Intercollegiate Forensics SPCH 138 Spring 2010 1 unit Kresse

Professor: Douglas Kresse Office: 525-03 Phone: (714) 992-7360

E-Mail: Web:

Course number: 23211 / 23457 12.00-1.50pm FRIDAY Room 528

Office Hours: MW (12.30-1.00pm; 3.00-4.00pm), TTH (1.00-2.00pm) or by appointment

TEXT: Douglas Kresse, Advocacy and Debate, 3rd Edition (2009).

ADDITIONAL READINGS: On reserve or online.

OVERVIEW

Intercollegiate forensics affords students a co-curricular opportunity to practice what they learn in the classroom in the environment of intercollegiate forensics competition. The American Forensics Association defines forensics as “an educational activity primarily concerned with using an argumentative perspective in examining problems and communicating with people” (AFA/SCA 1984). It affords students opportunities to develop skills in reasoning, oral and written communication, and teamwork.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Two hours lab per week. This coursed trains students to participate in intercollegiate speech tournaments and public community programs. Areas to be covered include expository speaking, persuasive speaking, impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, communication analysis, oral interpretation, after-dinner speaking, and debate. Tournament competition and involvement in student activities will be required.

Course maybe taken twice for credit.

HUMANITIES STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Use language skills effectively in reading, writing, listening, or speaking to achieve personal, academic, or vocational goals.

2. Use critical thinking skills to examine information, events, and ideas from a broader perspective.

3. Recognize the significance of language and culture in human experience.

4. Apply principles of academic honesty and integrity.

5. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with others.

6. Use campus and/or community resources to participate actively in their own education.

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

This class surveys argumentation theory and practice, and seeks to develop skills in argument criticism and advocacy. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Understand and employ ethical standards of argumentation.
  2. Research, organize, evaluate, and use evidence in arguing.
  3. Develop, organize and present speeches and/or debates.
  4. Employ effective means of delivering speeches.
  5. Evaluate and utilize language in communication.
  6. Effectively adapt communication to varied audiences.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students are expected to prepare speeches, practice, and compete in intercollegiate forensics. Events include:

1. Debate: This can be team or Lincoln-Douglas. Times vary according to category.

2. Persuasion: Students present an original speech designed to alter beliefs, attitudes and actions. 8-10 minutes in length, the speech should include multiple sources.

3. Informative: Students present an 8-10 minute speech that describes and examines some issue or process. Visual aids are recommended. Research should be cited.

4. Communication analysis: Students evaluate some communication ‘artifact’: ad campaigns, speeches, social movements, music—even architecture. An 8-10 minute speech, students employ some rhetorical theory to explain and evaluate communication. Sources need to be cited; visual aids are allowed.

5. Oral interpretation: Various categories of this event; students select literature to become part of an overall ‘argument’ commutated to the audience. There are individual and team interpretation events. 8-10 minutes.

6. Speech to entertain: A humorous rhetorical address ranging from 8-10 minutes. There should be an argumentative theme that unites the speech.

7. Impromptu speaking: Usually a seven-minute overall time limit, students receive a topic, have up to two minutes to prepare, and then provide a five-minute speech that analyzes the topic. Students are judged on deliver, organization, and analysis.

8. Extemporaneous speaking. Students are assigned topics, have thirty-minutes preparation, and then deliver a speech analyzing an issue (ranging from 5-10 minutes). Students are expected to bring files of news magazines, utilize those in constructing the speech, and provide citations.

Prepared events require manuscripts. Students are not allowed to use speeches from previous academic years. Since we are competing, students are expected to have speeches cleared prior to competition.

GRADES & TOTAL POINTS

A: 900-1000 B: 800-899 C: 700-799 D: 600-699 F: 0-599

Attendance: 30%

Completion of speeches and debates: 70% of grade

Participation: Students are evaluated on attendance and in-class interaction. Participation includes discussing theory and its applications, as well as regular evaluations of in-class speeches and debates. Students are expected to show up on time and contribute to class discussions. More than two unexcused absences results in grade loss (50 points/2-hr class absence; being late for class can constitute a recorded absence). Late assignments can expect grade reductions (20% per day late).

Speeches and debates

Students are expected to have 2 prepared speeches or affirmative and negative debates prepared for any given tournament. Students should have speeches cleared and prepared for competition two weeks before any given tournament.

Student conduct

We are representing FullertonCollege. Students are expected to exhibit exemplary ethical behavior, respect for others, and cooperation with team members.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE 2009-2010

Sept. 25-26 PSCFA Warm-up @ El Camino College

Oct. 3-4 NFA LD Workshop & Open @ Cal Baptist & Riverside

Oct. 16-18 California Double @ APU / Concordia

Oct. 23 IVC Parli Debate @ IVC

Nov. 6-7 CSUF/Fullerton

Nov. 13 IVC Open @ IVC

Dec. 4-6 PSCFA @ CSULB

Jan. 30 British Parli @ Claremont

Feb. 12-13 Tabor-Venitsky @ Cerritos

Feb. 19-21 NFA LD & IE SWING @ CSULA & Glendale

Feb. 26-28 PSCFA @ SDSU

Mar. 17-21 California Community College State Championship

April 24-25 PSCFA Cool-off @ San Diego

WAIT TIME FOR LATE INSTRUCTORS

If, due to unforeseen emergencies, the instructor does not arrive at the scheduled start time for class, students are to wait for fifteen minutes (unless otherwise notified by the division). If they do not receive notification to wait for their instructor to arrive, after fifteen minutes the students may leave with no penalty for absence or assigned work due for that class meeting.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) STATEMENT

FullertonCollege is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with disabilities upon the timely request by the student to the instructor. Verification of the disability must also be provided. The Disability Support Services office functions as a resource for students and faculty in the determination and provision of educational accommodations.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATEMENT

Take note of the safety features in around the classroom. Also, please study the posted evacuation routes. The most direct route of egress may not be the safest. Running out of the building during earthquakes may be dangerous. During strong earthquakes, it is recommended to duck, cover, and hold until the quaking stops. Follow the guidance of your instructor. Your cooperation during emergencies can minimize the possibility of injury to yourself and others.

FULLERTON COLLEGE CATALOG AND CLASS SCHEDULE

The Fullerton College Catalog and the Class Schedule contain a number of policies relating to students that are important to you. Please be sure that you have read these publications thoroughly. You may purchase copies of these publications at the campus bookstore, or you may read them online at the FullertonCollege website,

FULLERTONCOLLEGE ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

Students are expected to abide by ethical standards in preparing and presenting material which demonstrates their level of knowledge and which is used to determine grades. Such standards are founded on basic concepts of integrity and honesty. These include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. Students shall not plagiarize, which is defined as:

A. stealing or passing off as one’s own the ideas or words of

another, or

B. using a creative production without crediting the source.

The following cases constitute plagiarism:

• paraphrasing published material without acknowledging the source,

• making significant use of an idea or a particular arrangement of ideas, e.g., outlines,

• writing a paper after consultation with persons who provide suitable ideas and incorporating these ideas into the paper without acknowledgment, or

• submitting under one’s own name term papers or other reports which have been prepared by others.

2. Students shall not cheat, which is defined as:

A. using notes, aids, or the help of other students on tests or exams in ways other than those expressly permitted by the instructor, or

B. misreporting or altering the data in laboratory or research projects involving the collection of data.

3. Students shall not furnish materials or information in order to enable another student to plagiarize or cheat.

Instructors may deal with academic dishonesty in one or more of the following ways:

1. Assign an appropriate academic penalty such as an oral reprimand or point reduction.

2. Assign an “F” on all or part of a particular paper, project, or exam.

3. Report to the appropriate administrators, with notification of same to the student(s), for disciplinary action by the College. Such a report will be accompanied by supporting evidence and documentation.

TURNITIN.COM STATEMENT

In its commitment to academic honesty and accurate assessment of student work, FullertonCollege uses Turnitin.com to prevent and detect plagiarism.

This instructor reserves the right to submit student assignments to Turnitin.com to check for similarities between student submissions and the internet, various research databases, and the Turnitin.com database of previous student submissions. Furthermore, this instructor may also submit essays to other instructors seeking plagiarism matches.

Students may be required to electronically submit their written work to the instructor or to Turnitin.com, and by taking this course, students agree that all assignments are subject to plagiarism detection processes and plagiarism penalties.

Assignments submitted to Turnitin.com by the student or instructor will become part of their database and will be used for plagiarism prevention and detection. Student papers, however, will remain the intellectual property of the author.

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