ComS 103: Sections 11-20
Spring 2008: Presentational Speaking in Business and Organizations

Office Phone:
 278-5314

 Email: lauder@csus.edu Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:30
Podcast Lectures


Required Textbook: Ronald B. Adler and Jeanne Marquardt Elmhorst, Communicating At Work, 2008, ninth edition

Course Description: This course is designed to give business students a chance to sharpen their presentational skills in speaking situations they are most likely to encounter in the business world. In addition to formal speaking situations, the course will provide students with the chance to practice their skills in interviewing and group presentations. It is expected that students will have completed their lower division GE oral communication requirement prior to taking this course. This course is taught in a multi-section format with the lectures available as podcasts. Students will work with a graduate assistant in a smaller once-a-week lab section for taking exams, participating in class exercises, and making oral presentations.

Assignment Weighting
Introductory Speech Not Graded
Informative Speech 50 points
Persuasive Speech 70 points
First Midterm 50 points
Second Midterm 50 points
Interview Assignment 25 points
Group Special Occasion Assignment 25 points
Participation, Attendance, Critiques 30 points
   
Total Points Available 300 points

Class Policies: You are expected to attend each lab session. Missing more than two class sessions may be grounds for a reduction in your final grade. If you miss a class on the day that you are scheduled to deliver a presentation or participate in an exercise (absent a compelling and fully documented excuse and with prior notice where feasible), you forfeit your opportunity to complete that assignment. Lab sessions are tightly scheduled and cannot afford much flexibility in scheduling. All major assignments must be completed in order for you to pass the class. Late written assignments will be marked down 1/3 of a letter grade for each day it is late. Assignments must be turned in during class sessions; those turned in later in the day will be considered one day late. University policies against plagiarism will be strictly enforced. Instances of academic dishonesty will be punished to the full extent allowed by University policy.

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