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KEENE STATE COLLEGE

Communication Department
IHCOMM 171 PUBLIC SPEAKING SPRING 2015
IHCOMM 171-01, 171-02, 171-03 (all sections M/W)
Instructor:
E-mail:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone/Voice Mail:
Campus mailbox:

Deborah Doubleday, M.Ed.

ddoubled@keene.edu
Media Arts Center, room 122
M/W 9am and by individual appointment
(603) 358-8888, voicemail #4138
in Media Arts Center Office

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Through experience in a variety of speaking situations, students

gain self-confidence in organization of thought and self-expression.
OBJECTIVES:
Students will engage in a variety of activities designed to promote
competency in public speaking delivery, organization of ideas, acquiring and evaluating
supporting materials, word and language choice, audience analysis, effective listening, and
the construction and presentation of narrative, tribute, informative and persuasive speeches.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be able to:
Public Speaking Outcomes
Organize what one wishes to convey
Speak with purpose when conveying thoughts/ideas
Avoid fillers (uh, you know, like) when conveying thoughts/ideas
Develop the skill to use emotional involvement as a tool of respectful
engagement with the listener
Meet allotted speech time guidelines
Project voice so all can hear
Use language appropriate for the audience
Demonstrate thoroughness of research and effective preparation in making a
formal presentation
Engage the listener through verbal and non-verbal behaviors
Demonstrate an awareness of the listener and the response of others to what
is being said
Listening Outcomes
Evaluate the content of the presentation, regardless of the speakers style of
delivery
Identify personal roadblocks to listening
Analyze emotional involvement while listening
Make notes regarding key points in order to question or respond effectively
Writing Outcomes
Write with purpose
Write for an audience
Organize, state and develop ideas clearly
Write with syntactical and grammatical competence
Understand and value academic honesty
Write with an organizational schema
Incorporate research appropriately
Write with authority
Develop complex positions or arguments through writing

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Please note that your work may be randomly selected for review for the purposes of
assessing the effectiveness of the Integrative Studies Program. Your work will be reviewed
only by faculty responsible for assessing the effectiveness of the Integrative Studies
Program, and your confidentiality will be maintained.

TEXT AND MATERIALS: OHair, D., Stewart, R., Rubenstein, H. (2012). A Speakers
Guidebook with The Essential Guide to Rhetoric. Boston, MA:
Bedford/St. Martins.
A means of video recording your speeches: computer, cell phone,
personal video cam, digital camera with video cam capability, etc.
COURSE METHODOLOGY: The instructor honors multiple intelligences and learning styles.
A variety of interactive, experiential, and traditional learning methods will be used, including
small/large group discussions and activities, student speech-giving, mini-lectures, analysis of
filmed and live speeches, reflective writing activities, self-evaluations, quizzes, etc.
COURSE STRUCTURE and EXPECTATIONS: This course offers students the opportunity to
learn about, construct, deliver, listen to, and evaluate public presentations that are relevant to
both the speaker and an audience.
All sections of Public Speaking ask students to speak about topics of national and
international importance. One goal of the course is to help you become a more informed
citizen.
Dr. Nigel Malcolm, Chairperson of the KSC Communication Department, has stated that
learning to speak in public is only one side of the coin. The other side is having something to
say that is worth hearing. Becoming an engaging speaker takes practice. Becoming a
knowledgeable speaker takes preparation. Students in this course should look forward to
hearing/learning something new about the world in every speech. Therefore:
1. Every speech in the Public Speaking course must draw on current events in the news.
(Entertainment gossip and sports commentary are not generally considered news in the
context of this class.)
2. Students should read and watch the news regularly in order to become more
informed as listeners and as speakers.
3. The first informative speech must address a recent or on-going issue of domestic
importance (U.S.)
4. The second informative speech must draw on an issue of international importance
dealing with a recent issue or problem in a foreign country (not the U.S.).
5. The persuasive speech must also address either an important domestic or
international issue.
6. Five or more sources are required for each speech.
Three sources must be explicitly cited (verbalized) in the body of each speech. These
must include one scholarly article in a peer-reviewed journal, one newspaper
article, and one statistical source drawn from a nationally or internationally
recognized organization.
CANVAS: Check Canvas daily for updates (and especially the evening before each class
session). It will be used to post course materials, information, and grades. Handouts,
assignments, updated course information will be available. If you are unable to access Canvas
or our course site, please contact the HelpDesk at (603) 358-2532.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Deadlines and Document Management.

No credit is given for assignments submitted more than 10 days late.
Grade penalties will be assigned for late speeches, assignments, or
handwritten papers (1/2 letter grade per class up to the deadline).
You may trade speech dates with another student -- if the student is willing & you
email me your intent (any speech).
ALL documents MUST BE Microsoft WORD files.
Request a receipt/confirmation of email documents sent to the instructor.
Keyboard all papers with an easy to read font (10-12 font size).
Keep paper copies of all written work until you confirm your course grade.
In the event of personal computer or printer problems, use the colleges public
labs to complete your work on time. Backup speech drafts to your email account
or an internet data storage site to prevent loss of work.
Any paper copy assignments are due at the beginning of class. (Do not wait until
the last minute to print!)
Participation. 10% of Grade.
Notify the instructor of any absence, in advance if possible, or within 24 hours
of the absence.
Students missing more than 3 weeks of classes prior to the 11th week of
the semester (for any reason) must withdraw from the course.
Students missing more than 3 class sessions will earn no more than a C for
their participation grade. Participation means being prepared for class, attending,
and participating in class activities. Attendance is recorded.
Ask a classmate to take notes for you or fill you in on what you missed if you are
absent.
Discussion and involvement are encouraged. Please be respectful to everyone in the
classroom.
Multitasking or disrespectful/distracting behaviors (tardiness, texting, checking
phone repeatedly, cell phone noise, sleeping in class, side conversations, and
reading materials unrelated to the course, etc.) will decrease your participation
grade and you may be asked to leave the classroom.
Speech Assignments. 60% of Grade.
Five speeches:
1 self-introduction/narrative (5%),
2 informative (10% and 15%),
1 persuasive (25%),
1 special occasion speech (5%) will be presented.
Each speech requires written preparation and/or a full sentence preparation outline
prior to and a self-evaluation after the speech being given. Complete assignments
will be given in class.
Student speeches are videoed to assist self-analysis but are not reviewed by the
class.
Speech topics must be appropriate for the college classroom and pre-approved by
the instructor and should not be changed without instructor approval.
An in-class project group persuasive speech based on Monroes Motivated
Sequence is also required. The grade for the group speech is factored into your
participation grade.
Evaluation for the group speech includes assessment of group participation as well as the
creation and delivery of the speech.

Written Work. 10% of Grade.

Self-evaluations will receive a letter grade; other written work will be assessed using
+, , or - . (NOTE: Speech outline points are factored into each speech assignment
grade.)
Submit a paper via email if you are not attending class on the day the paper is due.
Always ask for a receipt when emailing documents.
Quizzes. 10% of Grade.
Five multiple choice quizzes will evaluate the students knowledge of material in
textbook chapters.
Final. 10% of Grade.
Students are required to listen to and to evaluate three KSC campus speakers during
the semester.
Students will participate in a class symposium designed to give advice to KSC
campus speakers.
A two-three page summary of your development as a speaker is also required.
Further details will be given in class.

GRADING:
A
AB
B
BC

100-93%
92.99-88%
87.99-83%
82.99-78%

C
CD
D
F

77.99-73%
72.99-68%
67.99-60%
59.99%-0

ORIGINAL WORK/ACADEMIC HONESTY: It is expected that students will be academically

honest. Plagiarism (following a single source too closely, taking credit for information that
someone else has researched or arranged, pirating speeches from the Internet, and the like) is
forbidden. See the college catalog for information/policies. Violations will be pursued under
the provisions of Keene State Colleges Policy on Academic Honesty.
LEARNING NEEDS: Discuss your academic progress with me at any time; I want you to
succeed! The course should challenge you but be do-able. Speak with me immediately if the
challenge starts to feel like a problem. Students with disabilities who may need
classroom accommodations are encouraged to make an appointment with a staf
member in the Office of Disability Services (358-2354). Please meet with me as
soon as possible so that we can collaborate with the Office of Disability Services to
provide the appropriate accommodations and supports to assist you in meeting the
goals of the course.
CLASS CANCELLATION AND INCLEMENT WEATHER:
In the event of cancellation, I will post an announcement on Canvas & send you an
email. The cancellation will be posted on the colleges cancellation website and a
notice will be posted on the classroom door by the department administrative assistant
as soon as she is able.
If there are no postings, students should wait 10 minutes before considering the class
to be cancelled.
In the event the college cancels classes, a message will be posted on the colleges
website.

Individuals commuting a significant distance to the college are encouraged to check

their email before traveling in stormy weather. Commuters should use their discretion
regarding travel during storms. Refer to the college catalog for KSCs Inclement
Weather Policy.