Course Syllabus

Download a copy of the syllabus. 

 

Instructor Information

Name: Sarah Lucht

Office Location: Northwest 16

Office Hours: M – 2:30-4:00 T/Th – 9:00-10:00 are virtual office hours (email, phone or Canvas). Or by appointment.  Wed- 1:00-2:00  F – 12:30-1:00

*Subject to change, please see my office door for up-to-date hours.

Email: sfuesting16215@lakelandcollege.edu

Phone Number: 217-234-5271

Course Information

Description

Focuses on the fundamental principles and methods of selection, analyzing, organizing, developing, and communicating information, evidence, and points of view to audiences.

Credit Hours

3

Pre-Requisite Information

Reasonable mastery of the English language

Classroom Location

Effingham Technology Center, Room 226

Meeting Times

Online with in-person speeches. 5:00-8:30 on 1/21, 2/11, 2/25, and 3/04

Course Materials

Valenzano, J.M., Kuypers, J.A., & Braden, S.W. (2019). The Speaker: The Tradition and Practice of Public Speaking.  (4th ed.). Fountainhead Press.

Learning Outcomes, Assessment, and Grading Criteria

Learning Outcomes

Understand and Manage Communication Apprehension

Ethical Speaking and Listening

Audience Analysis

Research and Supporting Materials

Critical Thinking Skills

Speech Organization

Outlining

Delivery Techniques

Presentational Aids

Evaluate Student Speeches

Bag Speech

Informative Speech

Persuasive Speech

Impromptu Speech

 

Laker Learning Competencies

By the end of the course, students will build upon the following Laker Learning Competencies, which support their academic, professional, and personal success:

• Communication: Students communicate through the exchange of information.
• Professional Skills & Ethics: Students demonstrate professional skills and ethical accountability.

Grading Criteria

Grades are posted in Canvas.

Table 1: Grading Scale

Grade Scale	Points or Percentages
A	100%-90%
B	89-80%
C	79-70%
D	69-60%
F	59% or lower

 

Table 2: Grading Criteria

Assignments and Exams	Points or Percentages
Bag Speech	60
Informative Outline	50
Informative Speech	120
Persuasive Outline	50
Persuasive Speech	150
Impromptu Speech	80
Topic selection/topic proposals	*Varies
Peer Reviews	*Varies
Pop Quizzes	*Varies
Discussions	*Varies
Speech Recording assignments	*Varies
Total Points or Percentage	Additional assignments will be added throughout the semester. Check Canvas for the most up-to-date list.

 

Final Exam Information: 

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – 5:00-8:30 – Effingham Technology Center, Room 226

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

The instructor retains the right to modify the course schedule and assignments as needed.

Table 3: Lecture Topics and Assignments

Date or Week	Topic & Assignments
Week 1	Chapters 1 & 2 from the book – Syllabus quiz, Introduction video, Expectation Paper
Week 2 (BAG SPEECHES)	Chapters 5, 8, 9, & 11 from the book – Chapter 2 discussion post, Speech topic due, Chapter 9 discussion post.
Week 3	Chapters 4, 10, 11 from the book – Audience analysis questions, Research assignment
Week 4	Informative Speech outline due
Week 5 (INFORMATIVE SPEECHES)	Chapters 13, 14, & 15 from the book – Speech recording assignment, Topic proposals
Week 6	Persuasive Speech Outline due
Week 7 (PERSUASIVE SPEECHES)	Speech recording assignment
Week 8 (FINAL)	Impromptu Speech

Assignment/Test Dates

Table 5: Due Dates

Date	Material Due or Examined
1/21	Bag Speech
2/11	Informative Speech
2/25	Persuasive Speech
3/4	Impromptu Speech (Final Exam)

Instructor Classroom Policies

Attendance

Even though this is an online section of Speech Communication, students are still required to participate with one another electronically and during the four face-to-face speech sessions. Because of the in-depth nature of this course, your success will be determined by class participation. To be successful in the class, you will need to read the book, utilize the PowerPoints, and watch the lectures.

Students will be required to deliver four graded speeches (a student cannot pass the course if they fail to present one of the four speeches), compose outlines, and complete additional assignments throughout the semester. Missed speeches cannot be made up, and if a student misses one speech, they will be withdrawn from the course.

Faculty Withdraw Notice

According to The Lake Land College Board of Trustees Policy Manual, “Because regular, punctual classroom attendance is considered important for quality performance and success, students are expected to punctually attend all meetings of classes in which they are enrolled. Instructors or divisions have the prerogative to determine minimum requirements.” Furthermore, the Illinois Community College Board requires instructors to certify at midterm if a student is actively pursuing a passing grade in a course and to withdraw anyone not doing so. Therefore, at (or before) midterm—February 6, students who are not actively engaged in classroom discussions, lectures, completing speeches, and so on, will be withdrawn.

The instructor reserves the right to withdraw a student at any point throughout the semester if they are earning a failing grade.

Missing a Test

Speeches cannot be made up. The sessions have been posted for months now, so make arrangements to be present for all assigned speeches. This means for the entire session. It is also very important to be an audience member. Under certain circumstances, the instructor can make amendments to this stipulation (i.e., a death in the family, hospitalization). Therefore, please make arrangements to be present at all four sessions for the entire class.

Unplanned Absence  

If time and class schedule allow, a core speech may be made up during the first class meeting immediately following the missed speech at a penalty of 50% of the total speech grade. It is the student’s responsibility to visit the instructor during a scheduled office hour prior to the first course meeting after the absence to seek authorization for rescheduling.  The instructor has final say regarding the permissibility of a reschedule request. No speech or test shall be made up more than a week after the original test date.  

Planned Absence  

Please reach out to the instructor if you know you will be absent for one of the core speeches. The student should initiate communication at least five business days before the scheduled speech day.

Late Work

Late work is not accepted. Assignments must be submitted in the correct format, to the designated location, and in the specified naming style to be accepted. Assignment due dates and times will be clearly listed on the assignment directions. The instructor reserves the right to accept late work, provided that the work is capped at 50% of the maximum point value.

**If you submit via Google Docs, please ensure that you have adjusted the permissions so I can open and view the link. **

Dress Code

Dress appropriately to deliver a speech. This means looking presentable and removing hats, sunglasses, and gum. Refrain from wearing shirts with distracting pictures or lettering. Overall, look presentable when delivering a speech and build credibility with your audience.

Classroom Conduct

Cell Phones: Please turn your phone off during class. Phone calls (even vibrating) are disruptive. Talking, texting, and scrolling are prohibited! Electronics and other potentially distracting devices: Computers, iPads, Bluetooth headsets, headphones, and any other electronic device, as well as fidget spinners or similar items, are not permitted for use or handling during class time.  Anyone observed using devices as mentioned will be considered disruptive and in violation of the guidelines of Academic Integrity.  Furthermore, students using these devices without the instructor's permission during class will be excused from class for the day and will be recorded as absent.  Exceptions may include hearing assistive devices and other medical devices, provided they are accompanied by the necessary paperwork. Please consult with the instructor if you have special needs or concerns.

Students are expected to demonstrate respect toward their instructor and classmates. 

If a student’s behavior creates a disturbance or interferes with classroom activities, said student will be required to leave. 

If a return to class is granted, further episodes of inappropriate behavior will result in the student’s removal from the course and may lead to reporting to the college administration for disciplinary action.

Classroom Communication

As Lake Land College students, you should be checking your Laker Mail and Canvas daily for course updates and communication from instructors.

Check Canvas daily for assignments and Course Announcements.

Contacting the Instructor

Please contact me via Laker email at sfuesting16215@lakelandcollege.edu.

I do not check my email outside of normal business hours. Work ahead on your assignments so you have ample time to have your questions answered.

College Policies

Academic Integrity and Student Code of Conduct

At Lake Land College, it is assumed that students will honor the tradition of academic honesty. As such, students have the responsibility to be fully knowledgeable of the Academic Integrity Code, produce their own work, and encourage academic honesty among their fellow students.

Students who engage in academic dishonesty in this course will receive a grade of zero on the assignment, and an Academic Integrity Incident report will be submitted to the Vice President for Student Services for further disciplinary action; those disciplinary actions are outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.

For a description of what is considered to be academic dishonesty, please review the Academic Integrity Code available in the online Student Handbook and Right to Know  www.lakelandcollege.edu/student-handbook. If you have questions regarding the College’s policy specifically related to this course, please do not hesitate to ask.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (recommendations from the AI Taskforce)

AI Use Limited to Proofreading and Grammar  

In this course, the use of artificial intelligence or machine learning tools (such as Grammarly, ChatGPT, Microsoft Word, etc.) is strictly limited to proofreading for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Any other use, including generating, solving, outlining, or drafting assignments—such as essays, quizzes/tests, discussion posts, problem sets, or other coursework—is prohibited. Examples of misuse include using AI to write papers, solve math problems, or generate discussion responses. Submitting AI-generated content is considered cheating, as it undermines the expectation of independent work and may lead to copyright violations. All work must be completed independently by the student, without the assistance of others or unauthorized tools. Violations of this policy are breaches of academic integrity and will result in disciplinary action under Academic Integrity Board Policy 07.28.02. 

Responsible Use of Classroom Content

Class discussions, papers, pictures, videos, and any other student-created work for a course are all considered official course content. Student work, including papers, discussions, quizzes, assignments, etc., must be confined to the classroom (either on-campus or virtual) and should not be shared outside the classroom without the express permission of the student who created it. Students should respect the privacy of person-to-person or person-to-class communication in all forms. Violating student privacy may result in removal from the course. Significant or repeated violations may result in disciplinary action. This standard is pursuant to Board Policies 07.28.01 (Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures) and 11.15 (Acceptable Technology Use).

Credit Hour Policy 07.21

Board policy 07.21, Credit Hour, describes how credit hours are assigned to courses and the work required to award the credit. For example:

Alternate Modalities: Students who participate in courses offered through alternate modalities, including, but not limited to, online, hybrid, compressed and competency-based education formats, will be expected to complete at least the equivalent amount of student work as required in lecture/discussion-oriented instruction. It is assumed that a minimum of 45 hours of student work will be invested for each credit hour obtained per semester.

 

Student Accommodations

Lake Land College is committed to providing a quality educational experience to all students. As such, the College provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability to help them achieve their full potential. For additional information, please contact Student Accommodations within Counseling Services—(217) 234-5259.

It is the student's responsibility to have a conversation with the faculty to inform them of accommodations.

Additional Resources

Health Services

Lake Land College is committed to ensuring the safety of the college community while providing the best possible learning experience for students. Students with health concerns should immediately notify their instructor(s). Students with prolonged illness should contact the college nurse, in accordance with Board Policy 07.43 (Health Services), at 217-234-5276 or healthservices@lakelandcollege.edu.

Student Services and Resources

Visit Student Services and Resources page to see all of the resources available to Lake Land College Students.

Help Desk Support

The Information Systems and Services department offers technical support. You can contact the helpdesk at 217-234-5261 or helpdesk@lakelandcollege.edu for any technical problems related to the courses you are taking at Lake Land College.

Information Systems and Services is located in Virgil Learning Resource Center/Library (See Maps for directions) in the lower level. ISS welcomes walk-in campus support Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm during the spring and fall semesters. During the summer, the college is open from Monday - Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Personal WiFi hotspot devices called MiFis and computers can be checked out at the Circulation Desk of the Virgil H. Judge Learning Resource Center/Library. Contact 217-234-5367 or libcirc@lakelandcollege.edu to set up an appointment. 

If you experience any difficulties using Canvas, you can contact Information Systems and Services at the information provided above or directly within Canvas. Click the Help link in the global navigation to the left for assistance. Choose Report a problem to create a ticket. Be prepared to provide a detailed description of your problem when completing the ticket form. Please don't hesitate to ask for help. 

• How do I get help with Canvas as a student?

Basic Needs

Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the Counseling Services for support. Students can also view Services & Resources page for more details. Furthermore, please notify me if you are comfortable in doing so. This will enable me to guide you to available resources.

 

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Proper College Etiquette

Professionalism

A key part of being a successful student is acting appropriately according to your environment. Although many instructors understand their students have a life outside of the classroom, it is expected of a professional college student to be able to balance their personal and academic lives. Therefore, however important these personal issues may be, they should not be used as excuses for:

 

1. Failing to attend class
2. Showing up late for classes (even if only by a few minutes)
3. Submitting late and/or subpar work
4. Not respecting pre-existing deadlines
5. Asking for extended deadlines
6. Requesting changes to the attendance policy or failing to keep track of your attendance record if required by your instructor

 

Furthermore, while your instructors are here to help you succeed in your college classes, remember they are experts in their subject field and deserve the respect afforded to them. No matter your relationship with them, your instructors are still the authoritative figure in the classroom and you should address them as such unless instructed otherwise. This may include (but is not limited to):

 

• Emailing instructors with professional format, including:

• Name
• Class number and time
• Reason for email
• What time you would like meet
• Example:

Hello,

My name is John and I am in your Comp. 121 class that is working on our final essay. I have some questions concerning the assignment if you would be willing to meet with me during your office hours on Monday.  

                 Thanks, John Smith

• Addressing student/instructor conflicts outside of class in a calm and respectful manner
• Sharing personal issues only when appropriate (although your instructor cares about your personal well-being, there are campus resources)
• Counseling services
• Human resources
• Discussing issues at appropriate times, such as during office hours or during a scheduled appointment.  Keep in mind that your instructor has other classes. As such, avoid cornering them before or after class. Arrange an office visit.
• If issues must be addressed in class, do so respectfully

 

While college is, on occasion, a less structured environment than high school, you cannot take all the liberties that you may like. There are many things that you cannot assume are okay simply because you believe they should be so. Do not assume:

 

1. Your instructors would like to be addressed by their first name
2. It is okay to bring food or drinks to class
3. Your instructors will extend deadlines or give you help because you feel it is necessary
4. Your instructor is okay with you talking without first being addressed

 

Responsibility

One of the most vital parts of being in college is being responsible. Now that you are beginning to delve into the academic world, you must take ownership of your own faults and missteps along the way. Being responsible is a surefire way for instructors to identify those students who are serious about college and those who are not ready for this level of responsibility. Some examples of collegiate level responsibility are:

• Consulting your syllabus, canvas, or other class materials regularly for:
• Attendance policy
• Assignments and quizzes
• Grading rubrics and a grading scale  
• Due dates
• Class schedule
• Adhering to the instructor’s attendance policy
• Completing the work that is assigned  

• Email the instructor at her Laker email by the 4th day of the 1st week of class, using the professional email format above, and receive 5 bonus points.

• Turning in all projects and assignments on time and in the correct format
• Taking ownership of grades that you have earned
  • Extra credit
  • An unreasonable boost or curve on your grade
  • More points on an assignment
• Do not ask for:
• Asking for help when necessary
  • Contact them during office hours - not before or after class
• Setting up appointments to meet up with your instructor
• Utilizing the college’s tutoring center

 

Respectfulness

The most prominent display of your character throughout your entire college experience is the way you show respect to your instructors and those in authority over your instructors. Paying attention to your instructors is not only common courtesy but is also your obligation as a student. Even if you do not enjoy the class you are taking, your instructor recognizes its value to your education and you owe it to them to engage in what they have prepared for you. There are many significant ways to display a proper and respectful character, such as:

 

• Participating in class
• Being prepared for classes and projects
• I.e. bringing all necessary materials with you when prompted
• Acknowledging your instructor
• Head nods
• Short verbal responses
• Eye contact
• Being quiet while your instructor is teaching
• Taking notes, especially when instructed to do so
• Being present physically as well as mentally
• Not having earbuds out or on your person while your instructor is teaching
• Keeping your phone in your bag during class (consult syllabus for further details)
• Not eating or drinking during lecture or in-class activities

 

Non-verbal communication is the most important means of communication that you can convey. What you do is much more telling than what you say. As the old saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” Body language is a slippery slope. Sometimes you may be conveying a feeling or mood without even realizing it. Proper body language would exclude gestures such as:

 

• Sleeping in class
• Putting your head down
• Being un-attentive
• Staring out the window
• Drawing in your notes
• Not taking notes when prompted to do so
• Texting
• Listening to headphones
• Angry or bored demeanor
• Glaring
• Crossed arms
• Furrowed brows
• Glazed expressions

         

“Courtesy costs nothing but always pays dividends.” Meaning, depending on your instructor, there can be certain benefits that may arise if you should choose to be a responsible, professional, and respectful student which may include:

• Leniency on late work and attendance
• An outstanding letter of recommendation
• Exemption from certain class sessions
• Possible bonus points

 

However, should you choose not to follow the outlined criteria, some consequences may include:

• Being moved from your seat
• Getting a 0% on an assignment
• Being dropped from the course
• Meeting with the Vice President or appropriate division chair in charge of the course
• Losing scholarships, student aid, or program placement
• Getting expelled from Lake Land College

 

Your instructor is here to do their job for the whole class, not to deal with bad behavior of one student. Thus, as a student, it is your responsibility to rise to a new level of excellence that each and every one of your instructors expects from you. As believed by your instructors, “college is a privilege not a right.”

 

This document was produced by Allyssa Boerngen, Monique Chavez, Alyssa Finley, Natalie Gordon, Hannah Wellbaum, and Jon Wies of Matt Landrus’ Fall 2018 9:30-10:45 Composition 2 Class.