Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- How many speeches will we give in this class?
- How does C MAX work?
- How are grades figured?
- What is Amnesty Day and how does it work?
- Why is reading or memorizing your speech such a 'No-No' in Oral Comm?
- What if I miss a Friday Quiz?
- What is 'Three Before Me'?
- Maintained according to SSD Website Standards 2009-2010
How many speeches will we give in this class?
You'll only have 4-5 speeches, so RELAX!
How does C MAX work?
If I can't find the number of speakers I'm looking for each day,
the remaining speakers in the class go to a C Max status meaning
that the
highest grade that they can make is a C. It's the same concept
as your
credit card company charging you a late fee when you don't pay
your bill on
time. At the bank of Ms. Wilson, the rate is 21% of your
grade! Not a good
plan. So it is a good investment to have your speech ready to
go on the
date
speeches are due.
How are grades figured?
Oral Comm grades are calculated based on weights, not points.
Homework 15%
Quizzes 10%
Classwork 05%
Speech 45%
9-weeks Test 25%
Example
Points: Eli has 146/175 points = 83.4%
=================================================================
============
Weights: Eli has 84.2%
HW: 59/70 = 84.3% x .15 = .1264
QZ: 31/35 = 88.6% x .10 = .0886
CW: 15/20 = 75.0% x .05 = .0375
SP: 41/50 = 84.3% x .45 = .3793
ADD ___ ______
.75 .6318
DIVIDE .6318 / .75 = .8424
Eli's Weighted Score: .8424 = 84.2%
NOTE: In this example, only 75% of the categories have been
offered because
we haven't taken our 9-weeks test yet. Notice that it counts
for 25% of the
grade.
What is Amnesty Day and how does it work?
Amnesty Day is an opportunity for you to make up a poor speech
grade.
Amnesty Day is available once per semester; you must choose when
to "spend"
it.
Amnesty Day is a gift, not a requirement.
You may not take a "0" into Amnesty Day; you must have
given the speech the
first time.
Students who are in danger of failing the class have first
priority on
Amnesty Day.
If there are more speakers than time, we draw names among those
ready to
present.
Students can receive as high as an 89% on Amnesty Day.
Why is reading or memorizing your speech such a 'No-No' in Oral Comm?
In most small group speaking situations, nothing is more
insulting to an
audience than to realize that the speaker is merely talking 'at'
them
instead
of 'to' them. Think of a time when a teacher read to you what
you could
have
easily read for yourself---didn't you want to politely ask them
to put it in
a memo and walk out? Memorizing is much the same; it insults an
audience's
intelligence and ignores them.
In very formal communication settings, both these strategies can
be
appropriate. In day to day public speaking however, audiences
want a
speaker
who will talk to them, look at them, monitor their feedback, and
be
attentive
to them.
What if I miss a Friday Quiz?
Don't worry, I drop 2 quiz scores each 9-weeks. So the fact
that quizzes
can't be made up won't affect your final grade for the quarter
UNLESS you
miss more than two Fridays. If you have to be out for an
extended period of
time, (more than 2 consecutive weeks), see me.
What is 'Three Before Me'?
Good writers edit their work. It helps them catch mistakes in
punctuation,
style, and grammar.
All written work you turn in for a grade should be accompanied
by the
initials of at least 3 people who read the homework assignment
before you
submit it. Mistakes they catch and you correct wont be
counted against
you; mistakes I catch will be deducted from your grade for that
assignment.
Parents, friends, or teachers whomever youd like can be
editors. The
better choice of editors you make, the more points theyll save
you.
If youre asked to be a peer editor, please take the time to
proofread the
paper and give honest feedback to its author. Please critique
the writing,
not the writer. We dont have time for flattery if were going to
help one
another grow. But we cant grow if we arent allowed to make
mistakes.
Maintained according to SSD Website Standards 2009-2010
This webpage is maintained by Deb B. Wilson to support the
mission of the Springdale School District. Any views or opinions
expressed are those of the individual maintaining this page, and
are not necessarily those of the Springdale School District, its
board, or employees.
Maintained according to SSD Website Standards
2009-2010 Springdale School District
All rights reserved
We have made every reasonable attempt to ensure that our web
pages are
educationally sound and do not contain links to any questionable
material or
anything that can be deemed in violation of the SSD Web Page
Standards
Policy.
http://www.springdaleschools.org/technology/Webstandards.pdf