4 Read Me First
Welcome to Introduction to Speech Communication!
Please read the following material as well as the other sections of the introduction before you begin Module One.
Required Text and Supplemental Materials
Throughout the course you will find readings from the two textbooks at no charge.
- Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies is adapted from a work produced and distributed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-SA) in 2013 by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution. This adapted edition is produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing through the eLearning Support Initiative.
- Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies is adapted from a work produced and distributed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-SA) in 2013 by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution. This adapted edition is produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing through the eLearning Support Initiative.
How the Course Is Organized
Take Note of These Rules
Each module has due dates for all assignments and because there are many assignments (and many of you), these dates are nearly carved in stone. Turn your work in on time. Plan ahead so that you will meet all the deadlines in this course. Please review these dates carefully within each module and do not assume that all assignments in each module are due on the same day.
Plan for Success
Know that your instructor wants you to succeed. But also know that while he or she can present you with the learning tools, it is up to YOU to work hard and apply the information to your own coursework. A basic tenet of adult learning is that a learner must be actively involved in the process. Consider yourself as the most important variable in your learning process.
Read through ALL of the information in a module before you start working. This will help you to pace yourself, organize your time and energy, and give you an overview of what’s expected of you.
Ready for Your First Step?
After you have completed your review of the Syllabus section, you are ready to become actively involved in your assignments. Go to Module One and read through the entire section. Always read the information in each module before you begin your work.
Now it is time for you to get started. As you progress through this course, take one step at a time. Remember that you are on a journey to improve your skills. Become self-aware of your abilities as well as areas for improvement. Be kind to yourself and others when you or your classmates make mistakes, and learn from your errors and from those of others.
At this point, we can draw upon the words of Confucius when he stated, “The thousand mile journey begins with one step.” Now it is time for you to take your first step in this course.