Skye Gentile
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-Syllabus for cx1-

Instructor: Skye Gentile



Course Description

Catalog Course Description: Developing, stating, organizing, researching ideas, and presenting them to an audience.  Developing the faculties of critical listening and problem solving.  Strongly recommended: eligibility for English 1A. Must successfully have completed or are currently enrolled in COM 6.

You must successfully complete (or be currently enrolled in) the Comm 6 (Listening) co-req for this class.  


Before contacting your instructor

Web Presence:  Always type Cx 1 in the SUBJECT line of any text you send me or I will not open it.  If you do not get an “I got it response” don’t assume your communication to me was received.  I do not accept any homework via email (unless I specifically communicate otherwise to you).

Before contacting your instructor, consider the following:
Can I find out this information by reading the syllabus; by perusing our class website; or emailing a classmate?  Please utilize those resources before emailing (any) of your professors.

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Student Learning Outcomes


1.  After taking this course students will be able to research, organize, and deliver speeches to varying audiences adapting for each speaking situation.
2.  After taking this course students will reduce speaking anxiety and increase confidence.
3.  Critically analyze and assess one’s own work and the work of others.


My Description

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The goal of this course is twofold: one is to help student’s understand the importance of public speaking in everyday life situations, and second is learning how to take in information.  Considering that public speaking is touted as a number one fear (even before death) (Grice and Skinner), it seems important to consider what makes speaking in public so unbearable.  As we explore our own speaking apprehensions, we will further our ability to use that nervous energy to our advantage. Learning how to speak in public gives you a voice.  What you do with this voice is up to you—making a difference in your community, expressing your views eloquently, enhancing your relationships in all areas of your life are benefits of public speaking.  There exists a symbiotic relationship between speakers and listeners.  Learning how to be an attentive audience member is crucial.  Exercising critical listening skills is as important as presenting information in front of others.

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Office Hours: MTWR 11:30-12:30 & by Appointment or Skype 

Course Objectives

PictureCelebrating Colter White's Release

  • Through various assessments of reading and hands on practice you will gain experience in researching, organizing, and creatively delivering messages (supports SLO 1, 2)
  • You will practice extemporaneous  speaking and adapt your message to an audience for various occasions (supports SLO 1)
  • You will learn how to cope with speaking anxiety and nervous energy (supports SLO 2)
  • You will learn how to be an attentive audience member utilizing critical listening skills (supports SLO 2, 3)
  • You will explore how to integrate presentational aides (supports SLO 1) into your speaking repertoire
  • You will learn from your mistakes…in a safe environment, and hopefully have fun (supports SLO 1, 2, 3)


Dedication:
This class is dedicated to those who feel as though they are unable to express who they ‘really’ are out of fear of persecution, real or imagined.  My hope is that you will one day find your voice.

~S.Gentil
e


Textbook


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              Practically Speaking by J. Dan Rothwell

Classroom Decorum

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During class we will talk, listen, read, and write together. Participation is critical.  Since each one of you is a unique individual with different life experiences, you may have different views and opinions on issues that we discuss.  It is crucial that we respect each other, and create a climate that is conducive for sharing our thoughts.  

1.   No cell phones visible in my class.  No ear buds in your ear.

2.   Do not walk in when a student is speaking. ALWAYS WAIT FOR APPLAUSE or when SPEAKER WAVES YOU IN (including me).

3.   You must learn and practice being a good audience member:
   a.  Let your nonverbal PROVE you are listening through making appropriate eye contact, nodding your head, writing love letters, showing you care about their success will not only be reciprocated tenfold when you  are up front, but also encourages learning (and remembering) content better.

4.   Do not work on homework  (from any class) in my class.

5.   Do not come into my class actively “under the influence” of any narcotics .   
 


(No) Cell Phone Policy

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 What once was called short-term memory is now recognized as 'working memory’  Why do I share this with you? Because research has proven that our brains can only work on one thing at a time.  Thus every time you multi-task between listening to lecture, and texting--you are not only  distracting yourself, but you are also distracting me, and those around you--you have now deleted lecture and applied your working memory to cell phone.  Furthermore, if you take lecture notes and do ‘nothing’ with that information within 24 hours of taking notes--that information will never move from hearing it to knowing it (long- term memory).


If you are on your phone during class, I will ask you to leave and it will negatively impact your participation score.

Attendance & Participation 

You currently have 100 points bagged towards your attendance/participation  grade.  If you miss a class, you lose 10 points.  If you are late (more than 15 minutes) or leave early (more than 15 minutes) three (3) times, that equals an absence (-10 points).  You have ONE (1) free pass to use at your discretion.  After that--you will lose points.  
If you do miss class, It Is Your Responsibility To Find Out What You Missed From Another Student (Not From Your Professor).  Unfortunately this applies to ALL ABSENCES (excused, unexcused, sports related, etc.).
Cabrillo College equates 4 absences as “excessive” and warrants cause for instructors to fail you. More than 5 absences WILL result in you failing this course!

Academic Honesty

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Plagiarism can take shape in a variety of different ways by writers: verbatim copying without giving credit to the author, sloppy paraphrasing, recycling papers from other classes, and not including a works cited (to name a mere few).  Please be certain that the work you turn in to me is of your own doing, original, and care is taken to give credit to theories, concepts and ideas that you use to help prove your argument.  Using MLA (or APA) style guide is sure to cite your sources and include a bibliography for all major assignments.  Plagiarism will result in an F on the assignment and possibly in the course.


“Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good” 
--Samuel Johnson

Speech Day Etiquette

You must be present on your assigned speaking day and time. If you miss on your assigned day, you may not have the opportunity to make that speech up.  If time permits, we will attempt to fit you in later, with a serious reduction in points (one letter grade). 
Point blank: missing assigned speaking days screws up the entire schedule for the term.
TRY (HARD) NOT TO BE LATE ON SPEAKING DAYS—HOWEVER  IF YOU ARE, PLEASE WAIT FOR APPLAUSE BEFORE ENTERING THE ROOM.


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A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”

--Jackie Robinson

Late Work

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10% of the available points (for ALL WRITTEN assignments) will be deducted for LATE WORK!  At the end of the semester there is a FINAL TURN IN Date noted in the Schedule--all work for the semester must be turned by that date.

Skye's 10 Golden Rules for Public Speaking

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Ethos (character and credibility)

Logos (strong arguments and evidence)

Pathos (emotional appeal) Kairos (knowing your audience) Maintain Eye Contact (eyeballs) Gesture (hands and face)

Project your Voice (speak to the back row)

Cite your Sources (oral footnotes)

Use an Outline (No manuscripts) (no note cards) Practice…don’t Memorize (be here now)

NEVER TRUST…YOUR VISUAL AID!


Top Skills/Qualities Sought by Employers

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The top 10 personal qualities/skills employers seek, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook survey (2013) are listed below.  Most of these qualities are direct or indirect byproducts of a good liberal arts education.  Which of these skills do you possess?

1. Communication skills (verbal and written)

2. Honesty/integrity  [ETHOS]

3. Teamwork skills (works well with others)

4. Strong work ethic [ETHOS]

5. Analytical skills [LOGOS]

6. Flexibility/adaptability

7. Interpersonal skills (relates well to others)

8. Motivation/Initiative  [PATHOS]

9. Computer skills

10. Detail-oriented [LOGOS]



Overview of COMM 1 Assignments

News Nuggets:
You will be keeping track of current news.   Each week you will expected to share one news nugget orally (during attendance).  You will need to keep a log in your folder of the news nuggets you share during class. Even if I do not call on you to share your nugget out loud, you are still expected to have an organized list of the news you found.  Here is an example:

According to the Sentinel news December 28, 2012 “Douglas Bernard Kirby, a Rio del Mar resident for 24 years  and  an  international  expert  in sexual  health,  died  Saturday  while  climbing  Cotopaxi  Volcano  in Quito, Ecuador”

CURRENT EVENTS LOG: (can be handwritten or typed) Date:

News Source: Nugget:
___________________
Date:
News Source: Nugget:
___________________ 
Date:
News Source:
Nugget:
**ten (10) total sources will suffice (@ 1 point each)**

 Chapter Outlines:
Outlining  is an essential  skill  for public  speaking.    Thus,  you  are expected  to outline  every  chapter  in Practically Speaking.  Each chapter should be at least 2 pages to receive full points.  I will teach you proper outlining techniques at the beginning of the semester.

You  are expected  to follow  the  course  calendar,  and  are responsible  for turning  work  in regardless  of whether or not I remind you.  You have one free LATE PASS to use for tardy homework without penalty. After that, you will be marked down for late work.  I do not lecture from the book.  I tend to supplement what  is in the book  to give  you a well-rounded  experience.    Thus,  reading  the chapters  in the order  I assigned them makes the most sense.

I see everything.   If you work on homework during class, you will explode (or I will).  In the rare instance you do not explode, do not be surprised to receive partial credit on that gem when you turn it in.

EXAM:
Since I do not lecture from the book, and I want you to both read and outline each chapter, I thought an exam might influence the value you place on this experience.  You will be able to use your chapter outlines on the exam.

Guided Questions:
Three  times  during  the  semester,  you  will  be  assessing  your  speech  anxiety  progress.     The  guided questions are available on our course website.

Speech  Outlines:  You will be turning in TWO outlines for each major speech.   The first “rough draft outline” is due as noted in the schedule of events.  This outline does not need to be typed, and should be a key-word  outline.   The second outline & works cited is due immediately  before you speak.   This outline needs  to  be  a  typed,  key  word,  edited  document.    A  correctly  cited  bibliography  (work  cited)  must accompany this outline.

“SKYE-PAC”:    Loving named by past students.   At the beginning of the term, you will receive a manila folder (to bedazzle at your will).   Inside of the Skye Pac will be all items that you will hand over to me, BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
Items to be included:
  • Final Speech Outline
  • Rough Draft Speech Outline
  • Works Cited ( MLA or APA)
  • A Sampling Of The Research Used For This Speech
  •  In-Class Speech Assessment (if Applicable)
  • Library Assignment (If Applicable
  • Audience Analysis (If Applicable)
  • Additional Readings Outlined Or Concept Mapped Before You Speak
Each item has a point value--these are always listed on the bottom of the speaking assignment handout.

SPEECHES:
Each Speech Assignment will be explained in depth, and I will have a rubric available for your reading pleasure.   Point Value Varies

SPEAKER EVALUATIONS:
Another  essential  aspect  for  public  speakers  is  the  process  of  evaluating   other  speakers  and  their speeches.   By doing this, you see what works, and what falls short.   This knowledge enables you to build your own public speaking repertoire.  Here is the breakdown:

LOVELETTERS:   each time a fellow classmate speaks, you will focus on one or two great things you observe--you will write that great thing down and give it to the speaker after they speak.  I will take care of the constructive criticism aspect--you focus on LOVE ONLY for this assignment.
EXAMPLE:
“I love the way you increased your eye contact this speech.” Love Skye
“Great Visual Aid! You rock!!” Love Skye

TED.COM:   Ted is an amazing  website  where  you can learn  so many  interesting  tidbits  that you will quickly  become  the smarticle  hit of any  party!   Print  out the rubric  for a complete  explanation  of the
assignment.   However,  in brief, search   TED.COM  website  and choose  any speech  (LONGER  THAN  13 MINUTES)  that  interests  you.   Watch  the  speaker,  and  answer  the  questions.    Type  and  offer  reader thorough critique for full credit.  Do less, earn less.

LIVE SPEAKER:
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n addition to Love Letters and TED.COM critiques, you are required to observe and evaluate one speech/speaker  IN PERSON.  This can include guest speakers in other classes (I usually have at least two in intercultural  and  interpersonal  communication,  local  chapter  of Toastmasters  (I can bring  you  as a guest), Poetry slams, or _________________).   If you are just so busy you can’t see any live speakers anywhere, ever (in four months of class) (note my tone here?), then you can conduct two more ted.com critiques in place of live speaker.  If choose this option, please label it so I know what your up to).


​GRADE POINT BREAKDOWN:

Attendance & Participation
*-10 per absence*   Total: 100  
Love Letters & oral footnotes
News Tickler Total: 10

Speeches

Positive Introduction Speech total: 10 

Rant/Rave/ Impromptu Rounds Total: 30
(10 points each) 

Informative Total: 75

Persuasive Argument Total: 25

Monroe Persuasive (teams) Total: 100

Ceremonial Total: 40

Total in Speeches: 305

Text Outlines:


17 @ 3 point, Total: 51

Chapter Exam (1 @ 30 or 2 @15), Total: 30  

Assessments/Evaluations:

Grapevine Letter Total: 3  

Guided ?’s (3 @ 3) Total: 9  

Speaker Evaluations:

5  @  3 for TED.COM Total: 15  

1 @ 5 for Live Speaker Total: 5 

450-475

The total with everything is 482.  However I will not be using every single assignment—it depends on 

you—and as I type this I have not met you yet☺ so let’s estimate our total to be 450.  You then multiply 

that number (450) x (.90) and that will give us you’re A range.  I never round down—always up so if the 

answer read 404.9722 I would round up to 405 and 405-450 would be the A range.  This will help you 

determine where you are at throughout the semester.  I will quickly learn the direction I want to take this 

class and I will update this page.

If you are dancing between two grades at the end of the semester—your behavior as an audience member 

and attendance will determine your grade if you bump up, or remain.
Student Services
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Financial Aid

Cell phone

650-504-8803

Email

skgentil@cabrillo.edu
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