This course SPD 100 is designed to increase your knowledge and awareness of the theory and principles of public address. You will be given several opportunities to develop your confidence as a public speaker as well as to organize, develop and listen to spoken discourse.

Upon successful completion of SPD 100, you should be able to demonstrate an increased understanding of and appreciation for the communication process as it relates to speaker and audience interactions. We seek to develop speaking and listening skills for effective speech composition and delivery. Upon successful completion of this course, you will demonstrate:

• development of critical insight for being able to judge spoken discourse;

• development of an appreciation for how spoken communication is used to critically examine facts, values and policies; and

• development of a respect for the ethical codes that govern discourse: tolerance for reasonable differences of opinion, the preference for civility, the willingness to put evidence and arguments to tests of rationality, and the fostering of interpersonal values that open and maintain channels of communication.

As with any speech communication course, upon successful completion you should be able:

• to report increased self-confidence;

• to express your ideas with verbal fluency;

• to apply knowledge of nonverbal communication in sending and

receiving messages;

• to demonstrate critical thinking skills in sending and receiving messages;

• to demonstrate organizational skills;

• to adapt messages and behaviors to different communication context;

• to employ listening and responding skills adapted to different communication contexts; and

• to demonstrate an understanding and respect for cultural and social diversity.

Required Texts
The required textbooks for this course are:

• Stephen E. Lucas. The Art of Public Speaking. 8 th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2003.

• at any of the campus bookstores,
• on line .
• 1-888-SHIP-TEXT

Additional Materials
This course includes video programs. See TV Schedule for broadcasting details.

The course grading criteria are listed below: Please keep a personal record of all your grades so that you can compute your own course grade. Final grades will be based on the following scale:

Class Participation (0-100 points)

Two Written Examinations (0-50 points each = 100 points)

Graded Speeches (0-200 points)

Personal Narrative (0-50 points)

Demonstration Speech (0-50 points)

Persuasive Talk (0-100 points)

Two Speech Preparation Outlines (0-25 points each = 50 points)

Self-Critique of Speech (0-50 points)

Grading Scale

To calculate your final grade, you will be assigned the following:

450-500 points = A

400-449 points = B

300-399 points = C

250-299 points = D

0-249 points = F

Please keep a personal record of all your grades so that you can compute your own course grade.

There are two take-home exams in this course. 

You may contact your instructor through regular email at tmeacham@nvcc.edu or by telephone at (703) 323-4142. 

1. Use your web browser to connect to www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at www.bb.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk.

There will be four MANDATORY CLASS MEETINGS for this course at ELI, 8000 Forbes Place, Springfield, on the following Wednesday evenings:

September 24, 2005, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
October 22, 2005, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
November 19, 2005, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
December 10, 2005, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

An optional orientation meeting will be held on wednesday, September 3rd, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at ELI.

For directions to the ELI office, click here.