COMM 1553 Introductory Speech Syllabus 050 Fall 2026

Attendance: This class meets in person and weekly attendance is mandatory. You are allowed two excused absences per semester. I ask that you contact me through email if you are going to be absent. If you become sick during the semester additional absences can be excused with proper medical documentation. If you are not feeling well on the day of a class, I ask that you lean on the side of discretion and stay home for the safety and well-being of your classmates.

Assignments and Late Work: I do not accept late work without documentation from a health professional. Assignments are due on the specified due date and at the specified time, whether you are in class or not. When applicable, assignments must be printed and ready to turn in when class begins. I will not wait for you to print or staple your assignments. If you will be absent on the day an assignment is due, that assignment must be turned in to me prior to the beginning of the class on the date on which the assignment is due. Assignments to be submitted in Canvas will only be accepted for grading if submitted prior to the date and time specified. Any submission marked late will not be graded.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined in section 17.6b of 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.” All instances of intentional plagiarism on any major assignment for this course will lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. The 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.

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.

Non-Attendance/Non-Participation

KCC complies with state law and federal financial aid policy. If you receive an attendance grade of F or are institutionally withdrawn from a course, it will affect your eligibility for financial aid. (1) You must attend at least one class or participate at least once for an online course (logging in without participation is not attending), by the 10th day of 16-week courses or within the first 10% of shorter-term classes. Non-attendance will result in an attendance grade of F. (2) If you have excessive absences and no reasonable chance of passing the course at midterm (or after), your instructor may give you a WX grade and have you institutionally withdrawn from the course.

Instructional Philosophy

Various research studies demonstrate that communication ability contributes to your self-image, your success as a student, and your success in whatever career you choose. Thus, the communication techniques that you practice in this class are also applicable to your communication with your family and friends, your instructors, and your employers and coworkers.

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.

College Resources

Writing Assistance: Writing assistance and online feedback will be available by visiting www.kcc.tutorocean.com or in person in the Mezzanine Level of the Student Success Center (the old library). Check the SSC for tutoring hours.

Tutoring Services: Tutoring assistance is free to all currently enrolled KCC students. Our tutor program is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). For schedules, resources, and other helpful information, go to www.kcc.edu/tutoring.

Office of Disability Services: KCC works closely with students and instructors to accommodate individual student learning needs. For the services they offer, their contact information and other helpful information, go to www.kcc.edu/disabilityservices.

Miner Memorial Library

The Miner Memorial Library provides a variety of services free to students. For the services they offer, their hours of operation, and other helpful information, go to www.kcc.edu/library.

Student Supports

Food for Thought, the KCC Food Pantry, located in D321, is available to all students regardless of financial need. It offers students non-perishable foods, snacks, personal hygiene products and frozen lunches. Hours will vary by semester; please email foodpantry@kcc.edu for more information or to volunteer.

Transformative Growth Counseling provides personal counseling services for KCC students and staff. If you are struggling with any stressors, counselors are available. To make an appointment, go to: transformativegrowth.org/, phone 630-423-6010 or email contact@transformativegrowth.org.

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
   2. Write a conclusion which creates a sense of closure, summarizes the presentation, and creates a lasting impression
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

Copyright

The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further Information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at http://www.kcc.edu.

**Syllabus disclaimer**

Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.