COMM 1553 Introductory Speech Syllabus H01 Spring 2026

Credit Hours 3.00 Lecture Hours 3 Clinical/Lab Hours 0
Type of Credit
CIP Code
23.1304
Course Meeting Time

Monday/Wednesday 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

D213

Course Description

The student will be introduced to basic principles of effective speaking and listening. Emphasis is on both understanding basic communication theory and on improving oral communication skills. The student will learn to prepare, organize, and deliver effective research-based informative and persuasive speeches. AAS: Business elective. IAI: C2 900.

Prerequisites

Appropriate assessment score or ENGL 1422 with a grade of C or better - Must be taken either prior to or at the same time as this course.

Course Alignment

IAI Number
C2-900
SPCH1553
IAI Title
Oral Communications
Introductory Speech
General Education Outcomes

General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:

  1. Communication
Explanation of Course Alignment

Introductory Speech was designed to meet specific student needs either individually or within a program and is designed to transfer to other colleges and universities. KCC participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide transfer agreement for general education courses. All colleges and universities participating in the IAI agree to accept a collective “package” of IAI general education courses; transfer of courses separately is not guaranteed. For more information about IAI and the transferability of courses to specific four-year institutions, go to itransfer.org (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and mycreditstransfer.org (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Faculty Contact Information

Faculty Name
Dana Corlett Bryant
Faculty Email
Faculty Phone
815-802-8728
Faculty Office Number
L334
Faculty Student Support Hours

Monday/Wednesday 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

Faculty Information

Dana Corlett Bryant 

dorlett-bryant@kcc.edu

Course Information

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Develop awareness of the communication process and understand the relationships among self, message, and others in effective message design.
  2. Listen to, evaluate, and critique verbal communication.
  3. Analyze the audience and situation and use language that is appropriate to enhance understanding and affect the desired result.
  4. Craft informative and persuasive speeches using appropriate organization methods and content, including research.
  5. Identify and employ effective delivery techniques.
  6. Prepare and use presentational aids that promote clarity and interest.
  7. Demonstrate acceptable ethical standards in research and presentation of materials.
Topical Outline
  1. Foundations of Human Communication
    1. Develop awareness of the communication process and understand the relationships among self, message, and others in effective message design
  2. Ethics
    1. Listen to, evaluate, and critique verbal communication
    2. Demonstrate acceptable ethical standards in research and presentation of materials
  3. Topic Selection
    1. Discuss factors that characterize good demonstrative, informative, and persuasive speech topics
  4. Audience Analysis
    1. Analyze the audience and situation and use language that is appropriate to enhance understanding and affect the desired result
  5. Speech Delivery
    1. Identify and employ effective delivery techniques              
  6. Reasoning and Support
    1. Learn proper research and citation methods
  7. Organization and Outlining
    1. Utilize a clear and effective organizational pattern which helps the audience follow along with the presentation
  8. Introductions and Conclusions
    1. Write an introduction which gains the audience's attention, reveals the topic, creates topic significance, and establishes your credibility
  9. Persuasion
    1. Utilize strategies and means of persuasion to craft a persuasive argument
  10. Presentational Aids
    1. Prepare and use presentational aids that promote clarity and interest
Textbook/s and Course Materials

No textbooks required. 

Methods of Evaluation

Evaluation

 

Assignment Percent of Total Grade Grading Scale

Speeches 60% A = 90%

Final Exam 10% B = 80%

Assignments/Discussions 20% C = 70%

Speech Supporting Materials 10% D = 60%

F = below 60%

Rounding of grades will be determined by attendance and in-class participation.

*Speeches

  1. Demonstration Speech (five minutes) 20%
  2. Informative Speech (seven minutes) 20%
  3. Persuasive Speech (nine minutes) 20%

Pursuant to IAI requirements, a student who does not complete a minimum of three major speeches (Informative and Persuasive) of at least 5 minutes in length will automatically fail the course.

Academic Division

Liberal Arts & Sciences

Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700

Course Policies

Course Policies

Cheating and Academic Dishonesty

Any academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, is unacceptable. Academic dishonesty may refer to using the work of others (in part or in whole), sharing work with other students, adjusting the format of papers to appear longer, and using any source that a student has not been given permission to use on an assignment or test. All and any academic dishonesty will result in failure of the assignment and possibly of the course.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined in the Code of Conduct: “Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else.” Any instance of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Student Development. If the student has a second instance of plagiarism reported to the Dean of Student Development, the student may be suspended from the institution. All instances of intentional plagiarism, as determined by the instructor, on any major assignment for this course may lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw.

 

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

  • using artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, to write your papers
  • submitting someone else’s paper
  • using published material, including materials published online, without proper attribution
  • paraphrasing or quoting someone without attributing the quote in your paper (including and in-text or parenthetical citation) even if the source is included on the works cited page
  • working with someone (without my permission) to write your paper and presenting it as your own
  • submitting a paper you have previously submitted for another class

Required Format

All papers in this course will be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Papers must also adhere to current MLA (Modern Language Association) style guidelines. All essays must be submitted as a .doc or .docx file. Reminder: changing the font or margins to make a paper appear longer may be considered academic dishonesty.

Attendance and Participation

Attendance and participation are very important to your success in this class. Students are expected to attend all classes and arrive to class prepared. Advance notice of any absences will be appreciated and will result in better communication about what students have missed out on. Makeup work may not be an option for in-class graded activities. Review Comments cannot be made up.

 

Late Work

Each day an assignment is overdue, the final grade will be reduced by 10%. Assignments may not be accepted after seven days past the due date.

 

Technology

Lost or accidentally deleted files will not be an acceptable excuse for not turning in something. Students need to back up their work and most word-processing software will auto-save. This class will require students to type paper drafts and submit most work electronically (Canvas). Facing technical problems? Contact KCC’s ITS Helpdesk at 815.802.8900 or helpdesk@kcc.edu.

 

Students are expected to have sufficient technological skills to complete the requirements of the course, which include using Canvas features, formatting and typing papers (and saving them as .doc or .docx files. PDF files will not be accepted. Students must also have access to a computer with the internet on a regular basis, of course. All assignments must be submitted via Canvas. No work will be accepted via email.

Email

The preferred method of contact is via Canvas. I usually respond within 24 hours Monday-Friday. It may take me slightly longer to respond after business hours and on the weekends, but I’m usually still pretty quick.

Expectations for Classroom and Online Behavior

Expectations for Behavior

Be respectful of everyone in the classroom.

This may include

  • Silencing all cell phones and electronic devices before class begins.
  • Refraining from texting or scrolling on phone during class.
  • Any other disruptive behavior.

Students who are unable to adhere to behavior guidelines will be asked to leave the classroom.

Course Calendar


Course Calendar

Module 1: Demonstration Speech

 

Week 1

Course introductions.

An Introduction to Public Speaking.

Introduce Object Speech

Week 2

Object Speeches

Introduce Demonstration Speech.

Week 3

No Class on Monday- Labor Day

Ethics

Week 4

Speaking With Confidence.

Delivering Your Speech

Week 5

Demonstration Speech

Week 6

Demonstration Speech

Module 2: Informative Speech

Week 7

Speaking to Inform

Researching Your Speech

Week 8

Listening

Audience Analysis

Week 9

Selecting your Speech Topic

Week 10

Informative Speech

Week 11

Informative Speech

Week 12

Informative Speech

Module 3: Persuasive Speech

Week 13

Speaking to Persuade

Week 14

Presentational Aides

Persuasive Speech

Week 15

Persuasive Speech

Week 16

Persuasive Speech

Week 17

Final Exam (Online)

College Policies, Resources and Supports

College Policies

For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide. 

Resources

KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:

  • Clubs and organizations
  • Counseling and referral services
  • Office of disability services
  • Student complaint policy
  • Transfer services
  • Tutoring services, etc.