Undergraduate Information

COMS 130 Exemption Exam

Registering for the Exam

The communication exemption exam is given twice during the academic year-once in the beginning of the fall semester and once in the beginning of the spring semester. The exemption exam is not given during the summer session. The dates of the exemption exam are available in the Department of Communication Studies main office (102 Bailey Hall) by the first day of classes for each semester. Students wishing to take the communication exemption examination should register their name, Email address, address and telephone number in the Department of Communication Studies main office 102 Bailey. A $20.00 cash non-refundable fee is required to register. No student will be allowed to sign up for the exam without first paying the $20.00 fee.

The communication exemption exam has two parts: written and oral. Students must first pass a written exam over basic communication theory and principles. Students who pass the written exam will then schedule an oral exam that will take place the week following the written exam.

Examination periods for the oral portion will be scheduled at 30-minute intervals on the assigned day. Students will sign up to take the exam at a specific time. Candidates for the oral exam should report to the examination room approximately 10-15 minutes before their scheduled times.

Examination Procedures:

• Written Exam

  Students are encouraged to review the current textbook for COMS 130 prior to taking the written exam, as questions will be based on the material in that book. A study guide for the written exam is attached. The written exam has 50 multiple-choice questions, each worth 2 points. The written exam is worth a total of 100 points. Candidates for exemption must pass the written exam with a score of at least 70 to be eligible to continue with the oral part of the exam.

  Notification of Written Exam Results:

  Students may receive the results of the written examination on the day following the exam in 102 Bailey. Results will not be given over the telephone. If the student has successfully completed the written exam, he/she is eligible to participate in the oral exam. Basic course administrators will provide scheduling details to those who pass.

• Oral Exam

  Part I: Prepared Speech

  Candidates should report to the oral exam thoroughly prepared to present an informative speech between 5-6 minutes in length using at least 4 sources. The speech topic, which is chosen by the candidate, should be appropriate for a college-age audience. Both the type of the speech (informative) and the time limit (5-6 minutes) will be rigidly enforced. A speech that is shorter than five minutes or longer than six minutes will not pass. Likewise, a speech that is entertaining or persuasive, rather than informative, will not pass. This speech will be graded according to the criteria on the attached evaluation form

  NOTE: A demonstration/process speech will not be acceptable. Candidates may direct questions regarding the selection of a topic to the Basic Course Directors.

  Each candidate will be required to prepare a full sentence outline of the speech, including bibliography and purpose statement. The outline should be typed and should follow an accepted outline format. The bibliography should conform to APA citation format. The candidate must bring three copies of the outline and bibliography to the oral exam session and give them to the judges prior to presenting the speech. Sources must be current. All sources must be included in the bibliography.

  Each candidate will present her/his speech to a panel of three judges who are faculty or instructors in the Communication Studies Department. The speech will be audio taped. The candidate may use brief notes or index cards during the presentation. The speech may not be read or presented from a manuscript. The candidate may also use presentational aids such as charts, posters, slides or transparencies. However, the candidate is responsible for seeing that those aids are appropriate and professional. An overhead projector will be provided for candidates use. A candidate must make arrangements for other presentational equipment. The following may NOT be used as presentational aids: live animals, foods, alcoholic beverages, drugs or drug paraphernalia, firearms or fire (matches, fireworks, etc.) The candidate must let the judges review the presentational aid prior to his/her speech. The judges will have the right to deny the candidate permission to use prohibited presentational aids. Questions regarding the use of presentational aids should be directed to the Basic Course Directors.

  At the conclusion of the candidate's presentation, she/he may be asked questions regarding the content of the speech, asked to clarify a particular point, or asked questions regarding the reasons he/she chose one particular rhetorical device over another. The speaker should also be prepared to give specific information regarding the sources used in researching the speech topic.

  Part II: Impromptu Speech

  Impromptu speech-At the conclusion of the prepared speech, the candidate will be given a list of three topics. These topics will relate to contemporary events. The candidate will choose one topic. Once the topic is chosen, the candidate will be given three articles on the subject and will then have thirty minutes to prepare a 2-3 minute persuasive speech on the chosen topic.

  The speaker should present a well-reasoned and organized speech in support of his/her position on the issue. As with the prepared speech, the impromptu speech must conform to the time limitations (2-3 minutes) and the assigned purpose (persuasion) in order for it to be considered a passing speech. This speech will be judged according to the criteria on the attached evaluation form. The judges will be looking for a speech that is organized with a persuasive organization pattern and uses evidence found in the articles provided.

  The persuasive impromptu speech will conclude the exam. Each of the three judges will provide a written evaluation of the candidates performance, a grade for each speech and the outline and a summary judgment regarding the candidates exemption status.

  Criteria for Passing Part I & II of the Oral Exam

  Each judge will base her/his summary judgment of the candidate's exemption status on the grades assigned to the two speeches. If a judge feels that the candidate has given a prepared informative speech deserving a grade of A or B AND an impromptu persuasive speech deserving a grade of A or B, he/she must give the candidate a PASS on the exam. However, if the judge feels that only one of the speeches was of A or B quality, whether it is the prepared speech or the impromptu speech, he/she must give the candidate a FAIL on the exam. In order for a candidate to pass the exemption exam, she/he must receive a PASS from two of the three judges.

  Notification of Oral Examination Results

  On the day following the oral exam, candidates may receive the results of the exemption examination from the communication studies office (102 Bailey). Results will not be given over the telephone. If a candidate wishes to see judges comments, he/she may make an appointment with the Basic Course Directors.

  The communication studies office staff will inform the student records office of the names of those who have passed the exam. Candidates who fail the exam may register to take it one additional time (total of two times). They are also encouraged to enroll in COMS 130.

Questions

Additional questions regarding exemption from the oral communication requirement through examination should be addressed to the Director or Assistant Directors of the Basic Course. You may contact the Assistant Basic Course Directors at 864-9897 and the Director at 864-9683.