Syllabus

 Course Description: The ability to communicate through symbols allows us to make sense of our world, build meaningful relationships with others and present our positions on issues important to us in ways that might encourage others to join with us.  This ability has made possible society, commerce, and virtually everything that is distinctly “human.”  This class provides an introduction to one dimension of human communication:  public speaking.  However, the skills you will learn here are definitely applicable to many other communication situations such as presentations in other courses, job interviews, group meetings, weddings, etc.

This course is a skills course and the readings, class activities, and course projects are all designed to improve your abilities to think, research, organize ideas strategically, select the appropriate language and style to fit the occasion, and deliver your message with confidence and sincerity.

This class moves quickly!  There will be a heavy amount of reading up front in order to gain awareness of the ideas and principles we will work to master during the rest of our time together.  Some of the text may be discussed in class.  However, you are responsible for all the readings as assigned.  Readings and lecture material are fair game for quizzes.  Please come in with questions from the reading!  What does it mean?  How does it apply?  How do we do it?  What does it look like?  These are all good questions and will help make the class meaningful for you.  Most speeches will be presented in front of the entire class and some may be videotaped.

Course Objectives: After completing this course the successful student will:

1.      Demonstrate knowledge of core concepts;

2.      Demonstrate ability to actively listen by offering useful and sensitive peer feedback;

3.      Demonstrate ability to work effectively in a group;

4.      Design and integrate effective enhancements (visuals, etc.) to support the presentation of your ideas,

5.      Craft and deliver messages that incorporates concepts discussed in the course

Course Policies: You are expected to attend every class period--especially on days when your classmates are giving speeches.  However, since life happens, you are allowed three absences without automatic penalty as personal days.  Use them wisely if at all. 

Number of Absences Recorded	Highest Grade You Can Earn (regardless of grades earned on assignments)
No absences up to three absences	A
Four absences	B
Five to six absences	C
Seven absences	D
More than seven	F

No make-up quizzes or speeches will be given unless there are extreme circumstances and those circumstances are handled responsibly by the student.  Speeches that violate the spirit or letter of UNCW policies are not allowed.  Any plagiarism will result in failure for that assignment and additional work by the student on all future assignments to prove that the work is the student’s own: Cite your sources folks!

Honor Code:  “It shall be the responsibility of every faculty member, student, administrator and staff member of the university community to uphold and maintain the academic standards and integrity of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington” (1997-1998 Student Handbook and Code of Student Life p. 91).  All student work and conduct must in accordance with the academic honor code and other codes informing the university community. 

University Statement on Academic Expectations

In choosing UNCW, you have become part of our community of scholars.  We recognize that the UNCW learning experience is challenging and requires hard work.  It also requires a commitment to make time available to do that hard work.  The University expects you to make academics your highest priority by dedicating your time and energy to training your mind and acquiring knowledge.  Academic success in critical thinking and problem solving prepares you for the changes and challenges you will encounter in the future.  Our faculty and academic support resources are readily available as partners in this effort, but the primary responsibility for learning is yours.

Text:  Grice, G. and Skinner, J. F. (2004).  Mastering Public Speaking (5^th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.  Please make use of their wonderful website:  http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_grice_pubspeak_5

Assignments and Grading: There are 530 points available for the course.  I will be using a standard ten percent breakdown: 90% =A, 80-89%=B, etc.  The assignments are as follows:

5 Quizzes @ 25 points each	125
Personal object speech	10
Practice introduction	20
Delivery drill	20
Group presentation	40 (30 shared, 10 individual)
Group member evaluation	15
Informative speech	50
Visuals	20
Self-Critique	20
Strategy Paper	25
Persuasive speech	100
Special Occasion Speech	30

 

Schedule of Sessions

The schedule below is your contract with your classmates and me.  You should come to class prepared: having done the reading and reflected on the material.  You should have also done any individual work required. 

Date	Readings & Homework Due	Class Session Topic
Thur: 8-21	Welcome Back! Chapt. 1	Course overview, rhetoric and philosophy & a communication model we can live with
Tues: 8-26	Chapt. 3 Prepare Personal Object Speech	Personal Object Speeches & overview of the speech design and delivery process
8-28	Chapters 2 and 4 especially	Quiz One: Chapts: 1, 2, 3, 4 Ethical speaking and listening & sign up for speeches
9-2	Chapter 19	How to work and speak in groups How to argue/debate an idea
9-4	Chapters 9 and 10	Organization of body & Introductions and Conclusions
9-9		Quiz Two: 19, 9, 10 Practice Introductions, Delivery & Discussion of group projects and delivery drills
9-11	Chapters 5 and  8	Researching and supporting your speech Analyzing your audience
9-16	Chapters 11 and 13	Quiz Three: 5, 8, 11, 13 Outlining and delivering your speech
9-18		Delivery Drills: Group One (Group Two attends)
9-23		Delivery Drills: Group Two (Group Three attends)
9-25		Delivery Drills: Group Three (Group Four attends)
9-30		Delivery Drills: Group Four (Group Five attends)
10-2		Delivery Drills: Group Five (Group Six attends)
10-7		Delivery Drills: Group Six (Group One attends)
10-9	Fall Vacation

10-14	Rehearse and complete member evaluations	Group Presentations: 1, 2, 3/Evaluations due
10-16	Rehearse and complete member evaluations	Group Presentations: 4, 5, 6/Evaluations due
10-21	Chapter 15	Speaking to inform
10-23	Chapter 14	Quiz Four: 15, 14 Presentational aids
10-28	Prepare Informative Speeches	Informative Speeches
10-30	Prepare Informative Speeches	Informative Speeches (Self Critiques due)
11-4	Prepare Informative Speeches	Informative Speeches (Self Critiques due)
11-6	Prepare Informative Speeches	Informative Speeches (Self Critiques due)
11-11	Chapter 16	Persuasion part I (Self Critiques due)
11-13	Chapter 17	Quiz Five: 16, 17 Persuasion part II
11-18		TBA
11-20	Finalize Speech and Strategy Paper	Persuasive Speeches/Strategy Paper
11-25	Finalize Speech and  Strategy Paper	Persuasive Speeches/Strategy Paper
Thanksgiving Break November 26-30: Go and be thankful
12-2	Finalize Speech and Strategy Paper	Persuasive Speeches/Strategy Paper
12-4	Finalize Speech and Strategy Paper	Persuasive Speeches/Strategy Paper
Saturday 12-6, 9-11 am (COM 110)	Read pages 396-401 and assignment description in syllabus	Commemorative Speeches

Proverbs Related to Speaking

 

He that once deceives is ever suspected.  English proverb

Listen with each ear; then draw judgments.  Manx proverb

Be silent or say something better than silence. German proverb

Skill and confidence are an unconquered army. English proverb

Speech and action make the perfect conduct.  Moroccan proverb

While a word is in your mouth it is your own; when it is once spoken, it is another�s. English proverb

Words must be weighed, not counted.  Yiddish proverb

Words that come from the heart enter the heart.  Hebrew prover

Assignment Descriptions

I offer these assignments all at once not to cause overload but so that you can manage your time as you need to.  I realize that this is not the only course you are taking and want you to be able to take the lead in owning your education and managing your coursework.  If you have questions about any of these assignments be sure to ask them.  Really, go ahead and ask.

Personal Object Speech: In this short speech of introduction you must use an object (such as sunglasses, a baseball glove, favorite stuffed animal, etc.) to help us get to know you as a person.  Tell us how the object is like you on 2 or 3 different levels: physical, psychological, emotional, philosophical, spiritual, etc.  The speech should be about 1-2 minutes in length.  Be clear, creative and authentic.  It is graded pass/fail and is worth 10 pts.

Introduction Exercise: Using guidelines discussed in your text and in class you will construct and deliver an introduction to a hypothetical speech topic of your choosing.  Clarity and Creativity will be rewarded.  The introduction should be about 30 seconds to 1 minute in length.  It is worth 20 pts.

Delivery Drill: In order to work on your delivery, we need to have you deliver a short speech.  You will not be graded on your delivery but on your preparation for the drill and your effort during the exercise.  You will pick a quotation from a selection of quotes from ancient and medieval philosophers I’ll provide and then construct a speech that strictly adheres to the following outline:  1) gain attention, 2) reveal quote, 3) briefly interpret the quote, 4) tell us if you agree or disagree with the quote, 5) preview your TWO points that illustrate the quote or why you agree/disagree with this quote, 6) deliver your two points, 7) conclude by summarizing and telling us how to apply your discussion to our own lives.  This may seem like a lot but you can do all of this in a speech of 3-5 minutes.  This speech is worth 20 points.

Group Presentation:  Your group will create a lively and substantive presentation that defines a key concept you are assigned in a variety of ways (see pp. 164-166).  For example, if your group was assigned the term “Happiness” what does that term really mean?  Who are genuinely happy people?  What SHOULD it mean?  The group will prepare a 20 minute presentation in which each member must speak at least three minutes.  The group will share a presentation grade based on 30 available points.  In addition, each individual will be graded on a 10 point scale by me as I assess their individual role in the presentation.  Thus, the group presentation is worth 40 points.

Group Member Evaluation: PRIOR to the group’s presentation, each member must hand me a 1-page TYPED memo that rates each person--including yourself--on a scale of 1-10 and offers a brief justification for that score.  A typical entry might be:  “Mary  8/10:  Mary was a good group member and did a great job on the visuals, but often got off track and kept complaining about how hard this assignment was.  It was hard, but we had to do it so her complaints were frustrating.”  This is worth 15 points.

Informative Speech: The informative speech should demonstrate your mastery of the organizational principles discussed in the text and class.  Shortcomings in this area will be a real problem.  In addition, the informative speech must clearly articulate at least three outside sources--if I don’t hear them, you didn’t use them!  A third key is the creation and use of two distinct types of presentation aids to support and illustrate your speech. The speech topic must be approved in advance during one of our class sessions.  The speech should be 4-6 minutes in length.  I will subtract points for being either short or long.  This assignment is worth 50 points.

Visuals: As mentioned above, you must design, integrate and use at least two different types of visuals, i.e.; three PowerPoint slides and an object.  This assignment is worth 20 points.

Self Critique: Plato said the unexamined life is not worth living, so consider this suicide prevention!  The informative round will, barring technical glitches, be videotaped.  You will view the videotape and then offer a 2-3 page TYPED memo that addresses the following issues.  1) An introduction which reviews the topic of your speech and why you chose it.  2) A section that discusses the weaknesses you perceived in the speech.  In this section be sure to address at least one weakness in each major area: content, organization, delivery.  3) A section that identifies strengths in each of the areas mentioned above.  4) A conclusion that provides at least two concrete, observable ways you will attempt to improve for your next speech.  It is due the class period following your speech and is worth 20 points.

Strategy Paper: Steve Strasser has said, “Set positive goals and reasonable expectations.”  This paper encourages you to do just that.  BEFORE your persuasive speech you will type up a three-page memo that covers the following issues: 1) What your topic and purpose of the speech is--what do you want us to do after your message?  2) What strategies you are attempting to use in the speech and why 3) What you anticipate to be the biggest strength of your speech, 4) What you see as a potential weakness in the speech.  5) Page three should contain your sources used in the speech.  There should be at least five distinct sources.  Please feel free to talk about other things as well but be sure to cover these.  You will hand this in the day you present.  This assignment is worth 25 points.

Persuasive Speech: The persuasive speech should demonstrate continued mastery of the organizational principles discussed in class as well as the use of legitimate persuasive strategies.  The speech must contain at least five cited outside sources.  Visuals are not required but are encouraged.  The speech topic must be approved in advance during on of our class sessions.  The speech should be 7-10 minutes in length.  I will subtract points for being either short or long.  This assignment is worth 100 points.

Special Occasion Speech: The final speech is an opportunity for you to enjoy what you have learned and share your gift with us.  You will pick someone who has been a significant positive influence in your life.  They can be famous, obscure, living or dead.  You will then craft a 4-6 minute tribute to that person that could be delivered at a birthday celebration, an anniversary, a roast, funeral or real or fictitious award ceremony.  This assignment is worth 30 points.

Some Messages for Potential COM Major

  

 

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