University of Texas - Dallas

COMM 4334.002 Public and Professional Communication –Spring 2006

Public Speaking Focus T/R 11:00 – 12:15
Kathy Lingo

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to introduce you to the basic principles of public speaking. Emphasis is
placed on preparation (audience analysis, research, outlining, etc...) and performance. You will
be required to give five (5) individual formal speeches this semester, as well as, several “mini”
speeches for classroom exercises.

Text: The Art of Public Speaking, Stephen E. Lucas, Eighth Edition

Top Skills and Qualities of the Perfect Candidate (for a job)

Communication skills
(verbal and written)
Honesty/integrity
Interpersonal skills
Motivation/initiative
Strong work ethic
Teamwork skills
Analytical skills
Flexibility/adaptability
Source: Job Outlook 2004, National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Attendance and Participation:

• Regular and punctual attendance is expected. You learn from lecture, class discussion,
participating in experiential exercises and critically analyzing presentations. We will
cover a lot of information in a short period of time; absences are strongly discouraged.

• It is a departmental policy that attendance is taken. The participation grade is based

upon in-class assignments, attendance, tardies, general attitude and class behavior.

• For each class a student is marked absent the student will have 10 points taken off the
total attendance/participation grade. The student will only receive a perfect score if the
attendance is 100% and participates in all class assignments and discussions..

• After three absences the instructor has the right to give the student a final grade of
“F”, unless there has been an extreme emergency, in which medical and/or emergency
documentation will be required. The documentation must show that you were physically
unable to attend class on the date and time in question and must show medical attention
 University of Texas - Dallas
COMM 4334.002 Public and Professional Communication –Spring 2006
Public Speaking Focus T/R 11:00 – 12:15
Kathy Lingo
was received on that date and time. No other excuses are acceptable.

• It is your responsibility, when absent, to keep up with information discussed in class.

Please, do not call me for missing information. Important documents for this course are
posted on Webct and it is the student’s responsibility to read these documents.

• Professional and appropriate behavior is expected at all times. Do not try to finish
writing outlines or note cards in class during other presentations. Do not use the
classroom computers during presentations for any reason. You are to listen carefully to
all presentations in order analyze and discuss the successful or weakest elements of the
presentations. Do not read other materials at any time during this class. Simply stated,
rude or selfish behavior is not tolerated, whether it is verbal or nonverbal behavior. The
penalty for any rude behavior could cause you to fail this course.

• Although it may be bad form to disagree with the instructor in some classes, in a
communication class it is a virtue, when appropriate. As the philosopher Alfred North
Whitehead put it, “A clash of doctrines is not a disaster -- it is an opportunity.” The aim
of genuine argument is not to brow-beat one’s opponents into submission, but to promote
understanding and enlightenment. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to listen
with sympathy to other speakers. Having your position challenged by people who are
sincerely listening to what you are saying is a mark of respect. One of the goals of this
class is to encourage the art of constructive conversation.

Tardy Policy:

A student may enter the classroom up to 10 minutes late and will receive a “tardy”. After 10
minutes the student is welcome to join the class, but will receive an absence. If you enter the
classroom late, it is your responsibility to check with the instructor (directly after the class in
question) to make sure you are marked tardy rather than absent. In addition, the absence will only
be changed to a tardy if the student contacts me in writing through my webct email within 24
hours of the tardy. After 24 hours the change will not be made. The student must state the date
and exact time they entered the classroom. Three tardies will be calculated as an absence.

DO NOT ENTER THE CLASSROOM WHILE SOMEONE IS GIVING A SPEECH!!!!

Please wait outside the classroom until the speaker has finished before entering the classroom. If
you interrupt a speaker, ten (10) points will be taken off your next speaking assignment. If I am
speaking please feel free to enter the room at any time. Remember if you arrive more than ten
minutes late on a day you are assigned to speak you are considered absent and may not have the
opportunity to give your speech. Some students have tried to do last minute preparation for their
 University of Texas - Dallas
COMM 4334.002 Public and Professional Communication –Spring 2006
Public Speaking Focus T/R 11:00 – 12:15
Kathy Lingo
presentations and have tried to enter late to accomplish this work. This is not a good idea for this
class.

Withdrawal Policy:

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
courses. These dates and times are published in the semester’s course catalog. Administration
procedures must be followed. It is the student’s responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements
from any class. For more information, please call the Registrar’s Office. In other words, I cannot
drop or withdraw any student from any class. You must do the proper paperwork to insure that
you will not receive a final grade of “F” in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you
are enrolled.

Cheating/Plagiarism:

Everyone should know by now that looking on someone else’s paper to copy an answer is
cheating, however, there are many other forms and ways of cheating. If you use a “canned”
speech, (one that is already written in a textbook, off the Internet, or a stock speech from another
college and/or student) that is cheating. If you use the wording of another person or document
without giving credit to the source, that is cheating. Cheating insults and embarrasses both teacher
and student. There are few aspects of my job I do not dearly love, but prosecuting those who
cheat is one. However, I will not tolerate any academic or scholastic dishonesty in my classes.
Carefully read the college’s policy on cheating and plagiarism.

Ground Rules:

1. Class attendance on speech days is mandatory, even if you are not scheduled to speak.
Part of the course is learning to listen intelligently and to evaluate speeches. Many times
we learn vicariously by viewing the successes and mistakes of others. When you skip
your fellow students’ speeches, you are being rude to them, saying, in effect, “Your speech is
not worth my time.”

2. Your outline and manuscript should be neatly and professionally typed – the only hand
written items accepted for this class are your speaking cards. All outlines and manuscripts must
be typed and neatly organized. Any speech you present without turning in an outline and/or
manuscript prior to speaking will cost you 20 points off your grade. Your note cards (a
maximum of 2) and outline must be prepared before you speak. You will give me a copy of your
outline before you speak. Please do not try to email it to me after the presentation. If you do not
have a printed outline of your presentation to give me at your assigned time you will not be
 University of Texas - Dallas
COMM 4334.002 Public and Professional Communication –Spring 2006
Public Speaking Focus T/R 11:00 – 12:15
Kathy Lingo
allowed to give your speech. If you have any complete sentences on your note cards, other than
specific quotes, you will have ten points taken off your speech. You may be asked for your note
cards after your presentation.

3. You may not read any part of your speech (except for brief quotations). You should
rely only on brief notes contained on one to two index cards. No more than two index
cards may be used on each presentation. You maybe asked at any time to turn in your
index cards to your instructor. Three by five index cards only.

4. You must provide a question & answer period at the end of your speech. If noone asks
questions, don’t feel bad; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you gave a poor speech.
Perhaps you covered all the points, and there’s nothing left to ask about.

5. If you are not prepared to speak on the day scheduled, stand ready to speak at the next
class period. Your grade will be penalized 10 points for being late. You will not,
however, go first. The people scheduled for that class will be first; then, if time provides,
you will speak at the end of that class. If time does not allow, be prepared to speak when
the instructor finds additional class time. If the instructor finds the additional time in class
and you are not prepared on that day you will receive a zero for that assignment.

6. You must give all assigned speeches in order to get a passing grade for this course.

7. All presentations will be taped. You must bring a blank CD to class with your name
clearly labeled on it to get a copy of your presentation.

Grading Policy:

The Introductory Speech 10%

The Informative Speech 20%
The Persuasive Speech 20%
Special Occasion/After Dinner 10%
Final Speech (Informative or Persuasive) 20%
Attendance/Participation 10%
Exams/Tests 20%
 University of Texas - Dallas
COMM 4334.002 Public and Professional Communication –Spring 2006
Public Speaking Focus T/R 11:00 – 12:15
Kathy Lingo
Tests:

Tests will cover information from the textbook. This is the best way I know to reward students
for reading the material prescribed in class. You will only be allowed to make-up one (1) test per
semester. Please do not miss scheduled examinations -- test dates will be scheduled in advance.

Test 1…………10%
Test 2…………10%

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Dallas is to provide reasonable accommodations for
qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This college will adhere to all applicable
Federal, State and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable
accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s
responsibility to contact the faculty member and/or Student Services in a timely manner to
arrange for appropriate accommodations.