The specific course schedule is To Be Announced.  See wakingdreams.org/nccu for updates as well as the class facebook pages and other resources.  See below for additional information on course requirements.  This is a very preliminary schedule which will change after student assessments and initial feedback at which time, the students will help build their calendar based upon interest as well as course guidelines for achievement goals.

Specific texts to be discussed may decided later, dependent upon the research and reading interests of the students.  The general approach to the material will be chronological and topical. Please be aware that the course is very participatory in nature and that a number of videos, television programs, and films will be shown in class.     Periodically, student assignments will be created as content for the student media magazine Sparkshow.  Material produced for Sparkshow will be permanently archived and available to the public

THIS SCHEDULE IS A PRELIMINARY PLACEHOLDER, THE ACTUAL SCHEDULE WILL COME AFTER INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS TO DETERMINE LEVELS AND INTERESTS.

    WED

Oral 3, 9-12, 420 Research

WEEK    TOPIC    CONTENT & READING    ACTIVITIES & HOMEWORK    TIME/WEEK HRS

                IN CLASS    OUT CLASS

01

    Orientation    Orientation to the Course

Read: Improvisational Language Structures

Intro to Informative Speech

Discussion of Course Content

    Ice Breaker Questions

ILS    3    2

02

    Critical Thinking

    Intro to TRPG    Awfully Cheerful Engine

Story    3    3

03

    Information Raising and Review    Favorite Music    Music Share Activity Presentation

Blueprint    3    3

04

    Critical Thinking

    Critical Reading and Discussion    Story

Blueprint    3    3

05

    Negotiation

    Introduction to Negotiation    Negotiation Activity

    3    4.5

06

    Interactive Drama & Critical Thought    Introduction to Interactive Drama

Motive, Means, Opportunity

Critical Reading/Thinking

Introduction to Totally Accurate Battle Simulation

    Interactive Drama: White Collar Crime

TABS    3    3

07

    Critical Thinking    Critical Thinking Media

Critical Thinking

Séance; Derren Brown    Critical Thinking Discussion Activities

Cold Reading

Pendulum

    3    4.5

08

    Critical Thinking & Discussion for Purpose    Psychic Followup

Tarot, Crystal Ball, Palmistry, Numbers, Cards, Weirdness

Intro to Informative Demonstration Presentation Assignment

    Cold Reading & Pendulum Feedback

Tarot Activity

TABS Progress Check-In

    3    4.5

09

MidX    Negotiation

    Negotiation Practical Experience with Mr Cheng’s Class for Totally Accurate Battle Simulation

    TABS Negotiations Dual Class Activity

    3    4

10

    Assessment    Midterm Examination    Exam    3    4.5

11

    Presentation    Presentation:  DEMONSTRATIONAL INFORMATION RAISING    Student Video Presentations    3    3

12

    Critical Thinking

    Critical Reading and Discussion    Story

Blueprint        

13

    Influence    Rokeach on Influence

Monroe on Influence

Cialdini on Influence

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Pattern

    Advertising Analysis

Group Scholarship Discussion Activity

    3    3

14

    Presentation    Presentation:  PERSUASIVE SPEECH (Monroe)    Student Speeches    3    4.5

15

    Critical Freeform

    Dual Class Activity with Mr Cheng’s Class (Oral Final Examination)

    Interactive Drama: Vacation Dual Class Activity

    3    3

16

FinX

    Assessment    Written Final Examination    Exam    3    5

17*

    Plus Week

    Really Awesome Outside Activity TBA

    AI Project

    3    3

18*    Plus Week

    Really Awesome Outside Activity TBA

    Conversation Project

    3    3

Periodically, we may play any of a number of language games, card activities, or ILS patterns.

Preliminary Schedule (Subject to Change – this schedule absolutely will change).  Depending upon student feedback, we may be substituting some projects with the COMMUNICATION GAME DESIGN PROJECT as well as making other adjustments based upon student experience and interests as they correlate with program guidelines and educational goals.

Periodically, we may play any of a number of language games, card activities, or ILS patterns.

 

N/A or TBA

Faithful class attendance, Active and worthwhile participation, Oral Reports, Term Paper, projects, quizzes, and exams.  In addition to keeping up with extensive reading assignments, students will be asked to view several films which showcase topics being explored or that are adapted from material under discussion.  Group and individual projects are also commonly used to enhance the learning experience via creative interaction.

1.    Regular attendance

2.    Participation in classroom activities

3.    Completion of assignments

4.     Papers and Essays

5.    Examinations

6.    Review Questions & Pop Quizzes

Oral and Written Examinations.  Participation.  Fluency.  Projects.  Note that students receive participation points for each course session, so absences lower final grades. If a student has three unexcused absences then that student will not be allowed to participate in final projects or take the final examination. Five absences (excused or unexcused) lead to automatic failure in the course. Except in unusual cases late assignments will not be accepted. Plagiarism may result in an automatic failure of the course (over-reliance on AI will count as plagiarism, particularly when not properly credited).

Please note, some assignments are yes/no points in which students receive a set number of points for completing on time and zero points if not.  For essays, papers, and written assignments, the instructor does not edit or proofread submitted work.  This is not a writing class per se so make certain you have edited your work prior to handing in (with credit to any AI used and without over-reliance on AI for any part of the work).  You will receive a score for such work.  Assignments may or may not be returned so students are encouraged to keep track of their work themselves.

Students should familiarize themselves with course policies, including those specifically related to Attendance, Participation, and Extra Credit opportunities (if any).

•    ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION POLICY:  Attendance and  Participation in this course are required.  Students who are tardy or absent will be penalized through lower possible participation points which leads to grade penalties.  Attendance is taken regularly and penalties are applied.  Typically, students receive on average fifteen to twenty participation points each class period (more or less depending upon activities of the week and actual participation – typically, a maximum of thirty participation points per session but only for very high-performing students; the typical is twenty).  Participation Grade Penalties are as follows:  Tardy, -5 participation points; Second Hour Tardy, -10 participation points; Absence, no participation points possible (this is true even if the absence is excused).  Use of Cellphone, tablet, computer, or mobile device without specific permission or instruction from the instructor, no participation points possible, -10 to -15 participation points and possibility of device being confiscated for the period (yes, just like elementary school students).

•    Attendance Points and Penalties are as follows:  Absence means no participation points.  Three Unexcused Absences, not allowed to take final exam and zero points for final project; Five Absences, automatically fail course.  Note, students who missed the first few course sessions are still penalized for attendance and participation, even if they had not yet registered for the course.

•    Days in which students are scheduled to make presentations or in which interactive drama or similar activities are planned count as DOUBLE ATTENDANCE DAYS and all participation and attendance points or penalties are double.  Days in which the course is scheduled with another class will count as TRIPLE ATTENDANCE DAYS.

•    EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:  For the most current Extra Credit policies, please see the class Facebook group files section . . . Students may makeup for points lost due to missed classes or gain additional grade points by completing optional extra credit activities.  Extra credit is always optional.  Regardless of the amount possible for particular extra credit opportunities, students may not earn more than five grade points for extra credit in a semester.  Certain extra credit opportunities are not available to everyone and others are time sensitive.  It is to your advantage to sign up for extra credit earlier rather than later to ensure that you are eligible and that the schedule allows for the activity.  If you wish to pursue extra credit, do so early.  Extra Credit is typically NOT available within the last two weeks of the semester.

•    Missed Appointment, if you make an appointment to see Dr. Phillips in his office and are tardy, -1 grade point; if you do not show, -2 grade points; if you do not contact Dr. Phillips and let him know you are missing the appointment by email at least twenty-four hours prior to the appointment or by phone within twenty-four hours, an additional -1 grade point. Failure to contact the instructor within one day before or after is an additional -1 grade point.

•    Taking Notes:  University students are expected to have pen/pencil and paper with them during all class sessions.  You should take notes during class of information presented in lecture or discussion as well as of content of media presentations.  Please take notes with pen and paper and later transcribe to your digital note files (lit screens from mobile devices or notebook computers can be distracting to other students during class).

At any time, students are free to ask to see their attendance record or grade scores.  Students receive points for completing assignments, participation, attendance, and other factors toward their final grade.  A raw percentage is then figured based upon the total points possible.  However, the final grade is set via a system that utilizes a curve grade formula after which any penalties from tardies or missed classes or bonuses from extra credit are applied so your final grave is not always the same as points earned within a particular time.

 

As per the English Department guidelines, this course employs realia (authentic materials).  We have no books on reserve in the library for this course.  Most readings will be provided electronically.  Texts and reading will be provided in digital copies.

Reading materials will be authentic and on a variety of subjects, including current events, popular culture, the humanities, and science, to technology, economics, politics, and different cultures. Students should be able to evaluate and critique the reading material as well as use it to develop and expand their vocabularies. In addition, other readings from speech and communication textbooks will be provided.

We may also consider coordinating the reading component to reinforce what has been done in the 

Writing and Reading program as listed below: • Skimming • Scanning • Analyzing structure • Distinguishing mains ideas from details • Telling facts from hypotheses • Making inferences • Introducing critical thinking and analysis • Developing and expanding vocabulary.