Speech/Debate Class/Team- Guidelines - 2010-11

This is an elective course designed to promote an appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of public speaking. The purpose of the class is also to develop each student’s speaking, reading and writing abilities, vocabulary, spelling, critical thinking (analysis), research and technological application skills. Students will prepare for and participate in league competitions selected from the tentative schedule included in these guidelines. As your instructor, it is my job to guide, nurture, assist and provide you with opportunities to gain the knowledge and tools you will eventually need for a successful life experience. It is, however, your job to learn by taking advantage of the opportunities provided for you in this and your other classes. I can share my knowledge, assist you and show you the path but I can not really “teach” you what you need to learn. It is you who must do the “learning,” therefore, the harder you work, the better you will master the skills.

                                               It is your job to learn. This is why you are here.

I am serious about you understanding why you are here. You, your parents, and I, are all paying for your class time? None of us can afford to waste it, especially you. Therefore, our classroom will be our workplace. I am the manager and you are an employee. It is your job to complete the assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects required in your effort to gain the required knowledge. You will be paid accordingly with a grade, but most of all, in the attainment of knowledge that can never be taken from you and will be used by you for the rest of your life.

Speech/Debate – Read Me
Studies have shown that the fear of speaking or performing in front of a group of people ranks as the number one fear of most people—even above the fear of death. Studies have also shown that competitive speaking promotes self worth and self-esteem; assertiveness and participation, and builds positive societal interaction. It teaches students how to think on their feet under pressure, giving them oral presentation and listening skills while developing ethical responsibility. It is my hope that the experiences in this class will increase every student’s comfort level in addressing people regardless of the size of the audience. My hope is that each student will believe in their own voice and become confident that people want to hear what they have to say. This is an attribute that is especially helpful in job interviews and will impact their lives no matter what career path they choose.

Academic Goals
Students shall meet or exceed the following California Standards for high school Language Arts:
Listening and Speaking Strategies – Students will be able to deliver focused and coherent presentations that convey clear and distinct perspective and demonstrate solid reasoning. Students use gestures, tone and vocabulary tailored to the audience and purpose.
Students will be able to recognize strategies used by the media to inform, persuade, entertain, and transmit culture.
Students will be able to analyze the impact of the media on the democratic process at local, state, and national levels.
Students will use rhetorical questions, parallel structure, concrete images, figurative language, characterization, irony, and dialogue to achieve clarity, force, and aesthetic effect.
Students will be able to distinguish between and use various forms of classical and contemporary logical arguments, including inductive and deductive reasoning plus syllogisms and analogies.
Students will be able to critique a speaker’s diction and syntax in relation to the purpose of an oral communication and the impact the words may have on the audience.
Students will be able to identify logical fallacies used in oral addresses and explain why.

Students will be able to deliver polished formal and extemporaneous presentations that combine traditional rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description. Student speaking shall demonstrate a command of standard American English and the organizational and delivery strategies outlined above.

About the ESLRs
I support Burbank High School’s Expected School-wide Learning Results, known as ESLRs. They are posted in our workspace and may be reviewed daily during class. You will be required, and given points accordingly, to complete one of the following statements on a regular basis throughout the semester using ESLR definitions:
1. I am an academic achiever because....
2. Examples of my critical thinking today were....
3. I was an effective communicator when I....
4. I am a responsible citizen because I....
5. I am learning to be a lifelong learner by....

About Confidentiality
As a student utilizing the newsroom, you may be exposed to confidential school newspaper, yearbook, and website information. You are, therefore, required to respect the confidential status of such information at all times unless advised by Ms. Burnett that it is not necessary to do so. In other words, what happens in the newsroom (room 1141) stays in the newsroom.

Speech Competitions
This class requires time commitments outside of regular school hours. Competitions usually take place on Saturdays and run the entire day including an awards ceremony. All students are required to participate in at least two each semester of the Tri-Valley League oral/debate competitions scheduled from September through March (to be decided by Ms. Burnett). Please see the competition schedule listed in these guidelines. Students must participate in two or more of the following categories: Student Congress, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Policy (Team) Debate, Extemp, Impromptu, Original Oratory, Original Advocacy, Expository, Original Prose/Poetry, Oratorical Interpretation, and Thematic Interpretation. A few competitions may require membership in the National Forensic League, however, all students are encouraged to join this national organization. All competitions require entry fees for each category entered. All fees are the responsibility of the student. Students who do cancel their entry by the designated time on the Wednesday prior to the tournament are liable for their entry fee(s) whether they compete or not. Please note: Speech/Debate students must remain academically eligible in order to fulfill the course requirements that demand time outside of regular school hours.

Grading Policy
The academic grade will be based on instructor’s evaluation of student’s fulfillment of the course requirements in these guidelines. Points will be given on all student work including daily participation points for the effort the student puts forth in assisting colleagues during class each day. If needed, you will be required to periodically submit a printed copy of your online grade report with a written explanation or notation of any grading questions or issues you may have. Proof of your points must be attached to the grade report in order for me to revise an assignment's score. Semester finals are worth 15-20 percent of the semester grade. Grades will be assigned based upon the following grading scale:
A = 90 - 100% B = 80 - 89% C = 70 - 79% D = 60 - 69% F = 59% or less

Checking Student Progress
You and your parents/guardians will be able to check your assignment status 24-7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) via the Internet. Beginning September 30, you will be able to locate the class link via my homepage by typing in the following URL: 
www.annenews.com
If you have a question or request, you can contact me anytime via my homepage or email:
anneburnett@burbankusd.org
Please note: No student last names, personal addresses, phone numbers, class schedules or personal email addresses will be allowed. Your signatures, student and parent/guardian, signifying that you have reviewed these guidelines constitutes your permission for student’s likeness and/or first name or ID # to be used on the Internet for a student project or as part of my grades web page.

Basic Rules 
1. Be prepared: Bring your pen, paper, notebook, homework, assignments, and books (as notified) to class daily.
2. Be respectful: Be kind and polite. Respect everyone’s right to voice his/her own opinion. Raise your hand and wait to be called upon before speaking. Do not talk or interrupt while the teacher or someone else is addressing the class. Respect all school property and the property of others. Take care of our computers and peripheral equipment.
3. Be attentive: Pay attention and keep all unnecessary items away from our work area. No gum, food of any kind, or drinks, except bottled water, are allowed in class. Again, no gum, food of any kind, or drinks, except bottled water, are allowed in class. 100 points will be deducted from overall score for one violation, 300 points for second violation, 600 points plus class suspension for third and each successive violation. No combs, makeup, money, toys or electronic items are allowed in class without teacher's prior permission.
4. Be on time: Be sitting in your assigned seat, ready to work when the bell rings.
5. Be protective of confidential information

Citizenship
Students are required to be responsible citizens and promote academic achievement. Since web design class students serve as the staffs of the school, yearbook and newspaper websites, all students are expected to embrace the highest standards in representing Burbank High School. Students are to behave and dress in a professional manner, especially when representing the school, attending meetings, and/or selling advertisements for the sites. Students are expected to work independently and stay on task at all times. Computer games and/or exercises plus all student web pages are to be utilized ONLY with the express permission of the instructor.

• Students are expected to comply with Burbank High’s Safe and Orderly Guidelines and Discipline. In addition, students are required to comply with the Burbank Unified School District Acceptable Use of Technology Policy.
• Students are expected to act in a courteous and appropriate manner. They are to listen quietly and follow directions. To participate in classroom discussions, a student must raise his/her hand and wait to be called upon by the discussion leader.
• Students are to behave in the above manner and follow class rules when the teacher is absent and a substitute or another teacher is in charge of the class.
•Students are encourage to join the PTSA (cost is $5.00). Extra credit points will be earned for this membership since the PTSA helps students do their jobs.

Students will be given an outstanding rating in citizenship for excellent conduct, cooperation, class contribution, and observance of school rules. However, wasting your time or anyone else’s will not be tolerated. Students will be given unsatisfactory ratings for repeated violations of class or school rules, disruption, failure to bring materials, continual failure to complete assignments on time, and/or failure to stay for detention. All responses to class disturbances are at teacher’s discretion, referrals are grounds for dismissal from a school web project. Again, please refer to the Burbank High School Safe and Orderly School Guidelines and Discipline Rules.

About Due Process
Should it be necessary to be disciplined for any class rule or school policy violations, the following procedures will be taken:
1st offense: A phone call to parent/guardian--student will make the call from the classroom during class.
2nd offense: An immediate written referral to the discipline office.
3rd offense: An automatic one-grade deduction in citizenship grade for the semester (not just the five, ten, or fifteen week grade report).
4th offense: An automatic suspension and/or permanent removal from class.

Ethics
Students will be required to learn and adhere to journalistic ethical standards as established by the Society of Professional Journalists. You are expected to be a responsible citizen and behave honorably. Content produced in this class must be truthful, factual, and properly cited. Plagiarism, conflicts of interest, dishonesty, libelous statements, failure to respect or protect school equipment, and irresponsibility in any form will not be tolerated in this class. You are expected to be a responsible citizen and behave honorably. Cheating or violating journalistic ethics in any form AND/OR THE APPEARANCE OF CHEATING (including plagiarism) will result in a failing grade, an unsatisfactory citizenship grade for the semester, notification of your parent(s)/guardian and being dropped from class. Please refer to the Burbank High School Academic Honesty Policy.

Dress Code
Formal business attired is required for all speech competitions. This means ties with suits and/or sports coats with dress pants for males; suits (pants or knee-length skirts) or office dresses for females. At school, students are expected to comply with the Burbank High School Dress Code Guidelines.

Cell Phones/Electronic Devices
Please refer to the Burbank High School Electronic Devices Policy except as advised by Ms. Burnett.

Tardies/Absences
A tardy is recorded on the attendance record each time a student is not in his/her assigned seat, ready to work when the bell rings. I will follow school policy. Please don’t be late to class. Please don’t make me mark you tardy! Remember, you are to be inside the classroom and seated when the bell rings. Students not seated will be marked absent and must report to the office to be marked tardy and get permission to enter class. If a student ever leaves the classroom without instructor’s permission, he or she will be given an unexcused absence. Such an act constitutes defiance allowing the student to face the same penalties noted above for violation of school rules. Please refer to the Burbank High School Tardy Policy.

Attendance and Make-up Policy
Students are expected to develop life skills in good attendance and punctuality and must take responsibility for making up missed work in a timely manner under the following guidelines:
• Attendance in class is extremely important since class is where learning takes place.
• The student is responsible for making up all work missed due to absences and meeting deadlines on time.
• Missed deadlines or competitions cannot be made up.
• All tests are to be made up immediately upon return to class by arrangement with the teacher.
• Students with unexcused absences cannot make up missed deadlines, other work, quizzes, or tests.
• Late assignments will only be accepted the day after they were due. The maximum number of points possible for the assignment will be 90% of the original value.

Class Materials
Students are responsible for bringing the following necessary materials to class every day (except as noted):
1. Pencils, two #2.
2. Pens, blue or black ink.
3. A notebook with a calendar, assignment, and note-taking sections.

The Web – Writing with Magic
Students will experience a high level of academic learning in this class through the use of technology. Students will utilize the Internet for research and the generation of speeches, debate, and congress information. Students will be required to adhere to the Burbank Unified School District’s Acceptable Use of Technology Policy. Students and parents need to be aware that students may be required to access the Internet during and outside of school as needed. As a student, you are expected to do your job by focusing on your specific assigned task(s) at all times while working on the Internet. Students will have computer access in class.

Assignments
Students are expected to demonstrate effective communication and critical thinking skills by turning in all class work on time, with the correct heading, typed and filed correctly in the correct computer file as instructed.
•Daily Exercises - As assigned.
•Work File - A manila folder to be provided to each student to keep in the classroom file.
•Regular Assignments - These will consist of interviewing, researching, editing, rewriting, presenting, critiquing and anything else required to prepare for class and/or competition.

Permission to View Videos in Class
Various video and audio reports on or related to public speaking/debate may be used as part of our regular curriculum. Your signature on these guidelines grants permission for your student to view/listen to one or more of the videos and/or audios in the context of our speech/debate curriculum.

Room Cleanup
Due to the shortage of custodians and the increasing need to minimize damage to our room and is equipment, classes will take turns cleaning the classroom every Friday. This includes picking up trash, sweeping and mopping the floor, cleaning desktops and computers, removing trash from desks, disposing of any gum found anywhere in the room, disposing of recycled paper, newspapers etc. All students will participate in the cleanup - there are no exceptions. This weekly exercise is an implementation of the BHS ESLR encouraging students to be responsible citizens by preserving and protecting school property paid for by tax dollars.

Tentative 2008-2009 Competition Schedule - Please go to www.annenews.com, click on Tri-Valley League

Submitted by
Ms. Anne Burnett — Instructor/Advisor [ B.A. Journalism, M.S. Communication/Journalism]
Burbank High School - Room 1141
818.558.4700 ext. 51141
anneburnett@burbankusd.org

Click here to print required response form--DUE: September 3, 2010