COMMUNICATION 121 - FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH

SECTION 024

Course Syllabus, Fall 2024

Monday/Wednesday 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Location: B271

Contact Information

Instructor: Stefanie Epifanio Martinez

Office B263

Tuesday Virtual via Zoom 8:00 - 9:00 PM

In Campus Office: Wednesday 9:00 - 10:00 AM; Monday & Wednesday 12:00 - 1:00 PM

At Cafe Willow: Thursday 1:00 - 2:00 PM (I'll have a sign at my table to help find me)

Office Phone: 847-543-2628

Mobile Phone: 773-841-2518

Email: SMartinez45@clcillinois.edu

Student Success Hours

Morning person? Afternoon enthusiast? Night owl? No worries! I've got time slots available throughout the day to chat with students. Student office hours are listed above, but if they do not work with your schedule, please contact me so we can arrange a mutually convenient time. Any of the in person availability can also be virtual with a planned appointment time. I encourage students to reach out whenever they need extra support or have questions beyond what's covered in the lectures, discussions and course materials.

This is the standing link for virtual student hours:

Virtual Student Hours

Communication Preferences

I'm all about staying connected, and email is my go-to way to connect! When you're reaching out, be sure to use your CLC student email account. It's super important because of FERPA laws, which help keep our communications safe and private.

Just a heads up, I won't be able to reply to messages sent through Canvas because they are much harder to keep track of, so please stick to email. During the first week of class, make sure you've got your student email and Canvas accounts set up and ready to roll. They're separate apps, but don't worry if you aren't familiar. You'll quickly get the hang of both!

Oh, and when you email me, be sure to include your first and last name along with the course you're in. It helps me keep everything organized and make sure I'm giving you the best support possible. I teach multiple sections and multiple courses.

Lastly, if you don't hear back from me within 24 hours, give me a nudge! Sometimes messages can get lost in the shuffle, but I'm always here to help out and make sure you're getting the support you need.

Meet Stefanie!

With a whopping 20 years of teaching experience under her belt, Stefanie brings a rich and diverse background to the table. Currently in her third year as a communication professor at the College of Lake County, she's also the mastermind behind the college's debate team. But wait, there's more! Before landing at CLC, Stefanie shared her knowledge and passion at Northern Illinois University and ORT Technical Institute.

But teaching isn't just a 9-to-5 gig for Stefanie. Nope, she's spent eight years diving deep into the world of private instruction and tutoring, with a special focus on ESL students. Whether it's communication, linguistics, English, or Spanish, Stefanie's got you covered.

Her own educational journey is just as impressive! She earned her MA in Communication Theory from Northern Illinois University, and she holds a double BA in Communication and Spanish with a side of English from Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. Plus, she's two classes away from completing her second MA in Linguistics at Northeastern Illinois University.

Stefanie is not just your ordinary professor—she's also a super mom to an incredible 10-year-old who's on his own unique journey with neurodivergence. When she's not busy with work or being a mom, you can find her whipping up delicious meals, tending to her garden, working out, binge-watching her favorite TV shows, or getting lost in a good book. She's all about enjoying the simple pleasures in life!

Teaching Philosophy

I firmly believe that every student with a desire for higher education should have the opportunity to pursue it. Community colleges serve as vital gateways by offering lower tuition costs, smaller class sizes, and a strong focus on preparing students for further academic endeavors or entering the workforce. Their commitment to equity sets them apart from many four-year institutions, making access to education more attainable for a broader range of individuals. It's my personal mission to support as many students as I can along their educational path and to contribute to their social mobility by teaching within the community college setting.

As a qualified instructor specializing in speech and communication studies, I am dedicated to delivering top-notch education to students enrolled in communication courses. I hold a deep appreciation for the foundational public speaking course, recognizing its profound impact on students and their future aspirations. My ultimate aim is to cultivate effective speakers and advocates who possess strong critical thinking skills.

In my role as an educator, I am committed to fostering a student-centered learning environment where collaboration is key. I believe in empowering students to actively participate in their academic journey, fostering the growth of critical thinking abilities essential for success in all areas of education. Encouraging open-mindedness is equally paramount, as I strive to equip students with the ability to understand diverse perspectives when constructing persuasive arguments. Furthermore, I emphasize reflection through both self and peer evaluation, providing valuable opportunities for growth and development.

My passion for equitable access to higher education drives my dedication to supporting learners from all backgrounds. I am privileged to guide students in synthesizing information and honing their critical thinking skills, knowing that effective communication is fundamental to personal and professional achievement. It's immensely rewarding to witness students realize their full potential, and it's this fulfillment that fuels my enthusiasm as an educator.

Course Description

This course is designed so students can improve their oral communication competency. It combines a theoretical basis with practical verbal and nonverbal skills to enhance public speaking effectiveness. Students will learn how to develop, research, organize, adapt, deliver and critique messages. Students will increase understanding and develop skills through (1) reading of the text, (2) lecture-discussion sessions, (3) classroom speaking-listening opportunities for practice and analysis, and (4) evaluations by self, peer and instructor using video, observation and reflection.

Course Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate basic verbal and non-verbal delivery skills in extemporaneous style.
Students will complete preparatory outlines with proper formatting and apply that organization and structure to speeches.
Students will identify and experiment with methods of controlling speech anxiety.
Students will identify and incorporate credible supporting research into public addresses.
Students will interpret areas of strength and weakness in a performed public address, both for peers and self.
Students will identify and reduce common listening problems.

Course Materials

Textbook

Lucas, S. The Art of Public Speaking: 2023 Release. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

This course utilizes the CLC Inclusive Access Program for learning support and cost efficiency. An eBook fee was included in the course tuition, granting access to a digital textbook via Canvas for the entire semester. Please set up your McGraw Hill Connect account promptly through the Connect tab in Canvas.

Connect

Connect is the platform for accessing your textbook, assignments, and GoReact software.

GoReact

This technology facilitates speech submission, viewing, and reflection on strengths and areas for improvement. It's used for self and peer evaluations, as well as grading speech submissions. It's provided at no cost as part of Connect.

Note Cards

Please use 4x6 note cards for speech presentations; electronic notes and paper sheets are not permitted.

Canvas

Active use of Canvas is essential, as there are no in-person meetings. Canvas contains all assignments, speech expectations, and learning activities. Email submissions are not permitted; use Canvas, Connect, and/or GoReact as specified in each assignment.

Course Delivery/Format

This course meets in person twice weekly. Everything that happens online will happen through Canvas and Connect/GoReact. We'll use a variety of modalities to dive into course materials including readings, videos, lectures, application activities, discussions, written work, quizzes and speeches. Each week's outline will give you a quick glance at what's happening. Plan on dedicating about 6 hours a week to this course, but workload varies. You will attend class 2.5 hours weekly. The 6 hours accounts for that plus an additional 3 hours or so of work. Remember to check Canvas and your email often for updates and reminders—I use Announcements a lot! Logging into Canvas at least 3 times per week is recommended.

For this class, you'll need a computer and internet - your phone won't work for everything. Submit everything through Canvas or Connect/GoReact as a inserted text or a PDF. No handwritten or emailed stuff, and no links.

Good news: as a College of Lake County student, you get Office 365 for free! Download it from "Office 365." Plus, there's a handy "Canvas Student" app for Android and iOS to keep you connected wherever you go. Check out the Canvas Guides for more info!

Classroom Etiquette

The use of cell phones on speech days is prohibited.

If you arrive late on speech days, and a classmate is mid-speech, please wait outside of the classroom until the person speaking finishes speaking. Interrupting has the potential to alter the speaker's focus and impact their grade.

Cell phone usage during normal class time: We all have lives and may have to take a call or respond to a text. If you must keep your phone out during class, please be sure it is on silent. If you must step away to take a call, please do so quickly and quietly. If your urgent matter is happening on speech days, please do not reply or answer while someone is speaking. Instead wait till the break between performances.

Students may use laptops for note taking. However, if I notice a laptop is being used to doom scroll or surf the internet, I will call out the student in class and ask them to put the laptop away. The same applies to cell phones.

I do not mind your eating during class. However, eating on performance days will not be permitted.

Dropping the Course & Holidays

If you plan to discontinue attending class, it is strongly recommended that you take responsibility for dropping the class. Grades of W (withdrawal) will only be assigned to students who drop themselves. Withdrawal before 15% of class days pass will result in a full refund. Withdrawal after 15% of class days pass will result in no refund.

Instructors are required to report noticeable non-attendance of students. If you discontinue attending class and are dropped by the institution, the following grades will be assigned:

WS – Withdrawal of students who stop attending = no impact on g.p.a.

WF – Withdrawal of student who stops attending after the official withdrawal deadline and instructor deems failing. This is equal to an impact on g.p.a. is equivalent to a grade of F.

The drop date for this course – to receive no grade and a full refund is September 4, 2024.

The last day to withdraw is November 12, 2024.

The midterm point of the course is 10/15. There will be no final exam.

No assignments are due or required examinations are set for these dates:

September 2 & 3, 2024 – Labor Day
November 27, 28 & 29, 2024 – Thanksgiving Break

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