Rancourt 1

Com 102, Communication in an Information Society

3 credits, Fall 2014, Monday and Wednesday 4:15-5:30PM VLIB 264

Instructor: Mike Rancourt, PhD 1

Class Website: Angel at LMS.wsu.edu
Office: VMMC 102P
Phone: (360) 546-9445 (office hours only)
Office Hours: M, W 3:15-4:10PM
Email: Rancourt.Michael@WSU.edu
Also check Live Chat on Angel during office hours and other times if you have questions.
Course Description:
This course explores concepts of oral communication and public address, focusing on theories and techniques of
constructing, delivering, and reflecting on the effectiveness of speeches delivered before an audience and
speeches recorded and shared through digital technologies. The types of speeches covered include those
delivered for the purpose of entertaining, informing, and persuading an audience. Students develop speaking skills
through practice and reflection on their own performances and on the feedback of their classmates and the
instructor.
Required text:
Wadleigh, P., Communication in an Information Society: Principles and Practice (2014). McGraw-Hill. ISBN:
9780697813701 (Available in the book store)
Hybrid class:
Because this course emphasizes the information society, 2 it is run as a hybrid class. That means that some of the
work will be done online, including the posting of videos. Therefore, students must have access to a digital device
(computer, tablet, smart phone) with high speed internet access, a digital video camera, and the means to connect
to the Angel Learning Management System. There, you will record and post videos of yourself giving speeches,
respond to fellow students speeches, and do some of the course administration work. You also need access to the
advertising-driven, for-profit video sharing website YouTube, which requires a free user account. If you are not
familiar with these tools, you should spend time at the beginning of the semester getting familiar with them. I can
help. I am also asking students with greater experience and comfort with technological devices and applications to
produce tutorials at the beginning of the semester to help less comfortable classmates use the technology more
effectively.

Call me Mike.
Information society may refer to the preponderance or ubiquity of information technologies and the
commoditization of information as a result of this ubiquity. In other words, people can say we live in an
information society because computers seem to be very important in many peoples lives, and a lot of what we do
these days is all about producing, distributing, and collecting information.

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Grading:
The grading in this course might seem unusual and complicated in some ways. In other ways, its super simple.
The simple part is this: Your grade will depend on the number of assignments you complete at a college level of
work. I use a form of what is called contract grading in my classes. That means at the beginning of the semester,
you sign a contract in which you tell me what grade you intend to aim for in the class. Whatever grade you want
to have at the end of the course determines how many assignments you will do throughout the semester. If you
fail to complete the number youre contracted for, your grade will be lowered one full letter for each missed
assignment. The contract also includes attendance, and your grade is lowered 1/3 of a letter for each day you miss
beyond that allowed by each level of the grading system. For example, if you want to go for a B in the class, youre
required to complete five assignments and miss no more than four classes. If you complete five assignments but
are absent five times, your final grade will be a B-. If, however, you only complete four assignments and miss five
classes, your grade will be a C- (B 1/3 for attendance 1 letter grade for assignments). The terms of each grade
level are listed below:
For an A:
Miss no more than three classes
Complete at a college level six assignments by their due dates (at least one must be an in-class persuasive
or informative speech, at least one must be a video)
Provide helpful commentary on a minimum of five fellow students speeches on Angel
For a B:
Miss no more than four classes
Complete at a college level five assignments by their due dates (at least two must be in-class speeches,
and at least one must be an in-class persuasive or informative speech, at least one must be a video)
Provide helpful commentary on a minimum of five fellow students speeches on Angel
For a C:
Miss no more than five classes
Complete at a college level four assignments by their due dates (at least two must be in-class speeches, at
least one must be an in-class persuasive or informative speech, at least one must be a video)
Provide helpful commentary on a minimum of five fellow students speeches on Angel
Assignments:
The following is a brief description of each of the assignment students may choose from in fulfilling their grade
contracts. More detailed descriptions and samples are available under the Discussion Forums on Angel.
1.

2.

Produce a how-to tutorial for your classmates. If youre technically savvy, you may choose to create an
audio-video-text tutorial demonstrating either (1) the method for posting videos on Angel using a
webcam or (2) creating and editing videos with third party software and raw audio and visual materials.
DUE: POSTED ON ANGEL BY MIDNIGHT 9-3-14.
A-R-E mini speech (1 minute). This is a very simple assignment that gives you an experience using a triedand-true rhetorical structure of making a point. A-R-E stands for assertion (I claim that), reason
(Because), and evidence (heres why). It is found in the core of every persuasive doctrine, and
perhaps surprisingly its also a key element in genuine, intimate human interpersonal communication
YOU MUST DO AT LEAST THREE (3) OF THESE MINISPEECHES TO GET CREDIT FOR THE ASSIGNMENT
DUE: FIRST GIVEN IN CLASS BY SEPT. 15TH, SECOND BY OCT. 15TH, THIRD BY NOV. 17TH

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Creative performance without additional audio or video embellishments in front of class (2-9 minutes).
This will be a performance of a piece of literature, a poem, dramatic monologue, or short piece of prose.
It could be a poem you wrote or a recitation of a favorite scene from a play or film. Please choose a
different text for each of your creative performances. DUE: IN CLASS BETWEEN 9-10-14 AND 9-29-14.
4. Creative performance without additional audio or video embellishments posted to Angel (2-9 minutes).
See above for description. This is not a video of you doing a creative performance in front of an audience.
This is a video of you speaking to a camera and the audience who will watch the video output. Please
choose a different text for each of your creative performances. DUE: POSTED ON ANGEL BY MIDNIGHT 108-14.
5. Creative performance with additional audio and/or video embellishments posted to Angel (2-9 minutes).
This may differ from the above creative performances because now youre editing the videoperhaps by
adding images, perhaps by adding background soundsto make the performance more entertaining.
Please choose a different text for each of your creative performances. This is not a video of you doing a
creative performance in front of an audience. This is a video of you speaking to a camera and the
audience who will watch the video output. Please choose a different text for each of your creative
performances. DUE: POSTED ON ANGEL BY MIDNIGHT 10-8-14.
6. Informative speech, without any props or visual aids in front of the class (4-6 minutes). This will be a
short speech introducing an object, process, event, or concept of public or community concern. Post an
outline of your speech on Angel before you come to class the day you speak. DUE: IN CLASS BETWEEN 108-14 AND 10-22-14.
7. Informative speech, on video posted to Angel (4-6 minutes). This is not a video of you giving an
informative speech in front of an audience. This is a video of you speaking to a camera and the audience
who will watch the video output. Please choose a different text for each of your informative speeches.
Post an outline of your speech on Angel in the same discussion forum thread where you post the video.
DUE: POSTED ON ANGEL BY MIDNIGHT 11-17-14.
8. Informative speech, with props and/or visual aids in front of the class (4-6 minutes). This is an
informative speech introducing an object, process, event, or concept of public or community concern in
which you use visual aids or props to help make your point and connect to your audience. Post an outline
of your speech on Angel before you come to class the day you speak. DUE: IN CLASS BETWEEN 10-29-14
AND 11-12-14.
9. Persuasive speech, in front of the class (4-6 minutes). This is a speech on a topic of your choosing dealing
with questions of fact, value, or policy of public or community concern. Visual aids are optional. Post an
outline of your speech on Angel before you come to class the day you speak. DUE: IN CLASS BETWEEN 121-14 AND 12-10-14.
10. Persuasive speech, on video posted to Angel (4-6 minutes). This is a speech on a topic of your choosing
dealing with questions of fact, value, or policy of public or community concern. Post an outline of your
speech on Angel in the same discussion forum thread where you post the video. DUE: POSTED ON ANGEL
BY MIDNIGHT 12-10-14.
11. Collaborative news broadcast (7-10 minutes working in teams of two or three). For this project, students
will play the role of anchor people reading the news from a script (use cue cards). Model your delivery off
real-life news anchors. Post the script of your speech on Angel in the same discussion forum thread
where you post the video. DUE: POSTED ON ANGEL BY MIDNIGHT 12-10-14.
3.

NOTE: There is one assignment that is required for all grading levels: Provide helpful commentary on a minimum of
five fellow students speeches on Angel.

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This form of grading is designed to enact a trusting relationship with the student, trusting them to make their own
decisions about their work and their time. It can also greatly reduce the stress and the competition for students. I
believe that students learn and develop skills by doing things and by exploring issues that interest them, not by
guessing what the teacher wants them to say or how the teacher wants them to say it. This course is designed to
provide students with many resources and many opportunities to practice their communication skills in many
different ways. The grading system attempts to reflect that, as well.
Attendance:
As described above, attendance is a part of the overall grade in the class. Because a certain number of absences
are built into the grading system, there is no such thing as an excused or unexcused absence except in the case of
official school business like athletics requiring a student to miss a certain number of classes. However, you must
inform me of your participation in such activities at the time of your contract agreement. I dont do excused
absences because its not my business to judge your reasons for missing class. I trust that if you miss class, you
have a reason thats good for you. I also trust that youll do what needs to be done to make up for your absence
(i.e. asking a classmate for notes, turning in assignments electronically that were due that day, etc).
Technology Devices in Class:
I encourage students to use their laptops and such to take notes in class. I mean, its 2014, for Petes sake!
Mutual Consideration:
Please view this class as a community. That means it is the task of all members of the community to take care of
themselves and each other. I am not a police officer. It is not my job to make sure you stay in line. I am not in
the business of telling people what to do or disciplining anyone. What I am getting at is this: if someone or
something is causing a distraction or disturbance in class, dont wait for me to solve the problem like I am some
hard-nosed authority figure. If someone is distracting you, ask them nicely to stop doing so. The flip side of this is
that everybody should try to be aware that what they are doing might be distracting to others. Dont take it
personally if somebody asks you to stop distracting them. Do your best to trust that they are doing so in good
faith, not because they are mean but because they are trying to concentrate.
WSUV Reasonable Accommodation Statement:
Accommodations may be available if you need them in order to fully participate in this class because of a disability.
Accommodations may take some time to implement so it is critical that you contact Disability Services as soon as
possible. All official accommodations must be approved through Disability Services, located in the Student
Resource Center on the Lower Level of Student Services Center, (360) 546-9138.
WSU Academic Integrity Statement:
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of the university. Any student found in violation of the academic integrity
policy will be denied credit for an assignment (lowering the contracted grade by one full letter) and will be referred
to the Office of Student Conduct. For additional information about WSUs Academic Integrity policy/procedures,
please contact (360) 546-9573.
Emergency Notification System:
WSU has made an emergency notification system available for faculty, students, and staff. Please register at zzusis
with emergency contact information (cell, email, text, etc.). You may have been prompted to complete emergency
contact information when registering for classes at RONet. In the event of a building evacuation, a map at each
classroom entrance shows the evacuation point for each building. Please refer to it. Finally, in case of class
cancellation campus-wide, please check local media, the WSU Vancouver web page and/or

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http://www.flashalert.net/. Individual class cancellations may be made at the discretion of the instructor. Each
individual is expected to make the best decision for their personal circumstances, taking safety into account. Safety
plan website.
Tracking Your Progress Toward UCORE Learning Goals:
Learning Goals
Information Literacy

Diversity

Effective multi-modal
communication

Effective written
communication

At the end of this course,

students should be able to:
Determine the nature and
extent of information
needed for purpose-specific
communication activities;
plan effectively to research
and gather needed
information
Exhibit sensitivity to social,
cultural, and intellectual
interest, listening styles,
and needs of any audience

Course topics that advance

these learning goals:
Informative Speech Outline
and delivery, Persuasive
Speech Outline and
Delivery, Exams

This objective will be

evaluated primarily by:
Informative Speech Outline
and delivery, Persuasive
Speech Outline and Delivery

All speech and performance

assignments, and peer
critiques require in-depth
audience analysis

Produce effective, high

quality communication in
front of an audience, in a
small group/team activity,
via mediated
communication: recording
video and audio
presentation with
PowerPoint, uploading
presentations for online
sharing
Organize thoughts into a
succinct yet comprehensive
message expressing both
concrete and abstract ideas

All speech and performance

assignments (except the inclass creative performance
and ARE mini speeches)
utilize two or more of the
communication modalities

Topic selection, language

(diction) choices and
delivery, and respectful
tone and attention
grabbing structures and
themes are key indicators
of suitability of a
presentation to an
audience
Effective delivery will
require different skills
depending on modality and
context: impact, clarity,
comprehensibility are key
indicators of mastery and
proper use of a
medium/modality

Writing comprehensive
outlines (approximately 2
pages each) for the:
Informative Speech and
Persuasive Speech

Instructors will look for

evidence of: commonalities
in ideas and themes
detected and employed
properly, ideas of varying
levels of abstraction sorted
properly, with no confusion
of levels; understanding
compatibility and
incompatibility among
commonly advanced
theses; detection and
exploitation among themes
and points of view, these
and evidence

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Schedule:
Around the end of the second week, we will have to work together to set up a speaking schedule for the
rest of the semester. Below is a rough estimate of what the schedule might look like, though it all
depends.
Monday 8-25
Introductions
Wednesday 8-27
Public communication discussion (no readings due)
Monday 9-1
LABOR DAY, NO CLASS

Monday 10-20
Informative speech (no visual aids)
Wednesday 10-22
Informative speech (no visual aids)
Monday 10-27
Using visual aids and props (text available on Angel)

Wednesday 9-3
Giving your first speech (Wadleigh 38-50); Tutorials posted on
Angel by midnight; Grade Contracts due in class

Wednesday 10-29
Informative speech (visual aid)

Monday 9-8
Performance of Literature (Wadleigh 90-102)

Monday 11-3
Informative speech (visual aid)

Wednesday 9-10
Creative performance

Wednesday 11-5
Informative speech (visual aid)

Monday 9-15
Creative performance

Monday 11-10
Informative speech (visual aid)

Wednesday 9-17
Creative performance

Wednesday 11-12
Informative speech (visual aid)

Monday 9-22
Creative performance

Monday 11-17
Speaking to Persuade (Wadleigh 104-128); Informative Speech
video posted on Angel by midnight

Wednesday 9-24
Creative performance
Monday 9-29
Creative performance
Wednesday 10-1
Speaking to Inform (Wadleigh 52-72)
Monday 10-6
Outlining your speech (Wadleigh 74-88);
Wednesday 10-8
Informative speech (no visual aids); Creative performance
without additional audio or video embellishments posted on
Angel by midnight; Creative performance without additional
audio or video embellishments posted on Angel by midnight
Monday 10-13
Informative speech (no visual aids)
Wednesday 10-15
Informative speech (no visual aids)

Wednesday 11-19
Methods of persuasion (Wadleigh 130-156)
Monday 11-24
T-GIVING BREAK, NO CLASS
Wednesday 11-26
T-GIVING BREAK, NO CLASS
Monday 12-1
In-class persuasive speeches
Wednesday 12-3
In-class persuasive speeches
Monday 12-8
In-class persuasive speeches
Wednesday 12-10
In-class persuasive speeches; Persuasive Speech video posted on
Angel by midnight; Collaborative News Broadcast video posted
on Angel by midnight