Speech 100: Fundamentals of Oral Communication

Spring Quarter 2008 – Monday - Thursday at  9, 10, and 11a.m.
Instructor: Dr. Vickie Ropp
Office: Bldg 5 – 206; Office Hours: M-Th  8-9a.m; W 12:15-1:15p.m. and by appointment
Phone: 206 – 878-3710, ext. 3434 --- Email: vropp@highline.edu; Web URL:  http://www.flightline.highline.edu/vropp

Course Description
Speech 100 provides students with a better understanding of the communication process, as a whole, while developing specific skills in public speaking, interpersonal communication and small group discussion. These areas will be examined relevant to school, work and home. The text, lectures, class activities and assignments are specifically designed to maximize learning. The focus is on becoming a more competent communicator.

Specific Course Objectives
As a result of this course students will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact communication has on our daily lives, appreciating its complexity and coping with how perception affects it;
• Identify and demonstrate proficiency in the use of skills necessary for competent interpersonal communication;
• Identify and demonstrate the ability to utilize the factors necessary for effective group communication;
• Present effective informative and persuasive public presentations;
• Learn to think critically, to communicate effectively, to develop information and visual literacy skills, and to interact productively and ethically with individuals from diverse backgrounds. This year there will be special emphasis on information and visual literacy-- defined as:  
  
  The ability to assess the information requirements of complex projects, to identify potential textual, visual and electronic resources, to obtain the needed information, to interpret, evaluate, synthesize, organize, and use that information, regardless of format, while adhering strictly to the legal and ethical guidelines governing information access in today’s society.

Textbook
Adler, R. & Rodman, G. Understanding Human Communication, 9^th Ed., New York, NY: Oxford University, Inc., 2006.

Materials
Required-----One ½ inch VHS videotape; 3-ring binder

Tips for Class Success
Start early on assignments (e.g. readings, speeches, study guides, etc.).
Attend class regularly, listen actively and participate fully.
Form study groups to review chapter and class lecture material. Your group can also serve as a sounding board for topic ideas, speech content, and as an audience for practicing your speeches.
Use the communication principles presented in class and the text in your daily life.

Attendance
Attendance is vital. four hours of absences are allowed without penalty. Absences beyond four hours will result in .1 reduction in final course grade for each hour of absence.  Daily class attendance is  9-9:50am; 10-10:50am and 11am- 12:02pm.  Coming late or leaving early diminishes your class attendance.

Accommodations
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with the instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please provide the instructor with the Letter of Accommodation you have received from the Office of Access Services (Building 99, Rm. 180) so that accommodations may be made.

Assignments and Grades
Your grade will be based on three speeches, six seminars, three exams, two annotated bibliographies, eight Blackboard postings, one self-reflection, and class participation. Please bring a scantron sheet for each exam.

Participation includes such activities as:
Scavenger Hunt  (DUE Thursday of the first week of classes).
Notetaking
Attitude toward students and class
Preparation for class discussions/speeches/study guides
Critique of student speeches (self and others)
Asking relevant questions in class
Bringing in outside examples related to class content
Helpfulness in conducting the class (i.e. timer, camera operator, helping students set up for speeches, etc.)
Coming to class on time
Turning assignments in on time
Remembering to turn off your cell phone
Daily attendance

Important --- Important ---Important!!!
Academic honesty maintains the integrity of the students and the college. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of dishonesty are unacceptable at Highline Community College and are subject to disciplinary action.  If an assignment is plagiarized, you will be given a zero for that assignment.  If a second incidence of plagiarism occurs, you will receive a 0.0 for the course.

Late speeches, outlines, papers, and tests will be accepted with a minimum of 25% reduction for 1 day late; 50% for two days late 75% for three days late and no credit after 4 days.  Seminars may NOT be made up.  If you miss your assigned speech date, you are responsible for videotaping your talk and turning it in (with an outline) to the instructor within five days of your return to class. You may videotape on the 6^th floor of the library (bring your own tape), or any other source you have available. Please use VHS size tape. Only one speech may be made up in this manner.

Grading Scale

1000 – 950 = 4.0             849 – 840 = 2.9                       739 – 730 = 1.8                       629 – 620 = .07

  949 – 940 = 3.9             839 – 830 = 2.8                       729 – 720 = 1.7                       619 – 610 = .06

  939 – 930 = 3.8             829 – 820 = 2.7                       719 – 710 = 1.6                       609 – 600 = .05

  929 – 920 = 3.7             819 – 810 = 2.6                       709 – 700 = 1.5                       599 – 590 = .04

  919 – 910 = 3.6             809 – 800 = 2.5                       699 – 690 = 1.4                       589 – 580 = .03

  909 – 900 = 3.5             799 – 790 = 2.4                       689 – 680 = 1.3                       579 – 570 = .02

  899 – 890 = 3.4             789 – 780 = 2.3                       679 – 670 = 1.2                       569 – 560 = 0.1

  889 -  880 = 3.3             779 – 770 = 2.2                       669 – 660 = 1.1                       559 – 550 = 0.0

  879 – 870 = 3.2             769 – 760 = 2.1                       659 – 650 = 1.0

  869 – 860 = 3.1             759 – 750 = 2.0                       649 – 640 = 0.9

  859 – 850 = 3.0             749 – 740 = 1.9                       639 – 630 = 0.8

Now that you've seen the outside view, take a look at the inside view...

It's made entirely of one-way glass!  No one can see you from the outside, but when you are inside it's like sitting in a clear glass box!

Is this a face?  Or the word liar?