COMM 100
Introduction
Materials
Objectives
Policies & Grading
Assignments
Final Exam

QUIZ REVIEW
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3

CONTACT

RESEARCH
Search
Writing
Speaking
Organizations
Resources

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an introduction to fundamental theories and skills of public speaking. It emphasizes the preparation and delivery of formal presentations to an audience. Students will learn to choose and narrow topics, research and organize materials, and practice and present speeches that are adapted to various audiences, purposes, and occasions

INTRODUCTION

Each of us has a unique experience to communicate with others. Although we often express it in conversations and informal group discussions, at other times it is socially, politically, and occupationally valuable to be able to speak with confidence and effectiveness to larger audiences. This course focuses on the area of public communication. It is designed to increase the student’s skill in speaking and critically listening by involving them in the process of creating, presenting, analyzing, and responding to spoken messages.

REQUIRED TEXT

• Lucas, S. (2007). The Art of Public Speaking. 9th Ed., Boston: McGraw Hill

COURSE OBJECTIVES

In completing the class, each student will meet the following objectives:

1. Describe and analyze the relationships among important elements of the public communication process.
2. Differentiate among various common types of public messages with respect to speaker purpose and audience expectations and adapt topics, goals, and strategies to target audiences and situations.
3. Analyze the student’s own cultural values and compare them with those of others and traditional Western speaking conventions.
4. Research, evaluate, and select information, examples, and expert opinion to illustrate points and formulate strong and valid arguments in various types of informative and persuasive presentations.
5. Organize and specifically outline the main points and supporting materials of various types of oral informative and persuasive messages, providing effective introductions, conclusions, and transitional material.
6. Deliver public messages extemporaneously from a key-phrase outline: (a) using appropriate visual materials, (b) clearly looking at and responding to nonverbal reactions of members across the audience, and (c) selecting clear, vivid, and appropriate language to express intended meaning.
7. Evaluate and employ methods for managing communication anxiety.
8. Employ methods for establishing and enhancing credibility.
9. Construct appropriate oral responses to the speeches of others, showing understanding of the message and engaging in a dialogue consistent with the intent of the message.

COURSE POLICIES & GRADING

I strongly believe that each student can do well in this course. It can be an enjoyable experience, in which you will meet and work with interesting class members. At the same time, you will learn practical skills which you will use for a lifetime. However, in order for this to happen, you must live within the following guidelines. Please read, review them carefully, and resolve to follow them throughout the course.

Course Withdrawal. It is the student’s responsibility to submit an official withdrawal to avoid receiving an F in the class.

Attendance. Attendance is necessary, since both speaking and listening are integral parts of the course. Class activities other than speeches also contribute to learning. When it is necessary to miss class, you are responsible for obtaining information and materials you may have missed. It is not possible to make up most in-class activities (see below). Before the final withdrawal date, you may be dropped from the course for five consecutive class hours of absence from class and lack of progress in completing assigned work.

Assignments. Presentations and other classroom activities must be completed on the day assigned. Speeches may not be made up without penalty except in emergency situations (limited to officially verified severe illness or death in the immediate family or jury duty). Speeches must be completed before the last day of each scheduled round. Availability of make-up time cannot be guaranteed; therefore, failure to present a speech on the assigned day may mean 0 points for an assignment. Make-up speeches will receive a 10% penalty for each speaking date which is missed. Make-up speeches will be allowed when time is available at the end of each speaking session. Speaking order for make-up speeches will follow that of the original schedule.

Student Conduct. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to a college class-room. Should plagiarism or other forms of cheating occur, the student will receive no credit (0 pts.) on the assignment. Further action may be taken within college guidelines. [For a complete description, see “Student Code of Conduct" in the General Catalog for the college.]

Americans with Disabilities Act. Mt. San Jacinto College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities upon request of the student and verification of disability. [For further information, see the General Catalog.]

Quizzes. Quizzes are scheduled in the course calendar. They will consist of 25 multiple-choice, true-false, and matching questions, using Scantron #882. They will cover assigned reading since the previous quiz. They will be offered at the end of the class period. Each quiz will also be available online using Blackboard from the date offered until the beginning of the next scheduled class period. Content review questions are available on the instructor’s web page or through Blackboard. [Online Review Questions]

Assorted Class Activities. These activities may include discussions, exercises, worksheets, and impromptu presentations. Often there will be a written component to the assignment compiled by a recorder and submitted with each participant’s signature. Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to participate in group presentations of course-relevant applications, such as a group introduction, diversity presentation, introduction variety exercise, point-counterpoint demonstration, and group problem-solving report. They will be described in class, and some may require time to be spent outside the class collecting information and preparing materials. These assignments will be evaluated based on content, participation, and materials submitted. Each student will receive points (see your syllabus) for his or her involvement. For group efforts, all full participants will receive the same number of points. Individual components may be evaluated separately on some assignments.

Audience Participation. A public speaking course entails audience participation. Effective listening is an important skill covered by this course. It is also essential that we give each speaker an experience with an active audience. On presentation days when you are not speaking, you will be asked to listen actively to the speakers based on notes you will take as assigned by your instructor. They will be evaluated by the instructor in terms of listener effectiveness.

ASSIGNMENTS

The descriptions below summarize the essential elements of the formal speaking assignments. Further information and grading criteria will be provided in class. Each presentation will be timed. Exceeding the time limit will not be graded as such, but you will be signaled to conclude. Certain speeches require a content outline. References must be included when they are used. Each speech should be delivered from a one-page speaking outline. Except for the significant experience speech, copies or descriptions of visual materials should be attached to the speaking outline. Type all outlines double-spaced; they are each worth 10 pts. of the grade. Handwritten assignments are discouraged and should be negotiated with the instructor.

Significant Experience Speech (4-6 min.). Describe a significant experience you have had. The thesis of the speech should focus on what you learned from the experience and how it affects you today. Use a key-word speaking outline; do not write this speech out. Relax and “tell” us about the experience. Submit the speaking outline. [See sample speaking outline and topics.]

Visual Materials Presentation (4-6 min.). Prepare a presentation which centers around one visual aid, such that the visual material outlines the body of the speech. Submit a speaking outline and either a copy of the visual aid or a description how your visual material outlines the main points of the speech. [See sample visual and outline.]

Informative Speech (5-7 min.). Prepare a message which contributes to the knowledge of your audience. The topic should be one about which you have done prior research or had personal experience. [See sample topics.] Do further research to update your knowledge. [See links to research sites.] Use a variety of methods to enhance clarity, including visual materials. [More about supporting materials.] Submit content and speaking outlines. Note that the content outline should include statements of specific purpose and central idea and end with a bibliography of references used. The speaking outline should be no longer than one standard sheet of paper. Attach copies or a description of the visual materials which you plan to use for the presentation.

Persuasive Speech (6-8 min.). Prepare a message which attempts to influence attitudes, beliefs, or behavior of members of the audience. Pick an issue about which you feel strongly, and carefully adapt your central idea to the classroom audience. [See sample topics.] The central persuasive strategy should be reasoning. Use a variety of types of supporting materials, including visual aids. [See links to speech writing sites.] Submit content and speaking outlines following the same guidelines for the informative speech above.

FINAL EXAM

The final exam will cover the assigned reading and additional class notes. It will be a mix of objective and short-answer questions. Emphasis will be on material tested in the quizzes and covered in class activities. [See sample final exam questions]

Last revised: December 19, 2008 .