WSU Tech Syllabus
Public Speaking 101
click here for teacher's main Public Speaking page
70%: speech performances
20%: all other course work
10%: final exam
all the information you need is posted & explained below
Outside reading assignments are to be already completed when class begins, for students will have various short assignments over the readings.
Homework will be due when the instructor states it is due: sometimes at the start of the class period, during class time, or before leaving class for the day.
Listen closely in class and make note of due times and consult the assignment calendar.
The listening journal is an ongoing semester project. Consult the lesson plan calendar for all due dates and times.
Use the template provided to complete it. Writing skills with complete sentences, correct spelling and grammar are expected.
The journal entry may be turned in a day or two earlier than the due date at the start of the week it's due, but no earlier than that.
Digital turn-in is preferred but paper/pencil is acceptable as well if written in blue or black in only.
The listening journal, along with other non-speech coursework, is 20% of the overall grade for the course.
The instructor will not send reminders, nor will these be accepted late, so if it is not done and in by the due date and time using the proper notification method, a zero will be earned. This project may be modified as the semester progresses.
Use the shared Google Drive folder you created to submit digital work.
Click here for Mrs. Harris policy.
Quizzes, along with homework and other activities, will be 20% of the overall grade. See assignment schedule for point values and due dates. Most quizzes will be done using QUIA, an online program. Some will be closed book, open book, open notes/study guides. The instructor will make it clear before each quiz if notes can be used. For open notes, the notes are to be handwritten, not typed. Most of these are over the outside reading assignments from the online textbook for the course. Come with the chapter read at the start of the class period. See the assignment calendar for details. Some quizzes maybe study guide type exercises, so be prepared for that as well. The instructor reserves the right to modify this.
There is no midterm exam. The final exam is a persuasive speech. See final exam heading below.
The final is a persuasive speech. It is worth 115 points and is 10% of your semester grade. This coincides with a USD 268 policy. The evaluation scoring guide is the required one from WSU Tech.
Extra credit is not allowed, but bonus opportunities will be provided where all students can go above and beyond the expectations. Take advantage of those when presented.
Late work will result in 80% credit earned if turned in or performed later that day or performed ASAP the next time the class meets. If it is two class periods late, 70% credit earned. Late work, that is not a speech performance, is not accepted after two class periods, and a zero will be earned. Be sure to discuss exceptions with the instructor at an appropriate time. Email is best for this, so we have a paper trail of what we told each other. For late work performance on speeches, the procedure for make-up performances will be followed, so see the make-up work heading below.
A speech is considered late if a student does not perform when he/she volunteered to or was drawn to perform. If student attempts to perform, and then asks to go later yet, this will be considered a late performance and will result in 70% credit upon performance. Students cannot opt out of a speech performance; all must be performed. If more than two class periods late, 50% credit will be earned until it is performed. The teacher reserves the right to continue to modify the credit earned to different amounts if performance is continually delayed without explanation from the student.
Make-up work is due no later than two class periods after the initial absence. This does not apply for absences due to school activities; that work should be done ahead of time or discussed with the instructor. For absences due to school activities, notify the instructor VIA email well ahead of time so there is a communication paper trail as to what the expectations are for completing work.
We operate on a red/blue every-other-day schedule, so pay close attention if an absence will occur during CAP days as well. Those are the days we do not meet as a class that might allow for some in-school time to complete make-up work. Be sure to discuss exceptions with the instructor at an appropriate time.
Because this is a performance class, some make-up work may be required to be completed during before/after school or during CAP time on the days when class is not in session. This will help us remain on task according to the course schedule. Most times, make-up or late speech performances must be performed during class time. However, if performing during CAP time and the work is a speech performance, an audience of at least five people is required. The student is required to bring the five peers to view the entire performance unless otherwise noted by the teacher. The instructor will assist if asked to help obtain passes for the audience members. For extensions and exceptions, communicate with the instructor at an appropriate time.
For a detailed list with direct links and thorough explanations, see Daily Dose that teacher most likely linked on the assignment calendar.
Come to class with notecards or outlines completed rather than working on them in class. Be prepared for a notecard spot-check upon entering the classroom on the speech-giving day. The spot-check is worth 5 points and will be counted in the all other work category, so it is 20% of your overall grade.
The first due date listed for the speech performance is when the notes are due. The instructor reserves the right to modify this for individual students who come with incomplete speech preparation on a habitual basis. The instructor will run a spot check for every speech.
Using notecards is the preferred method because it leads to better eye contact, an important part of speech delivery. However, outlines or bulletted lists might work better for you, so this is truly student choice. Just remember--the point is not to read but to perform with eye contact. Using manuscript style notes is highly discouraged.
The spot-check will be referred to as "notecard prep" in PowerSchool. A second grade will be given for notecards. This is called "notecard eval” in PowerSchool. This is where the teacher scans the notecard according to the notecard expectations rubric. This too is worth five points. Count on all speeches having the two grades for the notecards: the notecard prep and the notecard eval. The teacher may modify this as the semester progresses.
The student could also type notes, print them, and secure them onto notecards. For longer speeches, PowerPoint or Google Slide printouts (with 4 slides to a page and then cut to notecard size) are also acceptable. These are the notes or outline only, not necessarily the PowerPoint/Slides used as a visual aid.
Remember, a typed outline is also acceptable, but do not staple it, so write page numbers on the pages in case they get mixed up. This is wise habit for notecards as well.
Whatever the type of notes used, they must be consistent in form and style for the speech at hand. Write notes - not paragraphs.
Folded up pieces of regular paper, cut-up pieces of notebook paper, envelopes, printed out sources, sticky notes, notecards with writing on the back of them, stapled full page outlines, documents on the laptop or another device that are not printed out.
Do not have different sizes of notecards. Do not mix notecards and paper printouts. Colored-coded notecards are fine. They help the speaker keep the different sections of the speech separated and may aid as a signal to move, change pace, etc.
The USD 268 dress code will be enforced.
Cell phones are not allowed unless the instructor approves of them. This would be on a daily basis. Laptops and other devices are to remain closed unless directed otherwise.
The instructor will not give out her cell phone number to students, so communicate during school hours whenever possible. Plan ahead in your communications with the teacher, for she is not in the habit of accessing school email in the evenings. She arrives at school at 7:30 each morning if you need to see her. She may be available during CAP class time to assist you if you plan ahead. Be advised that others are in the room during CAP class time, so this might not always work. I am available directly after school as well. Only interrupt during blocks 1-2-3 if it's a dire.
Personally notify the instructor if you are gone on a speech-giving day. Do this ASAP on the day you are absent or only ½ credit will be earned upon performance. A reason is not required, just a notification.
If instructor is not notified, a note with a parent/guardian signature signifying the absence on a speech-giving day is required to earn full credit. I do not want a reason, an excuse, or anything except a signed note stating, “I realize that so-n-so, my child, missed class on a speech-giving day.”
This must be a handwritten note, not an email. Absences on other days do not require notification.
The teacher will ask for volunteers. Volunteer in numerical order. Names will be listed on the board. Do not say, "I'll be third" if no one is listed on 1 or 2. If no one volunteers, teacher draws a name from the jar. If a name is drawn & speaker cannot perform, say so & it'll be a late grade, but the name will go on the board with with the word late by it. For the most part, once the order is determined there is no switching. There are exceptions, like someone needing to leave early, but that should be brought up upon the start of the speaker order procedure.
During a classmate’s performances, these are the procedures. Laptops sharked or closed. No writing unless you are doing a peer critique. Sit-up & listen respectfully. This means looking at the speaker as they speak. Do not respond audibly to rhetorical questions. Someone will be a time-keeper & hold-up the cards. Respond to the speaker's emotional appeals (if funny, laugh; if shocked, respond, etc. but do not exaggerate & prolong your response disrespectfully). If you heard an error in the speaker's information or you disagree with it, refrain from saying so until prompted by the instructor to respond. If you hear obvious mispronunciations during the performance, refrain from emotional response & respect the speaker.
Changes in the course syllabus, procedure, assignments, and schedule may be made at the discretion of the instructor.
Class time will include discussion and activities, mini-lessons on skills, partner and team mini-projects, speech performances, and some research/preparation time. For an overview of the semester, scroll down on the calendar. Knowing what's coming up can help with time management.