Fall 2022 Course Syllabus
Course: SPCH-1315 (Section: 5E, CRN: 92793)
Public Speaking
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Instructor Information
Instructor Dr. Michelle Davis
Email davisml1@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6341
Office Educational I - Room: 133
Office Hours I am on campus from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday- Friday.  Appointments are encouraged. You may schedule these through email or by calling my office number above.  
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description Application of communication theory and practice to the public speaking context, with emphasis on audience analysis, speaker delivery, ethics of communication, cultural diversity, and speech organizational techniques to develop students' speaking abilities, as well as ability to effectively evaluate oral presentations.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

This course uses a FREE textbook.  The textbook is located in your Blackboard course. 

Stand Up, Speak Out: The Practice and Ethics of Public Speaking, University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. 


Additional Materials/Resources Materials for Visual Aids
Access to PowerPoint
Ability to print documents for class
Proficiency in Blackboad
Corequisites/Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational models of communication.
  • Apply elements of audience analysis,
  • Demonstrate ethical speaking and listening skills by analyzing presentations for evidence and logic.
  • Research, develop, and deliver extemporaneous speeches with effective verbal and nonverbal techniques.
  • Demonstrate effective usage of technology when researching and/or presenting speeches.
  • Identify how culture, ethnicity, and gender influence communication. 
  • Develop proficiency in presenting a variety of speeches as an individual or group (e.g. narrative, informative, or persuasive).
Core Objectives Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.

Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral or visual communication.

Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.

Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Lecture Topics Outline
  • Getting started in Public Speaking
  • Speech Anxiety
  • Ethics
  • Listening
  • Types of Speeches
  • Development of speeches
  • Analyzing the audience
  • Choosing topics
  • Support Material
  • Organization of speeches
  • Delivering speeches
  • Using Presentation Aids
  • Working in Groups
Major Assignments Schedule SPCH_1315_5E_202290_P00339312.pdf
Final Exam Date December 8, 2022 - 8:10 AM   Through  December 8, 2022 - 9:25 AM
Grading Scale This course uses a point scale for grading: 

900 - 1000 = A
800 - 899   = B
700 - 799   = C
600 - 699   = D
0       599   = F


Determination of
Final Grade
Speech Preparation and Presentation -  55 %
Homework/Written Assignments - 25%
Self-Evaluations  -  10% 
Exams  -  10%

Course Policies
Instructor Policies Public Speaking is a course that causes many anxiety- from mild to severe anxiety. Be respectful of yourself and each other as you present and participate in class. If you are disrespectful to your classmates, you may be removed from the class.

I do not accept late work. Due Dates/Times are posted in Blackboard and will be discussed in class.

All work must be typed using correct grammar and spelling, and following the provided directions. Work not following the specific directions provided will not be graded, thereby receiving a zero.

Students will have a complete, typed, formal outline and works cited page prepared before presenting speeches (you will learn how to do this in class). The outline and works cited page are part of your speech grade. If the outline is not ready on the assigned speech day, it will result in an automatic zero.  

I do not accept assignments through email. Assignments will be uploaded to Blackboard as a WORD document, or submitted at the start of class, depending on the instructions provided.

Plagiarism, written or oral, will result minimally in the failure of the assignment (1st offense) and failure of the course (2nd offense).

Appropriate dress is expected for speech days. This will be discussed in class.

Missing TWO speeches will result in an automatic failure of the course. If you are having anxiety about a speech- don't skip it. We can work through it but you have to show up!

One make-up speech is allowed only with documented and extreme circumstances. Students must email me before missing the class for consideration of those circumstances.

Students must use their Lamar PA email account when sending email to me. Communication through email can be unclear. Please be respectful, clear, and concise with your words.

Cell phones and other technology are prohibited unless approved by the instructor or through accommodations.
Attendance Policy Students are expected to attend class, arriving on time and ready to participate. I do not have excused or unexcused absence. There are natural consequences that happen when you are absent, e.g. missing lecture material, discussion of assignments, class discussion, etc. 

Students are responsible for information missed because of being tardy or absent. This includes assignment details, lecture notes, and picking up graded assignments. Students are responsible for submitting all assignments on or before the due dates.  

Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Dr. Michelle Davis
Email:davisml1@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6341