CALS
001
Foundations: Communication Methods
Fall 2011 Syllabus
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CALS 001: Students go to 1 lecture & 1 lab per week |
Thomas F. Patterson, Jr., Ph.D. |
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Lecture A Tuesdays 1:00 – 2:15 pm, B106 Angell |
208D Morrill Hall, UVM |
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Lecture B Thursdays 1:00 – 2:15 pm, 105 Votey |
x60042 (w), 658-7496 (h) |
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tpatters@uvm.edu |
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Office Hours: Thursday |
Course Description: This course will help you develop skills for
college success and beyond. Here you will become oriented to the
Why is This Course Important? In today’s complex and
ever changing world, the ability to communicate clearly is more important than
ever. Although communication takes on many forms, humans communicate
mainly through the written and spoken word.
Graduates of UVM and employers alike, agree that the ability to give a
good oral presentation is an essential and transferable skill that every
college graduate should possess. In fact, oral communication is a core
competency for the
General Course Goal: The overall goal of CALS 001 Foundations: Communication Methods course is twofold:
1. To help you discover and learn about what the College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences (CALS) and UVM have to offer, how you fit in here, and how you
can make the transition and develop to the fullest of your potential at UVM and
beyond.
2. To help you improve your essential and transferrable oral communication skills.
Course Objectives: You will:
1.
Increase your understanding about UVM, its history, mission, organization,
rules and regulations, people, services, resources and opportunities for
student development.
2. Increase your understanding about the
3. Make a positive adjustment and assimilation into the University and CALS.
4. Develop a positive relationship with your CALS academic advisor.
5. Better understand the developmental changes involved in the transition into
and out of the first year of college.
6. Develop positive student-to-student interactions and become a contributing
member of the CALS and UVM community by joining a club or UVM organization.
7. Develop critical thinking skills through reading, reflection, discussion, oral
presentation and writing.
8. Begin developing a personal career planning process.
9. Learn a set of study and interpersonal skills for succeeding in college.
10. Demonstrate increased confidence in speaking.
11. Understand different types of presentations and different audiences, and be
able to appropriately match the two to meet specific speaking objectives.
12. Be able to critique and learn from another
person’s oral presentation.
13. Prepare appropriate media for presentations.
14. Be able to research, construct and present a
dynamic and effective speech to an audience.
15. Understand and utilize small group dynamics and the concept of teamwork
both from a participant and facilitator standpoint.
16. Demonstrate teamwork and group presentation skills as a contributing member
of a team.
Required Texts and Flash Memory Data
Stick (USB Thumb-Drive):
Lucas, Stephen E., The Art of Public Speaking, McGraw Hill, New York, NY: 2001, ISBN 9780077306298. This is the most popular college public speaking textbook in the US. It is an important resource for public speaking and provides a rich background for your presentations.
Gelb, Michael J., Present Yourself!,
Jalamar Press, Torrance, CA: 1988 ISBN 0915190516. This is a quick and easy-to-read summary of
public speaking that will get you started in developing your
presentations. It provides invaluable
information that you should adopt in your public speaking.
Lawry, John D., College 101,
Second Edition, McGraw Hill, Boston: 1999 ISBN 0073131593. This text is for First-Year students to help
you make the transition from high school to college. Reflecting on Blackboard on the assigned
reading in the Lawry text is a critical way for you to learn and understand the
many changes that are taking place as a First-Year student at UVM. You will note that the Untitled Student Essay
(p.179) written by Amy Corey was an assignment in this former class that author
Lawry included it in the second edition of College
101.
One USB 2Gig or greater Flash Memory Thumb-Drive. The thumb-drive must be brought to each of the three labs when you present your individual informational, persuasive, and choice presentations. Each speech will be recorded on a Flip camera and will be transferred to your personal thumb drive. You must view the recorded presentation on your thumb drive as part of your reflection document process.
Journal: Keep an electronic journal on BlackBoard (Communications, Groups, and Group Discussion Board)--reflecting on your readings, class presentations and discussions and your personal and academic progress at UVM and CALS. Journal guidelines may be viewed here and read College 101, pp 1-3. Minimum expectations are two quality and thoughtful discussion/journal entries per week. One of the journal entries should be a reflection on the Lawry College 101 reading due that week. Selected appropriate and reflective entries will be posted on the course BlackBoard site for all to read.
Attendance Policy: Most of your final grade will depend on your active performance, both as a speaker and as a listener, in class. Attendance will be noted each class. This is not a class to cut and get notes from someone else . This is a class where you must come to lecture and lab on time and be ready to participate. Since we have only thirteen lectures, every class is important. Role will be taken. More than one unexcused absence is a grounds for a reduction in your grade for each absence. Unexcused lateness or absences of either lecture or lab will lead to a 1% reduction of your final grade.
No students have earned an A in this course who have had more than two unexcused absences. Athletes are excused only for Varsity Games (and work is expected to be made up within one week). If you are late, you will be marked absent. Absences are excused only in cases of extreme sickness, death in your immediate family, or other extreme documented circumstances. In such circumstances, notify the CALS Dean’s Office before missing class (Rose Laba, rlaba@uvm.edu), 656-0289, who will contact me with an official excuse). Notifications after missing class are not excused.
Make-Up Policy: If you can not make a class, you must notify your instructor before the class. Ex post facto notification will result in loss of points for that class and assignment. If you miss a speaking assignment without notifying your instructor before the class, for any reason, you will earn a zero for that assignment. Only legitimate prior-notification absences (death in the family, serious illness, or accident), that the CALS Dean’s Office has been notified, will be made up. This should be a rare occurrence.
Class Behavior: Your attitude toward learning is part of your final grade. This is a participatory class that will help you develop invaluable skills to increase your success throughout college and beyond. In order to facilitate the learning process, it is important that you demonstrate mutual respect and appropriate behavior toward your instructors and fellow students alike, as they are both a major part of your learning experience. Not only do you learn from your instructors, but you also learn from your classmates.
Students are expected to have a positive attitude, to arrive to class a few minutes early, be in your seat when class time begins, and stay for the entire class time. Talking or texting on your cell phone or using a computer during lecture or lab is not permitted. Only one person should be speaking during class at any time. You will be asked to leave the class and you will lose at least one percent of your course grade each time you: 1. continue to talk while the recognized speaker is talking, 2. fall asleep during class, 3. read the newspaper or do other assignments not related to our class, 4. leave the class early without prior permission of the instructor, 5. text or talk on your cell phone during class, 6. using a laptop or notebook computer in class, 7. are late for class.
Hurtful or strong negative criticism of others is not appropriate or
welcome. Whining or excessive complaining about this or any other UVM
course is not appropriate in class. You
are expected to come to class with a pen, pencil and notebook and to take notes
by hand. It is appropriate and acceptable to raise your hand and
ask questions during class. You may eat food and drink water during class.
Laptop or Notebook Computers, cell phones, or any other electronic
devices are not to be used during class!!!
Religious Holidays: Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. Each semester students should submit in writing to their instructors by the end of the second full week of classes any documented religious holiday schedule for the semester.
Written Assignments: All written assignments should be word-processed. Handwritten work will not be accepted.
Oral Assignments: Since this is a course in oral communication, your oral assignments are important. It should be no surprise that students who spend lots of time preparing for their oral presentations do better than students who throw something together at the last moment or, worse yet, just “wing it.” Studying for this class is not passive (like reading a textbook or studying for an exam), instead it is active (practicing your speech in front of friends).
Plagiarism: Students are expected to read the examples of plagiarism and know when to use quotations and references in writing. A student caught plagiarizing at UVM will receive an XF for the entire semester class.
Academic Honesty: From Undergraduate Student Handbook & Code of Academic Integrity
The principle objective of The University of Vermont policy
on academic honesty is to promote an intellectual climate and support the
academic integrity of The University of Vermont. Academic dishonesty or an offense against
academic honesty includes acts which may subvert or compromise the integrity of
the educational process at The University of Vermont. Offenses against the Code of Academic Integrity are deemed serious and insult
the integrity of the entire academic community.
Any suspected deliberate violations of this code are taken very
seriously and will be forwarded to the Center for Student Ethics &
Standards for further investigation.
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Graded Assignments |
% |
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1. Class Introduction |
2.5 |
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2. Present Yourself Quiz (in lecture, the week of Sept 19, 2011) |
2.5 |
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3. Impromptu Speech |
2.5 |
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4. Join UVM club or organization |
2.5 |
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5. Advisor Meetings |
2.5 |
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6 Outside Speech Critique. (due in lab, the week of Oct 17, 2011) |
5 |
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7. Group critical analysis presentation and information evaluation paper |
7.5 |
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8. Informational presentation |
10 |
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9. Persuasive presentation |
15 |
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10. Choice presentation (informational, persuasive, entertaining, or combination) |
20 |
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11. Three speech reflection papers |
15 |
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12. Student Critiques/Attendance &
Participation/BlackBoard Discussion Journal/Attitude |
5 |
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13. Midterm exam (week of Oct 31, 2011) |
5 |
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14. Final exam (Dec 13, 2011) |
5 |
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TOTAL |
100 |
Assignments in Detail: Download Excel Grading Template here .
1. Introduce yourself to the large class (2.5%). Students’ names will be called randomly throughout the semester to introduce themselves (2 to 3 minutes) to the large class. Topics to be covered include:
Your Name
Family Background (brief history of Mother, Father, and Siblings)
Where you are from
Why you chose UVM
Academic interests and major
Personal interests & hobbies
Plans after graduating
Something about yourself no one else in the room knows
End your introduction with one of three things to help us understand
you as a person:
1. Read any piece of prose (book, poem, magazine, etc.) you wish
to share with the class, or
2. Recite something you have memorized (poem, song lyrics, famous
speech, etc.), or
3. Bring something with you to show and discuss with the class
You should demonstrate that you are prepared for this assignment and not just “wing it.” It will be obvious if you do. Average introductions will earn a C grade. Interesting, innovative and enthusiastic introductions will receive higher grades. If you are absent when you name is randomly called, you will earn a zero.
2. Quiz on the book, Present Yourself (2.5%) Individual and group quizzes will be averaged. The quiz on the booklet Present Yourself is scheduled early in the semester, as this book contains important tips for public speaking.
3. Impromptu Speech (2.5%) The
impromptu speech gets you up in front of your lab group and is intended to
reveal a speaker's ability to develop a point of view on a general topic and to
organize a 2 – 3 minute presentation within a limited preparation
time. Impromptu speech topics will be
familiar ground for all speakers. We will look for clarity of thought,
structure (introduction, body, & conclusion) and the effective use of plain
spoken English.
4. Join a UVM Club or Organization (2.5%) To complete this assignment you must show
convincing evidence to your lab Teaching Assistants (TAs) that you have joined
and are an active participant in a UVM club, sport, or organization. You
can report this to your TA anytime during the semester. View the Student
Government Association (
5. Advisor Meetings: (2.5%). You must meet with your Academic Advisor at least twice during the Fall semester to discuss speech topic choices, academic concerns, to select classes for the Spring semester, and just to get to know each other better. Your advisor must sign and date a form to be turned in to your TA before the end of the semester.
6. Attend and critique a formal speech given outside of class (5%). Submit a four to six page paper to your TA. Click here for details. Papers handed in after the due date will receive 10% reduction the first week, 20% the second week, and no credit, 0% if any later. Papers need to be edited by a fellow student in your lab. You must hand in the edited first draft with your editor's signature, along with the final draft of your paper.
7. Be part of a team that gives a group critical analysis presentation and evaluation paper (7.5%). The world of work that you will be entering consists of teams working together. You will be assigned to a small group to prepare a 12 - 15 minute critical analysis presentation and a short paper scheduled at the beginning of the semester.
Click on the Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context website, select a controversial topic that everyone in your group is interested in, and find a minimum of two information sources that take opposite viewpoints. Use the Guidelines for a Critical Analysis of an Article to orally critique each article in your presentation. Discuss the conclusions your group can make about your chosen topic as a result of this analysis.
In addition, the group needs to write up a short paper in which you evaluate and justify why you have selected those two information sources. See the Bailey/Howe Library UVM research guide for your information evaluation assignment http://researchguides.uvm.edu/cals1. This paper must be handed to your TAs just before your group presentation,
Your speech grade will be determined by the depth and coherence of critical analysis of each information source, the quality of the group presentation, the support and interaction among group members, as well as your personal participation in the group project as rated by your peers. Click here for the checklist for group critical analysis presentation grading requirements.
Each team member bears personal responsibility for group participation. If you miss team meetings and fail to participate fully in the group presentation, then you have not met objective number 17 for this class and you will be graded accordingly. Every semester a number of students slack and fail to show up for group meetings and are left behind by the group. It is your responsibility to make group meetings and fully participate in the group project. Do not expect your TA to intervene for you or to take mercy on you at the end of the semester.
8. Give an eight to ten minute informational presentation to an audience of student peers (10%). You will be given adequate lecture, handout materials and text assignments to help you prepare for your presentations.
The subject of your informational presentation should be something that you are interested in (indeed, have a passion for!) and wish to share with others so we can learn about you as a person. It should be “college level” and “appropriate for your audience.” If in doubt, ask Professor Patterson or your lab TA. Click here to see the checklist for grading your informational presentations.
To introduce you to the resources of the UVM library and help you develop background research for your informational presentation, you must complete the library assignment booklet and turn it in, along with other required materials, the week after your informational presentation.
After your presentation, you should read your peer evaluations carefully;
watch the video; then write a
9. Give an eight to ten minute persuasive presentation. (you must dress appropriately, or be willing to accept a reduction of half a grade on your presentation) (15%). Students will be expected to have improved from the first presentation. The persuasive presentation will be graded in part on how much improvement you demonstrate from your first presentation. This speech will also be videoed to use in writing a reflection paper to be handed in the following week. For your reflection paper, use the same three sub-heading format as detailed below.
The subject should be something controversial that you feel strong enough about that you want to persuade others to understand and/or adopt your viewpoint. Again, we will learn about you as a person from the subject you chose and from the caliber of your persuasive speech. Click here to see the checklist for persuasive grading requirements. Remember to hand in your notes, mind map or outline, with your reflection paper the following week. Please hand in your materials in a pocket folder with your name prominently displayed on the outside.
10. Give an eight to ten minute presentation of your choice (informational, persuasive, or entertaining) (20%). This is your final individual presentation and the culminating speech to demonstrate your competency in public speaking. You may choose to give either an informational, persuasive or entertaining presentation, or a combination, on the subject of your choice. Click here to see the checklist for grading your choice presentation. Again, after your speech, write a reflection paper based on a review of the video and student comments and your personal reflection of the experience. Hand your notes or outline with your reflection paper in a pocket folder the following week.
11. Write three reflection papers (15%, three @ 5% each).
Each presentation will be videoed, and your cumulative grade will depend on
your speech as well as a
(1) the
speech I prepared for
(2) the speech I gave
(3) the speech I wish I had given
These papers are to show reflection and learning from the three individual speech experiences. The three papers, two to four pages in length, should be written after viewing the video of your presentation, reading the student critiques, and honestly reflecting on your experience. Use the following three headings to frame your paper:
a. The speech I prepared for : Why you chose your topic…what this topic tells us about you...how your conducted your research…the credibility of your sources, especially web –based sources…the objectives of your speech…how you went about constructing the speech…the amount and type of practice you did…the feedback you received…any other preparation.
b. The speech I gave : Give details of how your speech went…comparison of the speech with the one you practiced…what was going on in your head during the speech…what the video tape showed…things you did right…things you did wrong…student critique comments…anything else concerning the actual speech and how it felt to you
c. The speech I wish I had given : Things you wish you had done differently to give the ideal speech…what would you have done differently in preparing for and delivering your speech…what will you do next time to improve…anything else that you wish you had done and would do in the future.
Your Pocket Folder is due at the beginning of lab the week after you present (if late -10% the first week, -20% the second week, No credit afterwards).
Hand in your reflection paper in a picket folder with your name, speech title, lab section (day & time), and date delivered on the front cover. Inside the folder, in the pockets should be: 1.Your reflection paper (speech I prepared for, speech I gave, the speech I wish I had given, with page numbers), 2. Completed Mind Map. 3. Objectives Statement: what you want your audience to know or do because of your talk, how the audience will be changed by your talk. 4. Research materials (articles, photocopies you made. 5. Copies of visual aids (images, overheads, etc.) if they will fit in the folder. 6. Student critiques from those who watched your presentation. Here is a checklist for your folder.
12. Critique student presentations/Class participation/BlackBoard Reflection Journal/Attitude (5%) Being a critical listener and being able to give constructive feedback is an important communication skill and will help you develop as a speaker as well. You will have the opportunity to give written and oral feedback to your fellow students. Signed written critiques will be given to the student presenter for feedback. Your grade will reflect how well you critically analyze and give helpful feedback (both positive and negative) to your colleagues.
Students will also be graded on their overall participation and attitude toward the class. Those showing enthusiasm for learning and helping their fellow students to learn will receive a high score, while those who argue each grade, refuse to participate, regularly come to class late and/or seem disinterested in the class will fare poorly.
It is important for you to reflect on the changes that are happening in your life and the learning that is taking place, as a first-year college student. Students are required to make two BlackBoard reflection postings a week, one on the assigned College 101 reading for that week, the other reflecting on your experience as a First Year student. All your weekly reflections throughout the Fall semester will constitute a Reflection Journal. Journal guidelines may be viewed here and read College 101, pp 1-3. Postings should be made on the CALS 001 BlackBoard Site (Communications àGroups à Individual Group à Group Discussion Board à Reflection àCreate Thread), which will include your lab TAs as well as your lab section group members. More than two discussion postings a week are encouraged. Selected appropriate and reflective entries will be posted on the course BlackBoard site for all to read.
What to post on BlackBoard Reflections: Post reflections, thoughts or questions that the assigned College 101 readings have raised for you. Also write about our class or other classes or experiences you have had at UVM such as: readings, lab or lecture material, and resident hall and life experiences that have been provocative and interesting. Postings about class-related material that is confusing, or makes you think of connections to other courses or experiences in your life, are welcome. Contact lab mates, or reply to their postings giving your own opinion or suggestions to questions or comments they have posted. Organize study sessions or review of our class or other class material.
What not to post on BlackBoard Reflections: Hurtful thoughts or strong negative criticism of others in our class are not welcome. Whining or excessive complaining about this or any other UVM course is not appropriate. Do not post about drinking, drugs, or sex.
13. Midterm exam (5%). This will cover all readings, labs, and lectures up to the midterm. To do well, you must come to class, take notes, do all the readings and study.
14. Final exam (5%). This will cover all readings, labs, and lectures of the entire semester. To do well, you must come to class, take notes, do all the readings and study.
Fall 2011 CALS 001 Schedule
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Lab Date |
Lecture Topic Outline |
Lab Topic Outline |
Assignment Due Day of Lab |
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Aug 29 |
Welcome to the class. Go over course structure, syllabus, materials, grading, BlackBoard. Study/Time management suggestions. Learning styles |
Introduction to lab. Diads, introductions. 10 things I wish I knew when I was a first year student |
None |
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Sept 5 |
What you should know about UVM and CALS. The "must-knows" of public speaking. Propaganda, and public speaking. Stages of Team Growth Power Point Presentation. Group presentations overview |
Go over lab schedule and speech date assignments, correct lab roster. Impromptu Speeches. |
Print
out and carefully read the Syllabus. |
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Sept 12 |
Informational speech grading sheet. Informational Power Point Presentation. Example of Poor informational speech. |
Finish Impromptu Speeches |
The Art of
Public Speaking: Chpts. 6, 7, 10 College 101:
“The Journal,” pgs 1-6 |
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Sept 19 |
Present Yourself! Quiz. Visual Aids. Example of a good student informational speech. . |
Group Critical Analysis Presentations |
The Art of Public Speaking: Chpts.
8, 9, 14 College 101:
“Community,” pgs. 115-129 |
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Sept 26 |
Informational speech example. Introductions. |
Group Critical Analysis Presentations |
The Art of Public Speaking: Chpts. 11, 12, 13 College 101: “Family Ties,” pgs. 177–206 Min. two Journal entries on BlackBoard |
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Oct 3 |
Stylistic Language Devices. The best speech of the 20th Century. Introductions. |
Informational Presentations. |
The Art of
Public Speaking: Chpts. 15, 16 |
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Oct 10 |
Persuasive v. Informational Speaking PP Presentation. Persuasive speech grading sheet. Persuasive speech examples. Introductions. |
Informational Presentations |
College 101:
“Students and Teachers,” pgs. 57-88 |
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Oct 17 |
Persuasive speech examples. Introductions. |
Finish Informational Presentations Outside speech critique and edited draft due in lab this week. |
College 101:
“Conflict,” pgs. 131-161 |
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Oct 24 |
Choice presentations grading sheet, Choice speech example. Introductions |
Persuasive Presentations |
College 101: “Friendship
and Romance,” pgs. 89-114 |
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Oct 31 |
Midterm Exam |
Persuasive Presentations |
College 101:
“Resources,” pgs. 163-176 |
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Nov 7 |
Choice Speech example. Group Critical Analysis overview. Introductions |
Finish Persuasive Presentations |
College 101: Academic
Concerns,” pgs. 9-56 |
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Nov 14 |
Plagiarism activity. Introductions. |
Choice Presentations |
College 101: “Spiritual Quest,” pgs. 235-264 Min. two Journal entries on BlackBoard |
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Nov 21 |
Thanksgiving Recess |
No classes this week. |
Enjoy
the |
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Nov 28 |
Foundations Survey. Final Introductions. View Final Exam Study Guide. |
Choice Presentations |
View the Video: Land for Learning: Justin Morrill and Min. two Journal entries on BlackBoard |
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Dec 5 |
Final
Introductions, Class Evaluations, & Student Convocation speech example.
View Final Exam
Study Guide. Advisor meeting forms
and UVM club/org due to lab TAs before |
Finish Choice Presentations |
None |
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UVM Final Exam Schedule for Fall 2011 The final exams are
on the same day and time: 07:30 AM - 10:15 AM, Tuesday Dec, 13 2011;
ANGELL B106 07:30 AM - 10:15 AM, Tuesday Dec, 13 2011; VOTEY 105 |
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Study for final exam |
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