SPCH 230 HNRS: Business and Professional Speaking Honors Section, Spring 2021

Sections H03 - H06

Instructor: Marianne G. Pellechia

email: [email protected]
Office Hours: By appointment only; will take place in
person (on Mondays), through email, or on Blackboard
Collaborate

Format and Structure: SPCH 230 HNRS is a hybrid class consisting of some in person sessions as well as
asynchronous online lectures. You will attend class in the assigned classroom on the day your group is assigned to meet
(i.e., Wednesdays for Group W, and Fridays for Group F). The other two days you are not in class can be used to view the
asynchronous online lectures that will be posted on the course website, which you will be able to access through
Blackboard. The asynchronous lectures, as well as other relevant materials, will be posted at the beginning of each major
unit so they are available for you to work on your assignments at your own pace. There is a link to download VLC Media
Player on the course website if you need it to view the lectures.

Course Website: Link is available online through Blackboard. It is your responsibility to review and download all
necessary documents for the dates they are needed. Many of the documents are in Adobe pdf format, therefore you need
to have Acrobat Reader to view these pages. There is a link on the web site to download the free Acrobat Reader. Most
library and lab computers are equipped to view these files as well.

Course Description and Learning Outcomes:

The goal of SPCH 230 is to provide you with an understanding of the principles of speech communication as they apply to
the business and professional environment. We will achieve this by maintaining a balance between understanding
communication principles and practicing communication skills. Upon completion of the course you should be able to:

1) Identify and demonstrate appropriate means of communication for varied audiences within professional settings;

2) Define and explain specialized information in ways that are accessible to the non-expert “lay person” as well as the
professional expert;

3) Reason clearly in speaking to inform, persuade, and exchange views, including researching, organizing, practicing,
and presenting informative professional topics;

4) Articulate a critical, informed position on an issue and engage in productive and responsible intellectual exchanges
that demonstrate the ability to understand other positions as well as set forth your own;

5) Participate effectively in an employment interview, in both the interviewer and interviewee role.

Assignments and Grading:

The following is a schedule of the assignments and weights of each assigned project. Please note that, although highly
unlikely, if unforeseen circumstances arise these might be subject to change as the course progresses. The assignments
can be viewed on the course website and will be discussed more extensively in class as we approach them.

Presentation 1 (informative, 5-7 minutes): Research report 12%

Presentation 2 (informative, 7-9 minutes): Teaching presentation 16%
Presentation 3 (persuasive, 9-11 minutes): Selling speech 24%
Interviewer assignment (written, take-home) 10%
Interviewee assignment (written, take-home) 10%
Resume assignment (written, take-home) 8%
Initial self-assessment, peer evaluations and self-evaluations 10%
Participation
(Conduct in class, Q&A sessions, library assignment, etc.) 10%

You are expected to complete/turn in all assignments on the days they are due. Failure to complete an assignment on the
assigned date will result in a grade of 0 for that assignment if you do not have a legitimate excuse and supporting
documentation for missing class and/or the deadline. Under extenuating circumstances exceptions will be made and late
work will be accepted (determined at my discretion) if the delay has been discussed and agreed upon prior to the due date.
Furthermore, in addition to requiring official documentation verifying your circumstances, if you need to miss a speech I
will also ask that you email me copies of your complete, correct presentation outline and other presentation materials
before class time on the day of your presentation so I can verify that you were indeed ready to present. Please note that,
because time during in person sessions will be extremely limited, in the event you allowed to make up a presentation you
will do so at the end of the semester during a time that is convenient for both of us.

Attendance and Participation

All absences due to documented illness or quarantine will be excused, and no grade penalty will be assessed for missing
class(es) for this reason. If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home, contact the COVID-19 Student
Health Services (SHS) nurse line (803-576-8511), complete the COVID-19 Student Report Form (go.sc.edu/
covidstudentreport), and select the option allowing the Student Ombuds to contact your professors. When talking with the
SHS nurse, be sure to ask for documentation of the consult as you will need this to document why you missed class. You
will also use the COVID-19 Student Report Form if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or if you have been ordered
to quarantine because of close contact with a person who was COVID-19 positive. In each of these situations you will be
provided appropriate documentation that can be shared through the Student Report Form.

If you know you are going to be absent from class please send me a brief email to inform me of your circumstances.

Participation is part of your final grade. The grade you earn will be based on your presence and conduct in class, your
contribution to discussion during class times, and various activities. Participation is based on the following scale:

• In class but demonstrate multiple instances (i.e. 3 or more) of being asleep, obsessed w/laptop or phone, and/or
doing work not related to the class = D for participation
• In class, but silent or ill prepared = C for participation
• In class and making an okay contribution = B for participation
• In class and making quality contributions = A for participation

Lateness and Leaving Early:

You are expected to arrive to class on time and stay until the class period is over. Regularly arriving late will result in a
grade penalty being applied to the participation portion of your final grade. In addition, leaving before class has been
dismissed, unless it has been approved by the instructor, will count as an absence.

Furthermore, being late on a day you are assigned to give your presentation will result in a grade penalty on your speech
assignment. Therefore, if you arrive:

5 minutes late to class on your assigned day you will receive no higher than a B
10 minutes late you will receive no higher than a C
15 minutes late you will receive no higher than a D
20 minutes late you will receive no higher than an F
25 minutes late you will not be allowed to complete the assignment, resulting in a 0

Grading Procedure:
You will receive a letter grade for each assignment. Letter grades are then translated into numerical scores based on the
following scale:

A = 10 B = 8.6 C = 7.6 D = 6.6

A- = 9.2 B- = 8.2 C- = 7.2 D- = 6.2
B+ = 8.9 C+ = 7.9 D+ =6.9 F = 5.9

To determine your final grade, each letter grade is translated into a numerical score that represents 1) how well you did on
that assignment, and 2) the weight of that assignment in the final course grade. To do this, multiply the numerical score
you received for each assignment by the percentage of the overall course grade represented by that assignment. These
scores are then added together to determine your overall course grade. Course grades will be based on the following
scale:
A = 9.00 – 10.00 B+ = 8.70 - 8.99 B = 8.00 – 8.69 C+ = 7.70 - 7.99
 C = 7.00 – 7.69 D+ = 6.70 - 6.99 D = 6.00 - 6.69 F = Below 6.00

Please see example on the course website for further explanation.

Cheating and Plagiarism:

Cheating and plagiarism are prohibited by university regulations and will not be tolerated in this course. Students found
cheating or plagiarizing the work of others will not only be harshly penalized by the instructor, but will also be reported to
the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity for further discipline and censure. Furthermore, any suspected
cases of plagiarism or cheating will be forwarded to the OSCAI for a thorough investigation of academic dishonesty.
Cheating and plagiarism includes, but is not limited, to: 1) presenting another’s ideas, work or speech as your own; 2)
failing to document sources in quoted or closely paraphrased material; 3) “padding” your bibliography; and 4) presenting
work from another class without the instructor’s permission. Please note that ignorance of what constitutes cheating or
plagiarism is not an acceptable excuse for committing it! For more information on the USC Honor Code please see
https://www.sc.edu/policies/ppm/staf625.pdf.

Recorded Class Sessions/Online Lectures:

All recorded lectures will only be available to students registered for this class. These recordings are the intellectual
property of the instructor and they may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit written consent of the instructor.
Further, students may not share these sessions with those not in the class or upload them to any other online environment -
doing so would be a breach of the Code of Student Conduct and will be treated as such.

Class Conduct:
As a student at the University of South Carolina, you have agreed to abide by the Student Code of Conduct and
the Carolinian Creed. The Carolinian Creed states that:

As a Carolinian:
• I will practice personal and academic integrity;
• I will respect the dignity of all persons;
• I will respect the rights and property of others;
• I will discourage bigotry, while striving to learn from differences in people, ideas and opinions;
• I will demonstrate concern for others, their feelings, and their need for the conditions which support
their work and development.

The Student Code of Conduct can be found at: https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/

student_conduct_and_academic_integrity/documents/code_of_conduct.pdf

In addition, this class will be most valuable for everyone if you provide a supportive audience for your fellow classmates.
Rudeness during class sessions will not be tolerated. Please observe the following guidelines:
1) Please do not text, look at your phone, talk, read the Gamecock, do puzzles, study/do homework, sleep, or engage in
any other inconsiderate and distracting behavior. In short, be attentive! If you are observed engaging in inappropriate
behavior during class I will make a notation in my records and the participation portion of your final grade will be
appropriately reduced. Absolutely no excuses will be accepted for inappropriate behavior!
2) Once class starts all phones must be turned off and put away, and air pods (or similar devices) removed from your ears.
These devices should not be brought back out until class is over.

If you are observed using your phone during class, or even if one is seen on your desk, in your lap, etc. the policy stated in
#1 regarding inattentive behavior during class and presentations will be enforced. Furthermore, if one of these devices
goes off and disrupts class during another student’s presentation, you will receive a grade penalty on your own speech as
well.
3) To avoid disrupting a speaker, please do not walk into class during someone’s presentation - if you are late, wait in the
hallway until the speaker is finished and then enter.
4) You will be required to provide constructive written feedback to other students. This will not only help your
classmates become better speakers, but it will help you become a better speaker through analyzing the quality of others’
work. While you should be honest in your critique, please express your thoughts in a way that will not be hurtful to a
fellow classmate.

Face Coverings
Face coverings protect you, your classmates, and the instructor in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not
have symptoms. Faculty, students and staff are required to wear an appropriate face covering in all campus buildings,
classrooms, and other designated areas on campus. Face coverings should cover your nose and mouth in a community
setting. Students with conditions that prohibit them from wearing a face covering must register with the Student
Disabilities Resource Center (SDRC); appropriate accommodations will be approved by the SDRC, and I will be notified.
Failure or refusal to wear the required face coverings may result in your immediate removal from the classroom and
corrective action, including referral to the Office of Student Conduct, in accordance with University policies and
procedures (UNIV 3.04).

Please view these important links for more information on face coverings:

Proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

CDC Recommendation Regarding the Use of Face Coverings:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html

Hand and Surface Hygiene

Please use hand sanitizer upon entering the classroom and wipe down your desk/table and chair at the beginning of class.
All wipes should be disposed of in the trash can and not left on the desk or floor.. Timing does not permit professional
cleaning of classrooms between each session so please be considerate of the classes that follow yours.

Food and Drinks in the Classroom:

No food is permitted in the classroom. Drinks in a container with a secure lid are allowed as long as your face mask is not
removed for prolonged periods of time. In the event of a spilled liquid, it is your responsibility to clean it up. All drink
containers should be disposed of and/or taken with you when class is over - once again please be considerate of those
classes that follow yours.

Disability Services:
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and may
need accommodations to fully participate in this class, contact the Office of Student Disability Services: 777-6142, TDD
777-6744, email [email protected], or stop by LeConte College Room 112A. All accommodations must be approved
through the Office of Student Disability Services.

Discrimination and Harassment:

The University of South Carolina’s Harassment and Discrimination Policies can be found at: https://
www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/equal_opportunities_programs/policies/index.php

As stated by the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs: “If you or someone you know has been the victim of
any kind of discrimination or harassment at UofSC, you need to report it. Faculty and staff are required to
report any incident of discrimination or harassment they witness, or that is reported to them.”

To report an incident through the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, you can go to: https://www.sc.edu/
about/offices_and_divisions/equal_opportunities_programs/report-incident/index.php

If you or someone you know needs confidential support, you can go to: https://www.sc.edu/about/initiatives/
safety/stop_sexual_assault/rights/confidentiality/index.php
Miscellaneous:
All presentation outlines and other written work must be typed. Please do not hesitate to email me and/or see me if you
have any questions, problems, or simply want to talk - I am very willing and eager to be of any help to you that I can be.
Here’s to a great semester, despite the challenging circumstances!

*Continued enrollment in this class means that you fully understand and accept the previously stated
course policies! Please do your part to maintain a courteous, supportive, and safe environment!*