COM 230-005              Public Speaking                         Fall 2006

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTOR:             Anne Lucy Tinkcombe, Ph.D.

EMAIL:                         alt37@drexel.edu

PHONE:                       215-895-2763 [messages only]

OFFICE:                       PSA Building, Rm. 326 (33rd and Powelton Avenue)

OFFICE HOURS:          By appointment

 

 

 

Checking in with me before or after class is the best way to connect with me in person. Email is the best way to reach me off-campus. I will try to respond to all messages within 24 hours during the working week, and by the first day back to class after weekends or holidays.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Joseph A. DeVito, The Essential Elements of Public Speaking, 2nd Edition, Allyn & Bacon Longman, 2006.

Videotape (for taping three of your speeches)

 

COURSE OVERVIEW

The course emphasizes the preparation and delivery of a public speech. The focus is speaking to inform, persuade, and entertain. Through readings, lectures, and class discussions, you will learn how to select a topic, research it, develop your ideas, organize them, and present them to an audience whose knowledge and opinions you have sought to understand. You will develop your speaking skills through a graduated series of assignments, and you will learn how to critique the ideas of others and to give helpful feedback.

 

OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course you should have studied and practiced the following skills:

 

CLASS FORMAT

The class will include lectures, discussion, and in-class exercises. Almost half of total class time will be devoted to student speeches. Because every speaker needs an audience, and audience feedback will be an important part of each speaking assignment, attendance at class is essential. Come prepared to raise questions, share ideas, and engage in constructive dialogue.

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS

 

Speech of Introduction

Short (1-2 minute) speech introducing yourself to the class. Choose a theme‹interests, experience, future plans‹and focus your speech around that, giving facts and examples or your opinions or beliefs that relate to that theme.

 

Delivery of a story or famous speech

Prepare and deliver a short story‹fable, childrenıs tale, myth, legend, or short short story‹or a famous speech either from history or a play. The emphasis in this 3-5 minute assignment is on telling the story or delivering the speech in a lively, compelling way that shows awareness of the language used in the original. Introduce your speech by giving the author or speakerıs name, the context, and a brief explanation of why you chose the selection.

 

Demonstration speech*

6-7 minute speech demonstrating how to do something or how something operates.

 

Informative speech*

9-10 minute speech informing the audience about a specific topic on which you have done research.

 

Persuasive speech*

9-10 minute speech persuading the audience to agree with, or at least see the value of, your point of view and perhaps take action. Note that persuasion usually requires providing information as well as making a compelling argument.

 

Special occasion speech

3-5 minute speech for a special occasion of your choice. If you wish to use, you may use this assignment to work on speaking to entertain.

 

*Outline, Taping and Written Critiques

For speeches marked with an asterisk (demonstrative, informative and persuasive), you must submit a typed outline at the time of the speech. These speeches will also be videotaped. After viewing your tape, write a brief self-critique including at least three objectives for improvement. This critique is due one week (to the day) after you have given your speech. Failure to submit an outline will result in your grade for the speech being dropped one-half step (for example, from B to B-). Failure to tape your speech and submit a critique will result in the grade for your speech being dropped a full step, i.e. from B to C. Submitting written work that is submitted late will result in a loss of one-half grade step.

 

 

FORMATTING

All outlines and other written work must be neatly typed or word processed in the appropriate format. Margins and fonts should be reasonable (1² sides, 1.25² top and bottom; 11 or 12 point body type). Proper form, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style are expected. Electronic submissions will be permitted only under exceptional circumstances. All work must be printed out and handed in during class.

 

 

DEADLINES

If you do not deliver a speech on your assigned day for documentable illness or family emergency, your speech may be rescheduled. If you fail to deliver a speech for any other reason, and time remains in the schedule, you may make the speech up at the cost of one grade step. If no time is available for rescheduling, you will receive an F for the speech.

GRADING

 

Assignment                                         Percent of Grade       

Speech of introduction                             2                          

Demonstration speech                           10                          

Story or famous speech                           8                          

Impromptu speech                                   5                                   

Informative speech                                 20                          

Persuasive speech                                 20                                   

Special occasion speech                        15                          

Class participation                                  20                          

 

Total                                                          100                          

 

Percentage-based grading scale

 

A              100-93                  C                76-73

A-               92-90                  C-               72-70

B+              89-87                  D+              69-67

B                86-83                  D                66-63

B-               82-80                  D-               62-60

C+              79-77                  F                   59>

 

Completing the basic requirements of an assignment, that is doing average or fair work, will result in a grade of C. Work that meets all requirements and exceeds in several areas will receive a grade of B (good). Work that excels in all areas and exhibits special creativity and thoughtfulness will receive an A (excellent). Work that fails to meet some of the basic requirements of an assignment will receive a grade of D. Failure to do an assignment, or submitting work that is deficient in multiple areas will result in an F.

 

 

CLASS POLICIES

 

PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE

Being present to participate in discussions and to listen to and critique the speeches of other students will greatly enhance the amount you learn from this class. Therefore, regular attendance and active participation are essential. This means engaging in discussions, asking questions, giving feedback to other students, and responding to the ideas other students present in their speeches. Attendance and participation will affect your grade.

 

You are permitted four absences (excused or unexcused) before your final grade will be affected. Your final grade will be lowered a step (e.g., from B to B-) for each absence beyond four. In addition, four latenesses will equal an absence. Leaving class and coming back in, leaving class early, and sleeping in class will be considered the functional equivalent of lateness.

 

Arriving late or leaving early is disruptive to the class environment. If a student is giving a speech and you arrive late, wait outside until the speech is over. If you have to leave class early, please check in with me before class begins.

 

Taping of speeches

Class participation will include helping out the class by reserving, picking up, and dropping off the video camera and tripod at least once during the term. (Equipment is available at Instructional Media Services, 4007 MacAlister, as well as in the Main Building. Call x2925 in advance to reserve equipment.) Students can work in pairs to handle these tasks. Not participating in this activity will result in points being taken off your class participation grade. Students who help out by handling equipment more than once, or by running the camera during speeches, will get points added to their class participation grade.

 

Power Point

Students who want to use Power Point during their presentations are responsible for bringing a laptop to class. Laptops can be borrowed from Media Services. Cooperation is encouraged: only one student needs to bring a laptop each speech day; bringing a laptop can be combined with picking up and dropping off camera and tripod.

 

 

COURTESY

The basis of class discussion should be respect for all participants, an attitude of attention, a willingness to listen and be open to other points of view, a commitment to think carefully before speaking, and a commitment to speak honestly and thoughtfully.

 

Cell phones, beepers, etc. must be turned off before class begins. Failure to pay attention to this small courtesy will negatively affect your grade.

 

 

ETHICAL CONDUCT

For each assignment, all students are expected to present original work. Cheating or plagiarism is entirely unacceptable. A first offense will result in a student-teacher conference and a zero for the assignment. Additional disciplinary measures may be taken.

 

 

CLASS CANCELLATIONS

In case of class cancellation due to weather or instructor illness, assignments must be completed by the next class meeting. That is, if you are scheduled to give a speech or submit an assignment on a day class is cancelled, you must deliver that speech or submit the assignment during the next class meeting.

 

 

GENERAL

If you have any questions about assignments, readings, or evaluations, please see me, or send an email. Iım more than happy to answer questions, provide clarification, and offer short individual coaching sessions upon request.

 

Syllabus may be changed during the term to reflect the needs of the class.

 

 

 

 

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

 

WEEK

DATE

TOPIC

ASSIGNMENT DUE

1

September 25

Introduction to class

 

 

September 27

Basics of public speaking

DeVito, Chapter 1

 

September 29

Speeches of introduction

Speeches of self introduction

2

October 2

Listening and criticism

DeVito, Chapter 2

 

October 4

Wording a speech

DeVito, Chapter 7

 

October 6

Delivery

DeVito, Chapter 8

3

October 9

COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY

 

 

October 11

Putting a speech over: Delivery and wording

Story or famous speech

 

October 13

Putting a speech over: Delivery and wording

Story or famous speech

4

October 16

Informative and demonstration speeches: Selecting a topic, research, audience analysis

DeVito, Chapters 3 & 4

 

October 18

Organizing a speech

DeVito, Chapter 6

 

October 20

Visual aids

DeVito, Chapter 5

5

October 23

Demonstration speeches

Demonstration speeches

 

October 25

Demonstration speeches

Demonstration speeches

 

October 27

Demonstration speeches

Demonstration speeches

6

October 30

Informative speaking

DeVito, Chapter 9

 

November 1

Persuasive speaking

DeVito, Chapter 10

 

November 3

Argumentation

 

7

November 6

Library day/conference

 

 

November 8

Impromptu speeches

 

 

November 10

Special events speaking

DeVito, Chapter 11

8

November 13

Informative speeches

Informative speeches

 

November 15

Informative speeches

Informative speeches

 

November 17

Informative speeches

Informative speeches

9

November 20

Informative speeches

Informative speeches

 

November 22

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

 

 

November 25

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

 

10

November 27

Persuasive speeches

Persuasive speeches

 

November 29

Persuasive speeches

Persuasive speeches

 

December 1

Persuasive speeches

Persuasive speeches

11

December 4

Persuasive speeches

Persuasive speeches

 

December 6

Special events speeches

Special events speeches

 

December 8

Special events speeches

Special events speeches