Class Reading and Assignment Schedule
SPCH 3605, Sec. 1
Fall Semester, 2000
Ford Hall, B80: 10:10 a.m. -- 11:00 a.m.
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Instructor: |
Kirt H. Wilson |
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Mailbox: |
250 Ford Hall |
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Office Hours: |
Mon. 11:15-12:15, Wed. 2:15-4:00, Thurs. 10:-11:30 |
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Office: |
263 Ford Hall |
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Office Phone: |
612.624.5235 |
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Email: |
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Web Page: |
Course Description
Whereas "Introduction to Public Speaking" (Spch 1101) emphasizes the student's ability to create and perform speeches, Persuasive Speaking combines public performance with critical inquiry into the theories and assumptions of rhetoric. As a result, this course strengthens each student's writing and thinking skills as well as her or his speaking abilities. Moreover, critical discussion is central to this class because collaborative inquiry allows us to pursue its fundamental question: How do humans use language so that words and symbols adjust ideas to people and people to ideas?
Required Texts:Karlyn Kohrs Campbell, The Rhetorical Act 2nd ed. (Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1996).
Various texts located at Wilson library on reserve or on the web page.
Attendance Policy:Regular attendance in this course is mandatory. Everyone is allowed three "un-excused" absences; thereafter, every absence will reduce your final participation grade by a full letter (e.g., B- becomes C-). If you are absent without excuse on a day when you are scheduled to speak or take an exam, you may receive a zero for that assignment. In other words, you are not automatically entitled to make-up a speech or exam that you have missed, and late written assignments will reduce your grade two levels (e.g., B+ becomes a B-). Written proof of illness or external scholastic/athletic activity is cause for an "excused" absence, and individual allowances will be made in such cases.
Please Note: I will hand out detailed instructions as each assignment draws nearer. To review earlier versions of these assignments visit the following web page: http://www.comm.umn.edu/~kwilson/psassign.html. The instructions for this semester may be slightly different from what you see there.
Apologia Speech (15%)
For this assignment you must respond to an accusation of ethical
impropriety. Your purpose is to minimize the damage caused by an alleged
breech of social norms.
Professional Persuasive Speech (20%)
You must convince a small group of experts to follow your recommendations
with regard to a particular project. I will provide a list of project topics
from the class's professional interests, and based on these areas you must
persuade a fictional committee to adopt your proposal.
Social Transformation Speech (20%)
You are a social activist seeking to transform public opinion, beliefs,
and values. Your purpose is to craft a message that creates a definable
community and causes the audience to re-consider its position.
During the final week of class you will take a cumulative exam. The exam will have true/false, multi-choice, and short answer questions.
Participation (10% of Total Grade)
Class participation will comprise 5% of everyone's final grade. You will influence this grade through your attendance, your willingness to participate in class discussion, evidence that you have kept up with the reading, and your behavior as a class citizen treating your peers with respect and consideration.
Field Assignment (15% of Total Grade)
This assignment requires that you apply the class's principles to an actual "real life" speaking situation. Each student will observe and critique one speech that transpires outside of class. The speech may stem from any number of rhetorical acts: a sermon, pep rally, formal academic lecture, etc. You must complete a five to seven page evaluation of the observed speech identifying its strengths and weaknesses in the areas of content, structure and delivery.
Peer Critiques (Built into your speech grades above)
This assignment seeks to sensitize students to the dynamics of public speaking while it provides feedback for individual speakers. Rarely are speeches right or wrong, but they almost always can be better. On the occasion of each speech assignment you will critique the performance of two classmates for which you will receive a check that marks your speech assignment as completed. Without this check, you will not receive credit for your own speech. These critiques are due during the first class period after the last speech date, and each will be at least ½ in lenth.
Strategy Reports (Built into your speech grades above)
These reports are a central aspect of each speech assignment. Described by Campbell on page 387, they give you and I a clear picture of the prepared speech. Manuscripts are also required for the first two speeches. (Strategy reports are due on the day students perform the related speech.)
To receive a passing grade, every student must complete the work assigned in the course. I will allow an incomplete only for extraordinary circumstances. If you feel that you require an incomplete, come and speak with me. If we concur, we will construct a schedule of expectations that we will both sign.
Statement Regarding DisabilitiesA+ = 100%-97% A = 96%-94% A- = 93%-90%
B+ = 89%-87% B = 86%-84% B- = 83%-80%
C+ = 79%-77% C = 76%-74% C- = 73%-70%
D+ = 69%-67% D = 66%-60% F = 59%-
The U of M has a policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate or complete assignments. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact me to discuss their individual needs for accommodations.
Academic HonestyTo plagiarize is to "present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source." You are expected to have read and understood that section of the CLA Bulletin that outlines your responsibilities regarding academic conduct. Any cases of academic misconduct will result in an F for the course. Examples include but are not limited to: