EH 346: Advanced Oral

Communication

Spring 2015
Instructor: Tanya T. Sasser

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Course Syllabus
Course Description
English 346 is an oral
communications course designed to

Course Prerequisites
EH 141 (required)
EH 101, 102 (strongly recommended)

this course will have satisfied the SDE

objectives designated.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. The student will demonstrate

provide you with a foundational

understanding of classical and

knowledge of both the classical

modern principles of oral rhetoric

principles of oral rhetoric and

2. The student will construct a

modern theories of the conventions

coherent, logical, sequenced

of argumentation. The course will

consist of practice in and application

argument, free from fallacy,

supported by valid evidence
3. The student will become a more

of these principles and theories

careful and critical thinker and

through both informal and formal

communicator, both as a speaker

debates and argumentative

and as a listener

contexts.

4. The student will understand and

practice ethical communication

SDE rules applicable to this course are

5. The student will analyze and

1.a.1; 1.a.3; 1.a.5; 1.a.6; 1.a.8; 1.b.9;

critique arguments as they are

1.b.10 of the English Language Arts

presented, looking for flaws in logic,

rules. Education students who pass

reasoning, and/or evidence.

Student Responsibilities
Make-up Policy: Because of
the interactive nature of this
course, in-class activities and
homework cannot be made
up due to absence. Debates
cannot be made up for any
reason.

Attendance: In order for this course to be a success, it is essential that all students
are present every day. Students in EH 346 must follow the English Departments
overall attendance policy, which requires you to be present at 75% of class
meetings. This means that you may miss no more than seven class meetings. Upon
your eighth absence, you have exceeded the maximum absences allowed and
will receive an F for the course. This policy begins the first day of class.
Tardiness: It is disruptive to be tardy to class, so please avoid being tardy. If you do
arrive late, it is your responsibility to notify me of your attendance by handing in a
dated, signed note at the end of class. Otherwise, you may be recorded as
absent for that class. If you arrive while a speech or debate is in progress, please
wait for the speech/debate to end before entering the classroom.
Civility Statement: You are expected to attend class fully prepared with

Disability Accommodation Act:

Any individual who qualifies for
reasonable accommodations
under The Americans With
Disabilities Act or Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
should contact the teacher
immediately.

appropriate materials and all homework completed. You are expected to treat
your peers and me with respect at all times. Please avoid disruptive or distracting
behavior, especially during debates and student presentations.
Personal Electronic Communication Devices: I encourage you to use personal
electronic communication devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.) for
learning purposes. However, your use of these devices should not disrupt the
learning of other students. If your use of PECDs becomes disruptive or distracting,
you will be asked to not use them during class unless specifically instructed to do
so.

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Required Materials
A Rulebook for Arguments, 4th ed., Weston, Hackett
Publishing Co., 2009
Dropbox account

Other Recommended Materials

Learning Opportunities
Formal Debates:
SPAR Debate
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Policy Debate

The Structure of Argument, 7th ed., Rottenberg &

Winchell, Bedford/St. Martins, 2011

dictionary & thesaurus

legal pad for flowing debates

index cards

Congressional Debate
Mock Trial
Peer Assessments
Learning Portfolio
In-class Learning Activities & Informal Debates

Assessment
EH 346 uses the following grading scale: A, B, C, D, F. Final grades will be assessed using a contract grading system.
Contract Grading System:
A-Level: An A will be guaranteed in the class as long as all of the following criteria are met:

You complete all formal debates and the Mock Trial at a Satisfactory level.
You complete all peer assessments.
You complete all self-assessments completely and on time.
You complete the Learning Portfolio at a Satisfactory level.
You demonstrate a good faith effort to improve as a speaker and debater by actively participating in all learning
activities and completing all individual self-assessments in a timely manner and at a Satisfactory level.

B-Level: A B will be guaranteed in the class as long as all of the following criteria are met:

You complete all formal debates and the Mock Trial at a Satisfactory level.
You complete at least 2 peer assessments.
You complete at least 3 self-assessments completely and on time.
You demonstrate a good faith effort to improve as a speaker and debater by actively participating in all learning
activities and completing all individual self-assessments in a timely manner and at a Satisfactory level.

C-Level: A C will be guaranteed in the class as long as the all of the following criteria are met:

You complete at least 4 of the formal debates and the Mock Trial at a Satisfactory level.
You complete at least 2 peer assessments.
You complete at least 3 self-assessments completely and on time.
You complete the Learning Portfolio at a Satisfactory level.
You demonstrate a good faith effort to improve as a speaker and debater by completing at least 4 of the individual
self-assessments in a timely manner and at a Satisfactory level.

D-Level: A final grade of D will result for any of the following reasons:

You fail to complete at least 2 peer assessments but all other C-Level criteria are met.
You fail to complete at least 3 self-assessments on time.
You fail to complete the Learning Portfolio at a Satisfactory level but all other contract criteria are met.

F-Level: A final grade of F will result for any of the following reasons:

You miss more than 7 class meetings.

You fail to complete at least 4 of the formal debates and/or the Mock Trial at a Satisfactory level.
You fail to complete the Learning Portfolio at a Satisfactory level.

Contact Info
Office: Stone Center 116

Email: tsasser@jsu.edu

Office Hours:

Twitter: @TanyaSasser

MW: 10:30-12:00, 12:30-1:30, 3:15-3:45

Google+: +Tanya Sasser

TR: 8:30-9:00, 11:00-12:00, 2:30-3:00