1. Why do I have to purchase the textbook?
The textbook used in this course is unique in many respects and reflects an attempt to make the curriculum for this course "cutting edge." The text is revised every year, so as to keep all aspects of the course as current as possible. You will need your own copy of the book. Please bring it to each class and to each mass lecture. Space is provided in the text for taking notes and most of the slides (shown at mass lecture) are reproduced in the text. The text also contains the feedback and evaluation forms that you will need for each assignment. Fill out the DVD receipt form, tear it out and hand it in to your instructor to receive your copy of the DVD that accompanies the textbook.

2. What do I need besides the textbook?

Note: every student needs to purchase their own recordable DVD+RW.  The DVD that your purchase must be new.  Please also purchase a case to protect your DVD.  Blank DVD+RW’s  and cases are available in the University Bookstore.  We will begin recording with the Introduction assignment.  Bring a blank DVD+RW to the second meeting of the class so that we can format your DVD.  You should always bring your DVD to class, whenever you are scheduled to speak.  You can view your DVD using Windows Media Player (on a PC) or Quick Time (on a Mac).  It will also play on most DVD players.  After each speaking assignment you should view your presentation; one of the best ways to improve your speaking is to become a student of your own speeches.  Not having your own DVD available at the time of your presentation can result in a reduction in your grade. 

3. What is the policy on attendance?
Attendance and punctuality for discussion and mass lecture are very important and counts toward your grade. You will be expected to participate in some capacity in every class period and speeches CANNOT be made up after the fact! If you know you will be unable to attend, you must make arrangements to exchange dates with another student in advance. It is your responsibility to notify your instructor or the course coordinator of any absence. If you cannot reach either of these individuals, you may call the communication division office at (715) 346-3409.

4. What is the policy on handing in written assignments?
All assignments are to be written on a word processor and handed in at the time they are due. You should retain a copy of your all of your work for this course on a hard drive so that you can easily submit your work in an electronic form. Late work will be penalized.

5. Can I use note cards for presentation?
You should use an extemporaneous style of delivery. Your use of notes should be limited and you should not have the speech written out word for word. Note cards and any other supporting materials may be collected immediately following the speech. Your instructor will provide more specific criteria.

6. What is the policy on time limit for speeches?
Each speaking assignment has specified time limits. Your instructor will specify the penalties for not meeting the time limits set forth for an assignment. You should be careful to adhere to these limits. Practice your presentation several times to be sure you are within the proper timeframe for the assignment.

7. When are outlines due?
Complete sentence outlines are required for many speeches and are due at the beginning of the presentation. These requirements are noted in the syllabus. See the text for examples of speech outlines for the major assignments. Your instructor may set forth additional specifications for outlining.

8. What about topic selection?
The thesis topic of your speech should be posted to the Public Folders for that assignment. Your instructor will explain the process of posting your topics as a part of the overview of the course. They syllabus provides step by step instructions. You should always post your topic by the deadline stipulated by your instructor.

9. What is the policy on citing sources?
You are expected to use outside sources in your speeches and to incorporate acknowledgement of those sources in your speeches. The failure to properly credit the sources of your information is plagiarism and constitutes grounds for academic misconduct in accordance with UW procedures. Please note the syllabus for more detailed information.

10. How are we using D2L?
We are using D2L to help manage the course. Your first posting involves your statement of your course objectives. You will also be posting feedback, as well as the topics you have selected and a final self-assessment. More information is available in the syllabus.

11. What kinds of topics can I talk about?
It is your responsibility to prepare speeches that the audience finds worthwhile (i.e. the topic and the language you use should be appropriate to the audience you're addressing). The context for your remarks is the college classroom - consequently, your speeches should provide the audience with insight and should have educational merit. The ordinary boundaries of common sense prevail for your speech selection and content. You should not incorporate into your speech any objects that are banned from campus. U. W.-System Administrative Code restricts you from bringing animals into the classroom. Note: you may not bring pets or other animals to the class.

12. What about using Internet sources?
If you are incorporating information you found on the Internet, give the author's name (if known), the full title of the work (placed in quotation marks), and the full URL address, and the date the site was visited The syllabus stipulates more specific guidelines regarding source citation.

13. What is the Course Objectives paper?
A paper on course objectives should do two things. It should indicate what you, as a speaker and a student of Communication 101, expect to get out of the class. It should also speak to your expectations regarding a greater appreciation of human communication and professional presentation skills. This paper is to be posted in Public Folders under "Course Objectives."

14. What about feedback and participation?
We need feedback to improve. You will receive feedback from your permanent partner, other students in the class and your instructor. The feedback that you provide for your permanent partner should be posted under "Feedback" in the assignment folder for each speaking assignment. It is also important that you become your own critic. Watch the video tape of your speaking and look for ways that you might improve.
Participation is included in the grading criteria for this class. You demonstrate your participation in many ways: by attending all the classes, by providing feedback to your peers, by being an attentive listener and by providing a thoughtful and critical written assessment of your partner and another classmate. The scores you receive on the quizzes (administered at the mass lecture) will be included in the points you receive under “participation.”

15. What is the Final Assessment paper?
Your final assessment paper is a project that you complete with a partner and consists of two steps. First, you will write an assessment of your partner’s progress throughout the semester. You should highlight significant developments in their speaking performance. You should watch their videotape so that you can document your assessment by specific reference to speaking assignments. Examine your partner’s Feedback entries as another resource for documenting the improvement of their speaking ability. This one to two page critique should be printed (double spaced) and given to your partner. You should also post it in YOUR Self-Assessment folder. It should be titled: PARTNER CRITIQUE.

Second, after receiving your Partner Critique, you should complete the Final Self-Assessment. This assessment should be about two pages (printed and double-spaced). It is a reflection of what you have learned about your own speaking ability throughout the semester and it should reference specific assignments, including direct reference to Feedback entries and the Partner Critique. It should be titled: MY SELF ASSESSMENT.

16. What exams will there be in this class and what will the format be?
EXAM ONE will be a comprehensive exam over the lectures and assigned readings, including the assigned speeches. It will be administered at the mass lecture on November 10, 2008. NOTE: To prepare for this exam, you should review your notes for the lectures and re-examine the assigned readings. This exam will be "objective" in format -- that is, it will consist of about 45 - 60 multiple-choice questions. All of these questions will be based on the lectures, the book or an application of principles -- especially as applied to examples -- including examples of speeches from the text. Review your notes of the examples that we showed in the mass lecture or discussed in the discussion section. Be sure to review the speeches that were assigned. This test will address a comprehensive and a detailed understanding of what we covered in the lecture and in the text. It will also ask you to apply your knowledge.

We will not issue a "study guide" for Exam 1. From the beginning of the course onward, you should create your own study guide by keeping thorough notes and reviewing the key ideas. It is with that assumption in mind that we have prepared this exam. We make no pretense of "teaching to the test." You need to study the material, periodically review it and raise questions along the way.

The final exam will be administered during the prescribed time for the mass lecture that you attend. NOTE: if you have more than two exams on the assigned day, please see Professor Davidson at least two weeks prior to the last day of class to see if you can schedule the exam at a different time. You must provide documentation of your class schedule to demonstrate the fact that you have more than two exams. Exemptions will be made only for such conflicts.

The final exam consists of a critical comparison of three policy speeches. One student is chosen to represent each section at the final. Each representative receives 100 points and is exempt from taking the final. Three finalists are selected to speak at each exam. All of the finalists must e-mail (as a WORD doc. attachment) an outline of their speech and the Toulmin diagram to their section instructor by November 28, 2008. They should submit a "hard copy" to their instructor as well.  A description of the final exam appears in the syllabus. Bring this description with you to the final exam.