COM 199  - Presentational Communication Skills

Syllabus

 

Fall 2004

Sections 002, 401, 402

 

Instructor:  Don Lowe

Office Hours:  MWF 12-12:45 p.m. TR 2:30-3:15 p.m. or by appointment

E-mail:  dlowe2@uky.edu        Phone: 257-2954       Office:  240 Grehan Building

 

 

REQUIRED MATERIAL:

 

     Textbook:              Hair, Dan, Stewart, Bob and Rubenstein, Hannah (2001).  A Speaker's

                                    Guidebook.  Boston and New York, Bedford/St. Martin's.

 

     Video Cassette:   We will tape two of your presentations.

 

     Email Account:    You will need an email address to receive announcements between class

                                    Meetings

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

COM 199 is a one-credit course in presentational communication skills designed to provide the basic foundation and instruction for preparing and delivering effective oral presentations.  Learning how to present messages will be accomplished in this semester-long course through a combination of listening and speaking assignments and activities.  Within this limited time, we cannot expect you to develop your presentational skills fully; rather, this is only a beginning.  You will be expected to work on your presentational skills as you proceed through your remaining course work.

 

This course can be used in conjunction with students course work as a part of a limited number of programs approved by the University Studies Committee to satisfy the Oral Communication Skills part of USP.  Note:  If you change majors to one that does not fit in this category, COM 199 alone is not sufficient to meet the USP requirement.  Should you have questions about this requirement, contact the USP Office (257-3027).

 

ADDITIONAL HELP:     

If you have a particular question or concern, contact me to set up a special appointment time, or you can contact me via email at any time and I will try to respond quickly.

 

Please ask questions whenever you are not sure of something.  The benefits you receive in this class are directly proportional to you efforts in keeping up with the readings and assignments and in actively participating in class to build trust, cooperation, support and mutual respect.  Please take an active role in your own learning.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Given the once-per-week format of this class, it is essential for you to attend each day.  If your absence is not excused, you will receive a grade of 0 for any in-class assignments that day.  In addition, you are required to attend class whenever any student is scheduled to speak, since we believe every student speaker is entitled to have an audience.  On a speaking day, I must approve your absence or each such absence will result in a deduction of 5 points from the points you accumulate for your course grade.  Should you be absent on your assigned speaking day, you will be allowed to make up the speech only if I officially excuse the absence.

 

You are responsible for contacting me regarding any absences.  You must present written documentation for any university-approved activity in advance of the absence and for any other absence within two weeks of you return to class.  Let me know as soon as you know you¹ll be absent.  For unanticipated emergencies of any variety, call 257-2954 to leave a message for me. 

If you miss any class period activity, you may be allowed to make up possible points only if your absence is officially excused AND if the activity is one you can complete individually.

 

CONFLICTS WITH COMMON HOUR EXAMS:

You will NOT be excused from class to take a common hour exam for another course.  If you face such a conflict, you are responsible for notifying the instructor giving the exam that you are enrolled in a course which conflicts with the exam.  This notification must be in writing and must be presented to the exam instructor at least two weeks prior to each exam.  Under the University Senate Rules, the instructor giving the exam must provide an alternate exam time.

 

ACADEMIC OFFENSES: PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING:

All of your work in COM 199 (and in all your other classes) is to be your own, except when you are working in groups.  Definitions of two academic offenses -- plagiarism and cheating and the penalties for committing these offenses are listed in your copy of the UK Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook  (available online at http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/.) If you have any doubts or questions about whether you may be committing either of these offenses, please check with me in advance.  Afterwards may be too late.  The minimum sanction for committing either of theses offenses is an E grade for the entire course that subsequent repeat-options will not erase.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

For this course, you will be expected to:

     1.  Be on time for all class meetings.

     2.  Interact productively in class discussions and group activities.

     3.  Be prepared daily for discussions and quizzes by reading all assigned material before the

          day it is listed on the course schedule.

     4.  Obtain and check your email account on a regular basis for class announcements.

     5.  Successfully deliver all oral presentations.

     6.  Submit all written assignments at the beginning of class on the designated due date.

 

CLASS ENVIROMENT:

Your involvement as a listener, speaker and active participant provides a positive learning opportunity for each class member.  Accordingly, you are encouraged to come to class prepared to be active.  Completing the required reading and written assignments on time are only a part of active participation.  While the hope is that you will be interested and involved in all that we do, I will try to do my best to provide you with a safe learning environment where you are expected to share, to grow and to succeed.  If we are able to establish such a collaborative learning environment, we all can look forward to a productive and useful time together that might also be fun.

There are certain basic standards of classroom civility to which you will be expected to adhere.  Civility does not eliminate appropriate humor and enjoyment, but does include the following:

     1.  Displaying respect for all members of the classroom community, including the instructor

          and fellow students;

     2.  Attentiveness to and participation in lectures, presentations, group activities and other

          classroom exercises;

     3.  Avoidance of unnecessary disruptions during class, such as private conversations,

          reading the newspaper, or doing work for other classes;

     4.  Avoidance of racist, sexist, homophobic, and other negative language that may

          unnecessarily exclude members of our campus and classroom community;

     5.  Avoidance of any other behaviors that may detract from a pleasant, inclusive and

          productive learning environment.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: 

If you have a special need that may require accommodation or assistance, please let me know as soon as possible and no later than the end of the second class meeting. 

ASSIGNMENTS:

Grading for this course will be based on the successful completion of oral presentations, written work and in-class activities.  This is an oral communication skills course and you will be provided with many opportunities to develop these skills through presentations and in-class activities.  In addition, you will be expected to communicate your comprehensive and application of course concepts through written assignments.

                            

Formal Presentations 200 Points

For each of these presentations you are to speak extemporaneously that is, you should be prepared thoroughly, but should not memorize the speech, nor may you read it word-for-word from a manuscript.  You may use notes or a speaking outline.

Time limits are necessary to allow all class speakers to complete the assignment on schedule and to give you practice fitting material into a given time allotment.  The time limit is an important part of each assignment.  To abuse the time limit by speaking either too long or not long enough means that your presentation does not meet the requirements of the assignment.  As you prepare your presentation, please allow yourself enough opportunity to practice so you are able to meet the time limit.

We will videotape your Short Speech and Long Speech presentations.  In addition, you will receive written and oral comments from me for each presentation.  These comments are intended to help you in future presentations.

Short Speech (50 points)  This presentation has a time limit of 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. You must use at least one visual aid in this presentation.  Topics will be discussed in class.

Long Speech (100 points)  This will be an informative speech with a time limit of 3-5 minutes.

The primary emphasis is to inform us, in an interesting manner, about something of interest to you and your audience and that is considered current and NOT controversial.  You must use more than one visual aid in this presentation.

Community Speaker Presentation (50 points) Your task is to observe a speaker and do an analysis.  We will do this in class.

Impromptu Presentations - 50 Points

You will deliver five impromptu presentations during the semester.  Topics will be assigned in class and preparation will take place Œon the spot¹.  These presentations are designed to help you practice the organization and delivery skills learned in class.

Outlines - 50 Points

You will prepare formal outlines for the Short Speech and Long Speech presentations.  Specific guidelines will be provided in class.  Outlines are due on the date listed on the attached course schedule.  Late outlines will not be graded, but may be submitted for evaluation/feedback.  The outline for the Short Speech is worth 20 points.  The outline for the Long Speech is worth 30 points.

Evaluations - 50 points

Peer (25 points) For the Short Speech presentation, you will provide written feedback to one of your classmates.  The evaluation should be one-page typed.

Self  (25 points) After viewing your Short Speech presentation on tape, you will provide a one-page evaluation.

GRADING CRITERIA:  

Grades for all assignments will be based on completeness and demonstration of mastery of course concepts.  Grades will not be assigned based on effort or improvement; however, you should expect to improve your presentation skills over the semester, especially with concerted effort.  There are 400 possible points for the semester.  Course grades will be assigned to the following scale.

Grading Scale

A = 350-315  B=314-283  C=282-255  D=254-229  E=228-0