San Francisco State University

COMM 150, Section 27 Fundamentals of Oral Communication

HUM 118 Tues/Thurs 8:10-9:25am
Fall 2016
Instructor: Sage Russo
Email: sagerussosfsu@gmail.com or srusso@mail.sfsu.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 10am-12pm or by appt.

Phone: 415-338-1927
Department Office: HUM 289
My Office: HUM 378

Ideas are the change agents of the world, and words are the building blocks of those ideas. In effect, I believe
not only that words can change destinies but that they are the fundamental path to do so. Not fists, guns, tanks,
or bombs. Words. The trick, of course, is getting people to listen.
-Clarence B. Jones
The function of freedom is to free somebody else.
Toni Morrison
My mind and my body are locked together in a nice little divine kind of unity
I know I am a(n) un/learning body in the process of feeling. You too.
-- D. Soyini Madison: Performing Theory/Embodied Writing
And that moment, before exploding or being crushed--wedged, perched balanced, poised between creation and
destruction--that moment, I seek that moment again and again."
-- Amy Kilgard: Collage: A Paradigm for Performance Studies
Course Description:
SFSU Bulletin Description of COMM 150: Introduction to communication in interpersonal relationships, group
interactions, and formal speaking. Skill development in listening, speech preparation, and oral presentation.
Sages Description: You are always communicating. Its important to practice and hone communication skills for
the development and articulation of your identity, relationships & community, and emotional, intellectual,
and/or professional endeavors. Well be heavily considering the way that power communicates in (inter)cultural
environments.
Textbook information:
Alberts, J. K., Nakayama, T. K., & Martin, J. N. (2016). Human communication
in society. Boston. MA: Pearson (Fourth Edition).
*Hard copy can be found at the bookstore to be purchased
*Purchase code can be found at the bookstore to make the book available on iLearn.
*Two copies are on reserve at the library distribution services for up to 2 hours at a time.
Wrench, Goding, Johnson, & Attias. Stand Up, Speak Out: The Practice and Ethics of Public
Speaking. Chapters 7-14. PDF version.
*PDF version can be found on iLearn
*DO NOT purchase a non-custom version of the text or an older edition; it will not have all of the materials you
need for this class!
Student Learning Outcomes for Lower Division Oral Communication (A1):
After completion of a lower division general education course in oral communication, students will be able to:
1. effectively organize, construct, and deliver prepared and spontaneous presentations to groups of 20 or more, using the following:
a plan for acquiring and recording information using basic search strategies to explore core sources, including library resources;
careful assessment of claims, supporting materials, and arguments;
organizational principles leading to a coherent presentation focused on a main point and a reasonable number of supporting points
given time constraints;
information and strategies that will facilitate listeners understanding;
effective delivery techniques for oral communication;
2. articulate principles for making effective technologically-enhanced presentations;

3. effectively listen to prepared and spontaneous discourse by using the following:

active listening skills;
careful assessment of claims, supporting materials, and arguments;
4. demonstrate skills for working collaboratively, including articulating a perspective, rationale, and exchange of ideas in forming a group
goal;
5. demonstrate perspective-taking skills, both as a speaker and listener;
6. engage in informed civil discourse with persons different from themselves in intellectual and cultural outlook;
7. demonstrate ethical conduct in their communication including such practices as:
accurate presentation of information;
appropriate citation of the ideas and words of others;
respectful treatment of others even when disagreeing;
acknowledgement of the importance of the privacy and confidentiality of others; and
acceptance of responsibility for the consequences of ones discourse;
8. reduce their own speech anxiety and project greater confidence as a speaker; and
9. apply communication principles in their personal lives and their communities.

Course Requirements:
Assignment

SLOs & CEs

This I Believe
Speech
Informative
Speech
Persuasive
Speech
Farewell
Speech
Journal

SLO 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Possible
Points
85

SLO 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 CE 3, 4, 5

140

SLO 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 CE 3, 4, 5

180

SLO 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 - CE

70

SLO 5, 7, 9 CE 3, 5, 7

170

SLO 5, 7, 9 CE 3, 5

135

SLO 3, 5, 6, 7

40

SLO 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 CE 5, 6, 7

180

Reflection
Papers
Peer
Evaluations
Participation

Total

Your
Points

1000

Final Grades will be earned as follows:

940-1000=A (94-100%)
900-939=A- (90-93%)
870-899=B+ (87-89%)
840-869=B (84-86%)

800-839=B- (80-83%)
770-799=C+ (77-79%)
740-769=C (74-76%)
700-739=C- (70-73%)

738-000= No Credit

Remember that a letter grade does not define who you are as a human being, nor is it always an accurate
reflection of intelligence. Grades are the summation of the points you earned in the course. The overall goal of
this class is about learning life skills and gaining knowledge that will aid your overall development.
Brief Descriptions of Course Requirements:
Speeches
This I Believe Speech:
For your first speech (2-3 minutes) you will choose a trait, belief, or attitude that you feel makes you
who you are. It should be personal and thoughtful and give the class a sense of how you see yourself interacting
and navigating the world around us. This is how we will get to know each other, through the nuances that define
us.

Informative Speech:
For your first big research based speech will be 4-5 minutes. In order to tailor this speech to your
passions, interests, and excitement, I will give you a few different options to fulfill the basic requirements. You
will choose from one of the following prompts: inform the audience about a social movement (past or present),
an influential social artifact (music video, advertisement, book, movie, TV show, etc.), or an influential speech
(Emma Watson at the UN, Obamas State of the Union Address, etc.). You can do this individually or in a group.
Persuasive Speech:
Your second major research based speech will be 5-6 minutes. Similarly to your informative speech, you
have a few different options. You can choose to persuade the class to: support a Bay Area social justice
organization, take your side in a current social justice struggle, pass or repeal a California or Federal law, or
support your side in a 2 partnered debate about a current social issue or event.
Farewell Speech:
For your final speech (2 minutes), you will exercise the communication skills and concepts you have
learned throughout the semester while telling us what youve learned in this class, what youre going to take
away, how youre going to use this new information in the rest of your college career/life in general.
Journal
You will need a journal that you bring to class EVERY DAY.
Whatever style you like, but it needs to be bound (so we dont lose any entries). The ultimate objective
of our time together is to educate ourselves through a variety of mediums and mechanisms. Your journal is a way
for you to interact with the course material in a variety of ways. One of the most important functions is an onpaper conversation between you and me about what you understand and what I can do to help you in your
educational journey. Since this journey will inevitably be complicated, unpredictable, and completely unique,
your journal will be the same.
Over the course of the semester, I will give you prompted entries based off of our class time together
that will contribute to your journal grade, but I also want to encourage you to use your journal as an outlet to
interact with the course material and the world. This might include doodles, streams of consciousness,
paragraphed essays, lists, song lyrics, poems, words, numbers, or anything else that makes sense to you.
Each entry will be graded on depth, significance, effort, and connection to the course material. Over
the course of the semester, we will have Journal Parties where you will choose one page from your journal to
share with the class.
***Each entry should include: title, entry number, & date***
There will be multiple types of entries including:
Class Notes: Your journal is first a foremost a place for you to take notes during class. There will be a lot of key
words, concepts, and theories that youll want to keep track of for weekly reflections and future assignments.
Weekly Reflections: The primary function of these reflections is to directly interact with the content of the
class, using your critical thinking skills to connect the 2 days of class together. How do the concepts of the week
work and function together? How do they clash? What questions/concerns do you have? Sometimes your
reflection will be open ended, other times Ill give you specific questions to answer.
Weekly Wellness: Its important to acknowledge that our physical, mental, and emotional selves are intricately
connected. These entries should explore your relationship to the different aspects of your health by testing
strategies for feeling good, examining moments of struggle and/or triumph, examining the underlying concepts
of happiness, health, etc.
Lists: Lists are one of the ways that well start to get to know each other. These lists will always be 10 things
that are related to the current course content, though sometimes in ways that might make you wonder how. We
will usually share these as attendance-get-to-you questions.
Reflection Papers

My Intersectional Identity: (85 pts / 3-4 pages)

This assignment encourages you to think critically about your social location and intersectional
positionality in your current environment while fostering the use of personal narrative as a site of knowledge and
understanding. Use our class discussions to help you engage with how your identity is influenced and shaped by
the social environment around us. How does your identity influence your (non)verbal communication and how
does your communication influence and shape your identity?
Final Reflection: (50 pts. / 2 pages)
Undoubtedly, a lot has happened over the last few months. Tell me about how this class specifically
affected your experience this semester. What did you love? What didnt you like? How will you use what you
learned in your life and throughout your college career?
Peer Evaluations
During speech days I expect you to be an active listener and participant. You will be responsible for
providing constructive written and oral feedback to your classmates as they continue to develop their speaking
skills. I will provide feedback forms on iLearn for you to print out on speech days. These are worth points, but
more importantly, they are another way for your peers to get feedback on their work.
Participation
This class is highly contingent upon your attendance and participation. We cant learn from each other if
we arent present and ready to participate. This is where the magic happens! You are each an integral part of
the learning process for each and every one of your peers, as well as myself. In order for us to learn from each
other, you must be present in the classroom and prepared to discuss and engage in the appropriate material
designated for that day. Missing class, being late, leaving early, sleeping, texting, and engaging in other noncourse-related activities will hinder your learning, the learning of your peers, and your grade. If it is apparent
that no one is doing the reading and the class discussion suffers due to this, I will resort to creative ways to
assess your learning and understanding of the material. I would encourage you to not let it get to this point .
***IMPORTANT NOTES & Sageisms***
iLearn: It is imperative that you stay up to date with iLearn! Because the majority of the course is based on
our discussions and is tailored to our specific interests, there may be readings (that pertain to current
events) posted to iLearn that are not on the syllabus. Please stay attuned to iLearn throughout the
semester.
If you come to class late on a speech day, DO NOT enter the classroom until you hear applause that
signals the end of a speech. Walking into the room during someones speech is incredibly distracting and unfair
to the speaker. Violating this rule will have a negative impact on your participation grade. Plus, its just #rude.
If your cell phone goes off in class, you have to bring a delicious treat for the entire class to share! If
your phone goes off or even vibrates during a speech, you will have points deducted from your total speech
grade for that speech (up to 10 points).
This class is about communication, conversation, discussion, conflict, confrontation, expression, and
interaction. In order to do all of these things successfully (so that we are all learning from each other by creating
meaningful interaction), we have to listen to each other, appreciate each others opinions and vulnerability,
keeping open minds and remembering that we are all here for a common purpose.
These notes are SO important because they dictate a level of respect that is VITAL in the classroom.
Please be respectful of one another!
***I have an open door policy. Please email me or come talk to me about anything related to the course or
personal issues that may affect your success in this class. I am here to support you and make this course as
accessible to you as possible***

Course Policies:

The Communication Studies Department expects all members of the class, teachers and learners, to
treat each other with respect in their communication practices. This includes:
1. Coming to class on time ready to participate
2. Listening to others actively
3. Staying focused on the material of the class
4. Not disrupting the class with cell phones, laptops, etc.
5. Turning assignments in on time
6. Engaging in dialogue amidst differences in opinion.
Attendance
We have already established that your physical presence is crucial to succeeding in this class. However, I
understand that life happens and can sometimes be a little intense. You will have 2 free absences (2 late
arrivals or early departures will equal 1 absence). Missing an entire week of class will inevitably set you very far
behind. You cannot use a free absence on your speech day! Use these for the times when you actually have an
emergency, not when you feel like sleeping in. After your free absences, you will lose 10 participation points for
each subsequent absence. I suggest finding a buddy in the class that can let you know what you missed.
Assignments and due dates will be clearly outlined in the course calendar, as well as on iLearn. Please refer to
these materials and utilize your classmates for information.
Assignments and Speeches
Your reflection papers and speech outlines must be typed, printed, and stapled. 12 pt. font, 1 inch
margins, double spaced. If you are missing class on the due date of an assignment, turn it in early or have a
classmate turn it in for you. I WILL NOT ACCEPT EMAILED WORK. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE UP A SPEECH. I
know life happens (cats actually eat paper sometimes and public transportation is often really unreliable), but
you are responsible for turning in the assignments and delivering your speeches on your assigned day, so PLAN
AHEAD! We simply do not have enough time to make up speeches and cover the entirety of the material for the
class. Of course, in extenuating circumstances, I will make exceptions, but only I can decide what qualifies and I
promise you Ive heard a LOT of excuses. I will trust you to be honest and forthright if something like this does
occur. Ultimately, please do not hesitate to contact me in the case of what you believe is an emergency.
Academic Dishonesty Policy
First and foremost, plagiarism is #rude. If you didnt put the work in, dont claim it as your own. You are
disregarding someone elses efforts and doing yourself a disservice. You are here to learn, take assignments as an
opportunity to do just that.
Plagiarism is defined by the College of Humanities as a form of cheating or fraud; it occurs when a
student misrepresents the work of another as his or her own. Plagiarism may consist of using the ideas,
sentences, paragraphs, or the whole text of another without appropriate acknowledgement, but also includes
employing or allowing another person to write or substantially alter work that student then submits as his or her
own. Any assignment found to be plagiarized will be given an F grade. All instances of plagiarism will be
reported to the Communication Studies Department Chair, and may be reported to the College Dean and/or the
University Judicial Affairs Officer for further action. http://www.sfsu.edu/~collhum/?q=node/851#prevention
Disabilities and Accommodations
Students with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the
instructor. The Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) is available to facilitate the reasonable
accommodations process. The DPRC is located in the Student Service Building and can be reached by telephone
(voice/TTY 415-338-2472) or by email (dprc@sfsu.edu).
(from http://www.sfsu.edu/~dprc/syll_policy.html)
SF State fosters a campus free of sexual violence including sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating
violence, stalking, and/or any form of sex or gender discrimination. If you disclose a personal experience as an SF State
student, the course instructor is required to notify the Dean of Students.
To disclose any such violence confidentially, contact:
The SAFE Place - (415) 338-2208; http://www.sfsu.edu/~safe_plc/

Counseling and Psychological Services Center - (415) 338-2208; http://psyservs.sfsu.edu/

For more information on your rights and available resources: http://titleix.sfsu.edu
I want to make this class as accessible for you as possible. Please let me know if there is anything at all I
can do to help you make the most of this class.
Presentation Aids
Animals (alive or dead), weapons, homemade electronics, illegal substances or materials, or nudity (live
or recorded) are NOT allowed in the classroom.
*If you are unclear about what constitutes an inappropriate visual aid please feel free to take advantage of my
open door policy during my office hours for clarification.
The following course calendar is subject to change at any time:
Date
Thursda
y
8/25
Tuesday
8/30
Thursda
y
9/1
Tuesday
9/6
Thursda
y
9/8
Tuesday
9/13
Thursda
y
9/15
Tuesday
9/20
Thursda
y
9/22
Tuesday
9/27
Thursda
y
9/29
Tuesday
10/4

Class Activity
Introductions
Syllabus/Class Overview
Getting to know each other &
our classroom
What is communication?
How does it work?
Why is it important?
Introduce This I Believe Speech
& Addressing Speakers Anxiety
Intro to Social Justice
& Critical Thinking

Reading Due

Assignment Due

Journal Progress

Class expectations
Intro to Human
Communication
(p.1-25)

10 Things I Know to be
True
10 Guiding Principles of
My Life
10 Things That Should
Change in U.S. Society

Problem Tree & Solution Seeds

Weekly Wellness

Tips & Tricks for Deliver & How

to Give Good Feedback

Weekly Reflection

THIS I BELIEVE SPEECHES

Peer Evaluation
Speech Text
Peer Evaluation
Speech Text

THIS I BELIEVE SPEECHES

Journal Party
Introduce Informative Speech &
How to Craft a Speech
Community Web Activity

Thursda
y
10/6
Tuesday
10/11

Communicating Intersectional
Identity & Dimensions of Self
Critical Approaches to Culture
and Communication

Thursda
y

Power, Privilege, & Oppression

Introduce My Intersectional

Journal Check
PDF Chapter 7
Researching You
Speech (p.185-222)
PDF Chapter 8
Supporting Ideas and
Building Arguments
(p.241-266)
Communicating
Identities (p.27-60)
Communication
Across Cultures
(p.186-202)

Weekly Wellness
Speech Reflection:
Yours & everyone elses
Weekly Wellness
10 Things I Want to
Know More About
10 Things I Love About
Myself
Weekly Wellness
Weekly Reflection
(Identity/Culture/PPO)

10/13
Tuesday
10/18

Identity Paper
Continuing to Build Connections

Thursda
y
10/20
Tuesday
10/25
Thursda
y
10/27
Tuesday
11/1
Thursda
y
11/3
Tuesday
11/8
Thursda
y
11/10
Tuesday
11/15

INFO SPEECHES!

Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation

INFO SPEECHES!

Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation
Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation

Thursda
y
11/17
Tuesday
11/22
Thursda
y
11/24
Tuesday
11/29
Thursda
y
12/1
Tuesday
12/6
Thursda
y
12/8
Tuesday
12/13
Thursda
y
12/15

10 Ways I Can Resist

INFO SPEECHES!
INFO SPEECHES!

Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation

Persuasion & Persuasive

Speeches

10 Things That Scare Me

Weekly Wellness
Speech Reflection:
Yours & Everyone elses

Verbal Communication
Cohort Effect Activity
Nonverbal Communication
Dont Use Your Words Activity

Verbal Comm
(p.89-118)
Nonverbal Comm
(p.119-148)

Media Mania

Communicating,
Perceiving, &
Understanding
(p.61-88)

Media Mania

Weekly Wellness

Intersectional
Identity Paper

10 Questions That Cant

Answered
10 Things That are
Better Without Words
10 Things I Am

Journal
Collection

10 Things Society Has

Taught Me

Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation
Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation

Weekly Wellness

Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation
Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation

Weekly Wellness

Fall Break
Fall Break
PERSUASIVE SPEECHES!
PERSUASIVE SPEECHES!
PERSUASIVE SPEECHES!
PERSUASIVE SPEECHES!
PERSUASIVE SPEECHES!
FINAL CLASS TOGETHER
8:00am-10:30am

Speech Outline
Peer Evaluation
Final Reflection
Paper

10 Things I Used to
Believe
Overall grade reflection
Journals Due