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SPCH 1315: Public Speaking

SPCH 1315. Public Speaking 3-3-0

Fundamentals of public communication including interpersonal and small group situations.

Includes researching and organizing material, using the voice and body in presentation and

delivering various types of speeches in differing situations. Prerequisites: Must be TSI complete

in reading or be concurrently enrolled in READ 0308 and eligibility to enroll in ENGL 0306.

Recommendation: The speech faculty strongly recommends that the student be eligible to enroll

in ENGL 0308. F, Sp, Su (2310015312)

INSTRUCTORS:

Name: Mr. Joe Stokes

Office Number:

Phone Number:

E-Mail: jstokes@kilgore.edu

Part-Time instructors are used on an as-needed basis.

COURSE RATIONALE: This course prepares the student for the increasing need for public speaking skills required in

modern society and business. This preparation includes analysis of the subject of the speech, the

occasion, the audience, and the most effective method of communication. The course also

satisfies the speech component in the Communications section of the Kilgore College Core

Curriculum and the speech requirement for the A.A., A.A.T. and A.S. degrees at Kilgore

College.

TEXTBOOK:

Public Speaking for College and Career, Hamilton Gregory (McGraw-Hill, New York, 2010).

In addition to the required textbook, the students are required to purchase the SPCH 1315

Course Handbook, a detailed description of the course, its objectives and its requirements,

written by the Kilgore College Speech Faculty. This Course Handbook also provides the

student a ready record of his performance on each in-class presentation.

EVALUATION: Grading for SPCH 1315 is divided into four different units:

(1) the “Assigned Written Work” unit, valued at 25% of the semester grade;

(2) the “Speaking Assignments” unit, valued at 40%;

(3) the “Final Examination Speech” unit, valued at 20%; and

(4) the “Written Final Examination” unit, valued at 15%.

The SPCH 1315 Course Handbook includes a detailed description of each instructional unit.

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CLASSROOM POLICIES: The classroom policies are explained in the SPCH 1315 Course Handbook which each student is

required to purchase.

In addition, students should read the Kilgore College attendance policy in the Kilgore College

Catalog and should be aware that an instructor may drop a student from the class as a result of

excessive absences (12.5% of the total hours of instruction in any term). The dates for

withdrawal and the related grades are also listed in the catalog.

Students should also read the Academic Honesty Statement in the Kilgore College Catalog to be

aware of potential penalties associated with academic dishonesty.

Each instructor reserves the right to make modifications in content and schedule as necessary to

promote the best education possible within the prevailing conditions affecting this course.

EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: (found in the Faculty Handbook for each

Core Component)

The student must be able to:

1) understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention,

organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation;

2) understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select

appropriate communication choices;

3) understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e., descriptive, expositive,

narrative, scientific, and self-expression in written, visual, and oral expression

4) demonstrate speaking processes through organization, drafting, revision, editing and

presentation

5) understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and

technical proficiency in the develop of exposition and argument;

6) develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or to give an oral

presentation.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

In learning to prepare speeches:

A. Students will identify the target audience for a speech

Activities: text readings, class lecture and discussion

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, and written assignments

(Meets EEO #2, 3)

B. Students will demonstrate an ability to distinguish between the general purpose and the

specific purpose of a speech topic

Activities: test readings, class lectures and discussions

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, and written assignments

(Meets EEO #1, 4, 5)

C. Students will apply critical thinking methodology to develop the central idea of a speech,

based upon the general purpose and the specific purpose

Activities: text readings, class lecture and discussion, internet search and/or library research

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, and written assignments

( Meets EEO # 1, 2, 4, 5, 6)

D. Students will locate, understand, and interpret written research materials supporting the

above-referenced concept for in-class presentations

Activities: text readings, class lecture and discussion, internet search and/or library research

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, and written assignments

(Meets EEO #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

E. Students will organize material logically and develop material adequately, providing a written

outline for each speech

Activities: text readings, class lectures and discussion

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, and written assignments

( Meets EEO #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

In learning to present speeches:

A. Students will discover the importance of practicing a presentation prior to presenting it to an

audience

Activities: text readings, class lectures and discussion

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, and written assignments

(Meets EEO # 1, 2, 4, 6)

B. Students will demonstrate effective oral presentation skills through a series of in-class

speeches.

Activities: text readings, class lectures and discussion, in-class presentations

Assessment: Evaluated speeches

(Meets EEO # 1, 2, 4, 6)

C. Students will discover effective methods to control stage fright

Activities: text readings, class lectures and discussion, in-class exercises

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, written assignments

(Meets EEO # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

D. Students will evaluate in-class presentations, either through videotape or by using their

classmates speeches, according to defined criteria.

Activities: text readings, class lectures and discussion, in-class exercises

Assessment: written assignments

(Meets EEO # 1, 2, 3, 5)

E. Students will distinguish between hearing and listening

Activities: text readings, class lectures and discussion, in-class exercises

Assessment: Unit tests, final examination, written assignments

(Meets EEO # 1, 2)

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F. Students will recall the elements of effective oral communication and the elements of

effective presentation.

Activities: text readings, class lectures and discussion

Assessment: Unit tests and final examination

(Meets EEO # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES:

Assigned Written Work (25%): Primarily, this section includes a series of three Unit Tests based on the material contained 12

chapters of the course textbook. However, each student is required to turn in a final copy of a

typed outline of his/her speech one week period prior to the dates for speaking; failure to turn in

the required outline at the required time will result in the student losing his/her speaking space

and receiving a grade of “0” for that speech.

Speaking Assignments (40%): Each student enrolled in Speech 1315 is expected to complete four speeches during the period of

time set aside for student speeches. Each speech will be assigned a numeric grade ranging from

"0" to "100." At the end of the time allotted for student speeches, the student's "Speaking

Assignments" grade (40% of the semester grade) will be determined by averaging the grades for

his/her four speeches. In the event that a student does not complete the four speeches within the

allotted speaking time, his/her average will be determined by adding together the total score on

the speeches that he/she does complete and dividing that total by four. The Kilgore College

speech faculty has determined that this method is the best way to encourage each student to

pursue constant improvement in his/her speaking assignments.

Final Examination Speech (20%)

The Final Examination Speech is in addition to the four speeches made during the "Speaking

Assignments" section of the course and will be given approximately two weeks before the

scheduled written final examinations begin during the fall and spring semesters and during the

final three class periods during summer classes. This speech must be no shorter than seven

minutes and no longer than twelve minutes in length.

As the single most important speech of the semester, it should be carefully written and rehearsed,

and it must be presented extemporaneously. Again, a final copy of the student’s typed outline is

due one week prior to the time for speaking. Like the other speeches, this speech is given a

numeric grade ranging from "0" to "100." A penalty of one point per five seconds will be

deducted from the student's grade for all deviations from the required time limits for this speech.

And, a speech that is one minute or more too short or one minute or more too long will

automatically receive a grade of “F.”

Written Final Examination (15%): This comprehensive test will be given during the period set aside for final exams on the Kilgore

College calendar. It will include the material from the textbook as well as any pertinent material

discussed during the semester.