After successfully completing this course, you should be able to: 

• Demonstrate and explain the communication process.
• Develop effective presentations based on audience analysis.
• Select appropriate and effective topics for presentations.
• Organize presentations in an effective manner.
• Utilize supporting materials for effective presentations.
• Present solid evidence and arguments to produce effective presentations.
• Select and integrate appropriate visual aides for impact.
• Effectively manage communication apprehension.

The lecture portion of the class will be conducted online … videos, readings, discussion, etc.  Participation is critical to your success.  You are expected to actively participate and keep up with assignments.  For discussions posted online, students should write one original comment as well as reply to at least one other posting.  Students will be notified via D2L email when modules open and when they will be closed.

All speeches will be presented in D202 of the Fain Fine Arts Building.  Acceptable excuses for being absent from a presentation include: the death of a family member, personal illness, required attendance at an official school function, and verifiable emergency. You must notify me when you are going to miss a presentation, except when an emergency happens on the way to class (notify me ASAP).

If you fail to notify me when you are absent, you may receive a reduced grade for the presentation unless it is a verifiable emergency.

I reserve the right to determine what, exactly, constitutes an excused absence.

Course Grade - Final grades will be based on the following:                      

Assignments Points

Class Participation 100

Quizzes 100

Exam 1 100

Exam 2 100

Outlines (4 @ 25 pts each) 100

Personal Speech 100

Informative Speech 100

Persuasive Speech 100

Special Occasion Speech 100

Total Points 900

Table 2: Total points for final grade.

Grade Points

A 806 to 900

B 805 to 716

C 715 to 626

D 625 to 536

F Less than 536

Students are expected to attend all meetings of the classes in which they are enrolled. A student with excessive absences may be dropped from a course by the instructor. The class has a hybrid format.  It will meet 4 times during the semester … for each of the 4 speech presentations.

Late work, make up work/tests are accepted at instructor discretion on an individual basis. 

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection 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 Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.