Rhetoric, that powerful instrument of error and deceit

Rhetoric, that powerful instrument of error and deceit

Techniques of Speaking

COM 230-900, Online	Summer 2007
Instructor: Nick Linardopoulos	Voice: 215-895-6252
Office: 3001 Market Street	E-mail: nick.linardopoulos@drexel.edu

Course Description

This course serves as an introduction to the subject of professional level presentations. After examining the principles of the ancient art of rhetoric and its relevance to effective presentations we will explore the main aspects of speaking techniques including preparation, research, delivery and audience interaction stages. In addition we will look at different presentation types that you are likely to encounter during your professional career and/or every day life. The course will mostly focus equally on the preparation and delivery elements of presentations By the end of the course, you should possess the required skills that will enable you to develop a professional level presentation. This is a course that will require reading, reflecting on the reading, conducting research, writing and delivering the speeches as part of your assessment.

Course Objectives

Familiarize students with the applicable communication theory in the subject of public speaking.
Enable students to develop a professional level presentation in an informative and persuasive context
Develop students’ communication skills.

Texts and Required Materials

Public Speaking, 7^th edition, Osborn & Osborn, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. (pricey but an excellent overview of presentation elements) Make sure you purchase the version with the CD-ROM.

Writing Great Speeches, Perlman A, United States: Allyn & Bacon, 1998. (excellent speechwriting techniques)

www.americanrhetoric.com (excellent collection of speeches)

There will be selected articles and readings posted in certain units. The supplemental articles will not exceed 100 pages.

In order to get the full experience of a public speaking course it is required that you have access to video-recording equipment in order to record and submit for evaluation (in VHS, DVD or online) the two required speeches. An extra 5% will be awarded for the speeches that have been recorded in a real public speaking setting (e.g in front of an audience etc). You can not take the online section of COM 230 unless you have access to video-recording equipment.

Assignments and Evaluation

I like to keep things as simple as possible when it comes to assessment purposes. Therefore, there are three (3) graded components.

Specifically your evaluation consists of the preparation and delivery of two (2) speeches, your participation in the discussion boards and three (3) quizzes.

-Speeches: 60% (25% and 35%) : You will have to produce two speeches one in an informative (25%) and one in a persuasive context (35%). I will give you a list of scenarios to choose from in order to set the specifics of the particular situation. As previously stated it is required that you video record your two speeches and submit them for evaluation at my mailbox at the Goodwin College. Acceptable deliver modes include:

-Finalized DVD

-VHS

-Uploading streaming video on a server that I can visit and view your video.

Any other formats must be cleared in writing by me prior to the frop deadline.

Quizzes: 20%: There will be three major quizzes given during the course. The quizzes will consist of multiple choice/true false questions and will test you on material covered prior to the quiz day. Please note that you can only take the quiz during a fraction of the time frame given for the selected unit (typically Friday-Tuesday). If you fail to complete the quiz during that time you will, regrettably, receive the grade of zero for that quiz.

Discussions/Exercises-20%: Active involvement (defined as at least one meaningful contribution per week) can earn you the 20% for this component. You are expected to actively participate in the weekly discussions. You will receive a score of 1-10 each week for your discussion contribution in order to enable you to track your progress.

Watch out during each unit for a detailed description of each upcoming assignment.

Special Note: All assignments must be submitted on blackboard (with the exception of the videos where you will have to send them in for review) per the posted guidelines. I will not under any circumstances accept assignments via e-mail unless you have received written permission by me to do so (which you will only in extenuating circumstances).

In order to pass the course you must complete all of the required projects described above.

Grading

As you can imagine the guidelines and requirements for the above projects differ. What stays the same is the grading scale.

I use standard letter grades for the evaluation of all of the assignments described above with pluses and minuses. For the computation of your final grade I assign GPA values based on the following scale indicated by a *. Those values correspond to the GPA scale used by Drexel University (note the new values and grades effective Fall 2006)

A+ 4.00

A 4.00*

A- 3.67*

B+ 3.33*

B 3.00*

B- 2.67*

C+ 2.33*

C 2.00*

C- 1.67

D+ 1.33

D 1.00*

F 0.00*

Your final grade will be the corresponding letter grade of the sum of the assignments' weighted GPA value. For example if your total is a 3.67 you will receive an A- in the course.

Course Policies

An online course is radically different in terms of our interaction as a group (since we will be using the benefits of technology to communicate). Since you do not get the benefit of weekly face to face meetings it is even more crucial that you are caught up with the readings and exercises. Do not leave everything up to the day before the assignment is due as the nature of the course makes it impossible to cover more than a week’s material in such circumstances.

It is my intention to make this course enjoyable, not painful and hopefully to get you familiarized with the basics of public speaking. If you have any problems, questions or concerns I urge you to bring them up with me as soon as applicable. I promise you quick and efficient communication. However, you will have to do your part and ensure that you do not leave matters unresolved until the last minute. How does that sound?

Please note the dates of each unit for assignment and planning purposes; generally, in virtually all online courses here at Drexel the unit begins on Wednesday and ends on the Tuesday of the following week.

Extensions and Incompletes

This part is much easier to discuss in an online course. Here is why; I do not have much control over it (sadly, I am not kidding). If you do not complete the assignment during the specified time frame the link for the assignment disappears (and does not come back). Re-establishing the link is a very complicated process (and one that I do not want to have to go through simply because you overslept). So please try and complete the assignments within the specified time frame.

Notwithstanding the above, I realize that in rare cases extenuating circumstances may emerge that may prevent you from completing required work. I am not here to ruin your GPA and I will try my best to help but you must let me know of an extenuating situation as soon as it occurs (not two months after the course is over).

Due to grade submission deadlines, late speeches can and will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to ensure that the speech videos are delivered on time and at the right location. I recommend the use of a service provided (FedEx,UPS etc) or you dropping off the video to ensure timely and correct delivery. In addition, if you are uploading your video online, it must be streaming video and ready for me to view when I visit the designated site.

Academic Honesty

It is assumed that any work you submit for this course is your own. Any attempt to represent someone else's work as your own will be considered plagiarism--a form of academic misconduct. For more clarification on plagiarism, see Drexel's Student Handbook, especially pages 40-42.

Be forewarned that all plagiarism cases will be reported to your academic Chair and subsequently to Drexel’s Judicial Affairs. As per the academic policy of the University, sanctions for a first offense include (at the instructor’s discretion, depending on the severity of the offense):

-Reduction of the course grade

-A failure for the assignment or exam

-Failure for the course with inability to withdraw

-Other action deemed appropriate (including but not limited to requirement to re-complete the assignment, complete an additional assignment etc)

Violations beyond the first offense are subject to the sanctions above as well as disciplinary action imposed through the University’s judicial process (Office of Judicial Affairs).These sanctions may include suspension or expulsion from the University.

Submitting assignments previously submitted in other classes constitutes cheating. In short, for com 230-900, you may not under any circumstances whatsoever submit work done in other classes for which credit was previously received or credit is currently pending.

Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse. If in any doubt please talk to me.

Please remember that academic honesty regulations apply equally to written and oral work.

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated.

Prerequisites and Recommended Resources

As per the University Catalogue you must have at least sophomore standing in order to be able to take the course. The only exception is if you are a transfer student with at least 15 transfer credits accepted by Drexel University.

The course also assumes that you have taken at least 4 credits in Humanities or English.

Course Drop Policy:

Dropping a course results in the course being removed from the student’s academic record. o approval is required for upper class students. Freshmen must meet with their academic adviser before dropping a course.

Course Withdrawal Policy:

Withdrawing from a course results in a “W” appearing on the student’s academic record and financial responsibility incurring in accordance with the published refund schedule. Before withdrawing from a course, students should, as a courtesy, consult with the instructor. Students must obtain their adviser’s authorization before withdrawing. Such authorization must be obtained in writing and in person by filling in the corresponding form. In the absence of her/his adviser, the student must obtain the authorization from the Manager of Goodwin Academic Advising Center.

Welcome to my Course!

Course Schedule (please note that the schedule may change to reflect particular situations as they arise. Of course, you will be promptly notified of any changes)

Session	Date	Topic	Textbook Read.	Assignment
1	6/25-7/3	Public Speaking Theory	Osborn: 1
2	7/4-7/10	Public Speaking Challenges	Osborn: 2,4
3	7/11-7/17	Designing a Speech, Part I	Osborn: 3,5-7 Pearlman 1	Quiz 1
4	7/18-7/24	Designing a Speech, Part II	Osborn: 8-10 Pearlman: 2
5	7/25-7/31	-Types of Speeches, Part I (informative and persuasive)	Osborn: 14-16	Speech 1: Informative
6	8/1-8/7	Writing Speeches	Pearlman: 3-5	Quiz 2
7	8/8-8/14	Types of Speeches Part II (ceremonial)	Osborn: 17 Pearlman: 6
8	8/15-8/21	Audiovisual Support	Osborn: 11-13 Pearlman: 10	Persuasive Outline
9	8/22-8/28	Special Situations and other stylistic elements	Pearlman: 7-9	Quiz 3
10	8/29-9/4	Public Speaking Re-considered	Public Speaking Article	Speech 2: Persuasive