best practices for improving our speech performance

3. Improve our abilities to think critically and research complex subjects

Improving in all areas is our goal for the course. To achieve this will take active communication, contemplative study, practice, and participation on your part as a student.

Grading Information

Online Discussion Forums: 20% of grade

Quizzes and Final Reflection: 20% of grade

Midterm & Final: 20% of grade

Speeches: 40% of grade

100% Total

Class Policies

Participation

This is a participation intensive course. In order to succeed in this course you need to be an attentive reader, note-taker, and active participant in the class.

You have elected to explore the awesome world of online education. Congrats! Online can be as participation intensive as the face–to-face classroom. The following is a general rubric Links to an external site. for online discussion forums:

 

Discussion Forum Rubric

 

CATEGORY

 

Refined (5 points)

Developing (3 points)

Novice (1 or 0 points)

Activity:

2 or more replies are given to other student's work

1-2 replies 
are given to other student's work

No feedback given to other classmates.

Content Understanding:

Has posted an advanced version of assignment  with resources and research attached.

Has a somewhat prepared version of assignment that is lacking in research and development.

The assignment is not well prepared, lacking and needs significant work.

Interaction

Consistently advances discussion with questions and/or sharing of resources that insures others have a reason and purpose to respond and advance dialogue.

Sometimes initiates  replies to discussion that include questions or sharing of resources that may help to advance conversation.

Rarely initiates discussion post and replies to discussion include questions or sharing of resources. Posting rarely advances conversation.

Mechanics

Presentation  is professional looking with no grammatical or spelling errors. Text is divided into easy to read paragraphs and may have headings.

Presentation  is somewhat professional looking and has a few grammatical errors.

Presentation is not professional looking and has quite a few grammatical errors.

 

 

COMMUNICATION MODES AND ETIQUETTE

• If the course is delivered using a course management system (such as Oncourse), students are mostly expected to communicate primarily through the course management system.  If there are technology glitches, however, the student should contact the instructor at the university email address and by telephone.

• The instructor will make every attempt to answer questions during the week.  Weekends and university holiday breaks are excluded.

• Electronic devices that can interrupt must be turned off during speech performance time. Make sure to turn off Gchat, Facebook, and other noisy chat systems when delivering your speeches. 

• Critiques of the students and instructor should be constructive, sensitive, and objective.  Appropriate communication is encouraged.  Avoid “flaming” angry emails.  Always identify yourself when communicating.  Think carefully before posting, as words can be interpreted differently—especially without the benefit of nonverbals.  The university handbook covers civility in communicating with others. 

 

Disabilities – The university has made commitments to conform to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Students with verified disabilities who need special accommodations must make their requests by arranging contacts with the Disability Services Coordinator through the campus switchboard operator or per instructions on the university’s WebPage.

 

Support Services – Computer, language, math, and writing labs; Library, Tutoring; Centers; and other support services are available.  Please see the university’s WebPage or call the campus switchboard operator for specific contact and other information on general student services.

 

Technology Malfunctions – To reiterate, if there are technology challenges or failures involved with the campus or course, please notify the instructor by campus email and by telephone (see contact information listed earlier).  Otherwise, consider contacting the “help” desk by dialing the campus switchboard.

 

GENERAL COURSE & UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Class Policies Regarding Graded Work

**The following policies are in effect for all individual deliverables throughout the semester, unless noted otherwise. **

***Late Work***

No late work will be accepted without prior consent of the instructor.  There are no exceptions to this rule. 

If you know you cannot deliver a “live” speech during the week it is assigned, you are to notify me before that week’s speech is due.  Failure to do so will result in a 0 for said speech. 

All work is due by the date it is assigned in the Course Schedule. 

NOTE: The instructor will keep students apprised of assignment grades via the online class Grade Book.

 

Grade Enhancement

Your grade can be enhanced by effectively completing all assignments on time.  Correct spelling, grammar, and pronunciation will be noted in all assignments.  It is the student’s responsibility to safely keep any returned, graded assignments for future reference. Late work will not be accepted 

 

Incompletes

Regular presence is expected.  Emergency changes may occur.  Students may withdraw automatically from the course by the deadline withdrawal date—usually during the first nine weeks (See the IUN Schedule of Classes).  There are no withdrawals after the automatic withdrawal date.  Incompletes are almost never given. 

 

Original Work

You are expected to complete all of your own writing, presentation, and work assignments.

Plagiarism is a serious issue. Plagiarism is Academic Misconduct and is not Tolerated at Indiana University Northwest (See the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.

 

Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as one’s own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. What is considered “common knowledge” may differ from course to course.

a.            A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures of another person without acknowledgment.

b.            A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge indebtedness whenever:

1.            directly quoting another person’s actual words, whether oral or written;

2.            using another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories;

3.            paraphrasing the words, ideas, opinions, or theories of others, whether oral or written;

4.            borrowing facts, statistics, or illustrative material; or

5.            offering materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment.

 

Turnitin is a program that checks for plagiarism.  Throughout the course, you or the instructor may occasionally submit assignments through Turnitin. Learners often appreciate knowing that all students are fairly being held to the same standards.  Thus, Turnitin it is employed as an educational tool.

 

Your Course Progress Feedback

The university uses a FLAG Early Alert System to provide real-time feedback on your course performance.  Periodically, the instructor must enter data on factors such as your class attendance, participation, and success with coursework.  This information should indicate how you might improve your performance.  You should be able to access the information in the student center:  Onestart > Student Services page > Student Center > My Academics and Grades > My Grades.

 

This course is offered and aligned with IU academic policies in the following areas.  Please refer to these general policies through searching the university’s website at www.iun.edu  if you have questions or concerns.

            Grading Guidelines

            Writing Standards

            Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

            Course Evaluations

            Students with Disabilities

RIGHT TO ACCOMMODATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

Indiana University is committed to creating a learning environment and academic community that promotes educational opportunities for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Course directors are asked to make reasonable accommodations, upon request by the student or the university, for such disabilities. It is the responsibility of students with documented physical or learning disabilities seeking accommodation to notify their course directors and the relevant campus office that deals with such cases in a timely manner concerning the need for such accommodation. Indiana University will make reasonable accommodations for access to programs, services, and facilities as outlined by applicable state and federal laws.

Campus support office:

Davetta Haywood, Disabilities Coordinator, Hawthorn 234; 219-980-6942

Student Support Services www.iun.edu/~supportn

 

Class Timeline

1. Week of August 25th

Participate in the class introduction forum

Take the syllabus quiz online

Download and test Adobe Connect

Watch: 

Purdue OWL: Introduction to Rhetoric

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIESu4yXco4 Links to an external site.

Read: p. 9 - 10 of Ige & Montalbano

Respond: Quiz over content + Discussion Forum 1

 

2. Week of August 31st

Introduction Speech Performances

Adobe Connect Quiz completed

Informative Speech Assigned

Canvas Quiz Assigned

Watch: 

Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIho2S0ZahI Links to an external site.

Read: 10 - 16 Ige & Montalbano

Respond:  Quiz over content + Discussion Forum 2

 

3. Week Of September 7th

Canvas Quiz Completed

Topic: How do we have a well-informed public? 

Watch: 

Payday Loans Explained | Pew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rOVmUnUM7A Links to an external site.

Read: Chapter 11 - Speaking to Inform Ige & Montalbano p. 163 - end of the chapter

p. 1 - 2 and p. 4 (rhetorical situation) - 6 of Rhetoric Tool Chest from MIT Open Courseware: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/comparative-media-studies-writing/21w-747-1-rhetoric-spring-2010/related-resources/MIT21W.747S10_rr01.pdf Links to an external site.

Respond: Quiz over content + Discussion Forum 3

 

4. Week Of September 14th

Watch: 

Weekly Address: Continuing Work to Improve Community Policing

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/08/15/weekly-address-continuing-work-improve-community-policing Links to an external site.

Read: Chapter 7 - Developing Effective Introductions and Conclusions Ige & Montalbano

Respond: Quiz over content + Discussion Forum 4

 

5. Week Of September 21st

Group Informative Speech Assigned - Special Topic: Digital Media Literacy & Youth 

Reading on Digital Media Literacy & Youth to be announced.

Tom Wujec: Build a tower, build a team

http://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_build_a_tower?language=en (Links to an external site.)

Read: Chapter 3 Ige & Montalbano

Respond: Quiz over content + Discussion Forum 5

PERSUASIVE SPEECHES ASSIGNED 

Respond: Quiz over content 

 

6. Week Of September 28th

 

PERFORM INFORMATIVE SPEECHES

 

7. Week Of October 5th

Out because of illness - work continued for the Group Speech

 

8. Week Of October 12th

 

Midterm Test and Study Guide Posted

 

9. Week Of October 19th

 

 

Group Speech Work posted. 

 

 

10. Week Of October 26th

 

Group Speech Discussions.

 

11. Week Of November 2nd

Watch: 

Amanda Palmer: The art of asking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMj_P_6H69g&spfreload=10 Links to an external site.

Read: Chapter 6 & 12 Ige & Montalbano 

 

12. Week Of November 9th

 

Yassmin Abdel-Magied: What does my headscarf mean to you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18zvlz5CxPE Links to an external site.

Read: Chapter 9 & 2

Watch: 

Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are | Amy Cuddy | TED Talks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc Links to an external site.

Read: Chapter 8  Ige & Montalbano

Respond: Quiz over content 

 

 

13. Week Of November 16th

Group Speeches performed.

Commemorative Speeches assigned.

Watch: 

President Obama Delivers Remarks on the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Marches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvAIvauhQGQ Links to an external site.

Read: Chapter 13 Ige & Montalbano

Respond: Quiz over content + Discussion Forum 9

 

Week Of November 23rd (Break)

 

14. Week Of November 30th

PERFORM PERSUASIVE SPEECHES

 

15. Week Of December 7th

Watch: 

1.) Jedidah Isler: How I fell in love with quasars, blazars and our incredible universe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzZJuEDQ1a0 Links to an external site.

2.) John Green on Paper Towns and Why Learning is Awesome | TED Talks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgDGlcxYrhQ Links to an external site.

Respond:  Prepare for final

 

16. Week Of December 14th

 Final Exam

 

 

 Necessary caveats: 

Contents of course/syllabus may adjust due to needs of the course, weather, and other reasonable needs.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due
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