Speech
Teacher: Mrs. Kneese
Room: E-4
Course Description
The course is designed to help students better understand the complexities of the communication
process. It offers opportunity for students to develop skills, knowledge, and confidence to speak
and listen in a variety of settings.
Course Objectives
Students will:
1. Understand the importance and variety of speech communications in the modem age.
2. Appreciate the social and ethical responsibilities of communicators.
3. Develop awareness of themselves as participants, now and in the future, in a wide range of public and private speech communication situations.
4. Understand the stages involved in the major speech communication processes.
5. Control the mechanisms of speech production and delivery.
6. Learn practical techniques for analyzing, evaluating, and improving their own speaking and
listening skills.
7. Become critical speakers and listeners.
8. Develop introductory-level mastery of several of the major modes of speech communication:
i.e. one-to-one communication, formal and informal group discussion, public address and oratory.
Attendance
Students are expected to arrive to all classes by the time the tardy bell rings.
When the student arrives to class after the tardy bell and within the first five minutes of class,
the student will receive a 20 minute detention if the tardy is unexcused. If the student arrives more than 5 minutes after the bell, the student will receive an hour detention if he/she is unexcused.
Consequence: First three tardies 20 minute detention each with teacher
Fourth to sixth tardies one hour detention each in detention room
Fourth tardy call to parents
Sixth tardy recommendation for suspension and added F to grade
Truancies will be considered unexcused absences.
Course Requirements
The student is expected to successfully complete and hand in assignments on time. These should be typewritten, word processed, or neatly handwritten as advised by the teacher.
Neatness, spelling, and grammar will be taken into account in grading individual assignments.
All tests will be announced two or three days in advance. In addition to test scores, the student will be graded on daily (or other) assignments, attendance, and participation in class discussions and activities.
Students are expected to report to class on time and prepared for class. Without book, paper, or writing implements, a student can receive a zero for that day.
Speeches are also due on time. It a student has an excused absence the day of a missed speech, it is due immediately following the last speaker for the particular set of speeches, but with a 4% grade reduction, i.e. a 76% grade would become 72%. If there is an unexcused absence, the student receives no grade for that speech and must wait for a make up day to give that speech.
There will be two make up days during the trimester (one each half) where a student may make up a speech missed during that half of the trimester. However, make-up speeches will be docked a 15%, i.e. a make up 90% speech will receive a 75% grade.
A 3 X 5 index card may be used for each speech given.
Late Work Policy
For full credit, work must be turned in when the assignment is due. Work turned in the next day will be graded down by two grades. Daily assignments, however, cannot be turned in late, unless absence was excused.
Makeup Work Due to Illness, Funerals, and School Connected Activities
Students will be responsible for obtaining class notes and assignments. Students will be given two (2) days for each day of excused absence to make up work missed. This includes tests and written assignments. If the test or written assignment is not made up within the allotted time, a zero will be entered into the grade book and the student will not be allowed to make up the test or written assignment.
Grades
Grades will be based on a100% scale grading system:
90% - 100% A
80% - 89% B
70% - 79% C
60% - 69% D
59% and below F
Hall Passes
A student has three (3) opportunities to use the hall pass located in the student handbook. This includes bathroom privileges, office meetings (unless requested by the office or the counselors) and locker privileges. Library passes will also be included under hall passes unless library time is assigned specifically by the teacher.
Cell Phones
There will be no cell phones in class. They must be turned off and put away before entering class. Should a phone ring in class, it will be confiscated and turned over to the administration. Each violation will receive a visit with the administration and three (3 hours of detention).
Cheating
Cheating in any form will NOT be tolerated. Plagiarism is definitely a form of cheating. When caught, a student will receive an “F” for the assignment, receive one (1) hour of detention, and parents will be notified. Any violations after the first one will result in two (2) “Fs” entered in the grade book, notification of parents and administration, a request for suspension, and an “F” as the final grade in this class.
Classroom
There will be no food or drink in the classroom unless specified by the instructor. Any violation will be dealt with custodial duties by the teacher after class. The student has three (3) days to complete custodial duties, which includes the day of the violation. The day of the violation, five (5) desks will be cleaned. If the violation is left to the second day, ten (10) desks will be cleaned. If the violation is left to the third day, fifteen (15) desks will be cleaned. After the third day, the student will be given one (1) hour of detention after school.
There will be no writing on the desks, vandalism of school or personal property, or throwing of objects in the classroom. These violations will be dealt with on an individual basis by the teacher and the administration.
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(Cut and return bottom part to teacher)
Student: _________________________________
Class: ______________________________ Period: _____________
I have received the syllabus and have read and understood the contents.
_____________________________________ ______________________________
Student signature Date Parent(s)’ signature Date
Parents will receive weekly e-mail progressive reports if e-mail is submitted.
_________________________________________________ Parent(s)’ e-mail address
