Professional Presentations

Class: COM 330-001

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00 pm – 3:20pm

Instructor: Julia Hagemann

Classroom: Academic Building 105

Office Hours: by appointment, before class (e-mail me and I will come in early), after class

Phone: (215) 840 - 9787

Email: jh378@drexel.edu

1. Course Description: Effective public speakers have the power to inform and persuade others. They also have a responsibility to use that power for good. This course will help you to develop your abilities to craft arguments and to deliver them effectively and ethically in corporate, scientific, and political contexts.

2. Course Objectives: If you successfully complete this course, you will be able to:

• identify the values of a given context and adapt speeches to them
• identify the salient issues in a given context and craft speeches around them
• identify and develop lines of reasoning appropriate to a given context

3. Textbook: Sprague, J. and Stuart, D., 2008, The Speaker's Handbook, Eighth Edition, Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt College Publishers.

4. Assignments: You are required to complete a variety of different assignments in this class, which are listed below. I will deduct 2 points for each assignment handed in late. Due dates are listed on the attached assignment schedule:

1. Reading assignments: You will have a reading assignment for almost every class. I’ll provide you with study guide questions to help you focus on the key concepts in your textbook.
2. Quizzes: Expect 10 short quizzes as a check of your understanding of the reading materials. Dates are listed on the attached assignment schedule. Each quiz will consist of 4 open questions. Each question is worth 0.5 point which adds up to a maximum of 2 points per quiz.
3. Speeches: Since this is a presentation class, you are required to put together and present 4 different speeches. You find a detailed description of the four speech assignments below.
4. Audience Assessments: A written audience assessment is part of each of the four speech assignments. Each audience assignment is worth a maximum of 2.5 points. Check the assignment schedule for due dates
5. Speech outlines: A speech outline is part of each of the speech assignments, except the first one. Each speech outline is worth a maximum of 2.5 points. Check the assignment schedule for due dates

Assignment/Speech 1: PSR Statement

Purpose of this assignment: In order to get started, take some time to put together and practice a short speech of self-introduction. Use the PSR strategy described in section 32d4 of your book.

Speech 1 Requirements:

• Talk about a personal success story
• Assume a professional setting
• Succinctly state a problem (which you solved successfully)
• Describe your solution to the problem
• Cite some aspects of the result of your solution
• Close with a remark that leaves a lasting impression
• Deliver your speech in an extemporaneous mode
• Speak for 90 seconds

Audience Analysis 1: In a short essay of at least 250 words describe the audience of your PSR statement. Start by examining simple demographics. What age range do you expect in the audience? Will the audience be gender balanced? If not, why not? Will the audience be culturally diverse? If not, identify cultural, racial, economic, or religious groups you think will dominate the audience and why.

Assignment/Speech 2: Paying Tribute

This assignment (and each of the following assignments) consists of 5 different parts:

1. A speech preview
2. An audience assessment
3. A written speech outline
4. The speech
5. A post mortem e-mail

Check the attached assignment schedule for due dates.

Purpose of this assignment: One of the forms of public speaking is paying tribute to another human being. There are many occasions in our professional lives for giving a tribute: formal introductions, awards, inductions, retirement parties, etc. This presentation will give you an opportunity to practice such a speech.

To prepare this speech, find a corporation or institution that you would like to work for and visit their web site. Locate an announcement of some ceremonial event where tribute speeches are relevant. Imagine that you are attending this event and will be giving a speech of tribute to a high-ranking member of the organization. Some examples of such occasions are: presentations of employee awards, introductions of keynoters at trade shows, introductions of commencement speakers at graduation ceremonies.

Speech 2 Requirements:

• Select one living individual from a corporate setting
• Identify explicitly the value you are holding up
• Include some specific details about the individual that exemplify the value
• Make at least one of the details a quotation
• Make the value explicitly relevant to your audience
• Develop the speech to last 6-8 minutes
• Submit a typed preparation outline and speaker's notes at delivery time [11, 24c]
• Use a conversational and extemporaneous style of delivery [23a]

Suggestions for Preparation: Keep in mind the importance of clarity. This is largely achieved through effective organization. Do not have too many main points. Confine your speech to two or three main ideas and group the other points under these. Clarify the relationship between your points. Keep your speech moving ahead according to a well-developed plan; do not jump back and forth from one idea to another. Practice the speech several times, but do not memorize it. Time your speech when practicing. After you have written your outline, set it aside and practice speaking from brief notes.

Speech 2 Preview: Be prepared to give a two-minute preview of your speech which includes your specific purpose, audience analysis, main points, and at least one supporting detail.

Audience Analysis 2: In a short essay of at least 250 words describe the audience of your tribute speech. Start by examining simple demographics. What age range do you expect in the audience? Will the audience be gender balanced? If not, why not? Will the audience be culturally diverse? If not, identify cultural, racial, economic, or religious groups you think will dominate the audience and why.

Next, speculate on what your audience might already know about the subject of your tribute, what they might think of you the speaker, and what, if any, common history they might have.

Finally, describe the setting that you and the audience will occupy during your speech. What organization or institution is hosting the event? What is the nature of the program that your speech is a part of? Will you be following other speakers on the event's agenda? Try to explain how the subject of your tribute relates to the values of the organization.

Outline Speech 2: Paying Tribute: Use this checklist to compose and proofread your preparation outline:

Topic:

• Appropriate to audience and occasion 6a(2)
• Timely and timeless 6a(3)
• Sufficiently narrowed 6b

Purpose:

• Specific Purpose identified 6c(2)

Thesis:

• Single declarative sentence 6d(1)
• Reflects the major ideas of the speech 6d(1)

Main Points:

• Phrased as single declarative sentences 11b
• All directly related to thesis sentence 11c,
• Arranged in logical order 10
• Appropriate number 9e
• Mutually exclusive 9d
• Equal in importance 9f
• Phrased in concise parallel language 11d

Outline Format:

• Typed (spelling, punctuation correct, typos neatly corrected)
• Consistent and correct use of symbols 11a(1)
• Indentation reflects relationships 11a(2)
• Two or more points at each level of subordination 11a(3)
• No more than one sentence per symbol 11a(4)

Post-mortem Speech 2: After your speech, send me an email of at least 200 words in which you describe two things about your delivery: (1) what you think was effective, and (2) what you would like to improve.

Speech 3: Arguing in Scientific and Technical Context

Purpose of this assignment: Scientific arguments attempt to articulate accurate accounts of the workings of nature and to transmit those accounts to others. This speech will provide an opportunity to work with the particular issues and forums relevant to such arguments. To obtain the content of this speech you will find a scientific research paper in your field and present it as though it were your own.

Speech 3 Requirements:

• Speech should be based on the content of a published research paper in your field
• Presentation should be in a manner appropriate to audience (i.e., disciplinary conference)
• The speech should be 10-12 minutes in length
• Delivery should be extemporaneous [23a]

Suggestions for Preparation: Select a research paper in your field. If you are a communication major, use Hagerty Library's ComAbstracts to find an appropriate paper. Then familiarize yourself with a conference that would be the likely audience for this paper like the National Communication Association. Keep in mind the importance of clarity. This is largely achieved through effective organization. Do not have too many main points. Confine your speech to two or three main ideas and group the other points under these. Clarify the relationship between your points. Use clear, explicit previews, transitions and summaries. Keep your speech moving ahead according to a well-developed plan; do not jump back and forth from one idea to another. Practice the speech several times but do not memorize it. Time your speech when practicing. After you have written your outline, set it aside and practice speaking from brief notes.

Speech 3 Preview: Be prepared to give a two-minute preview of your speech which includes your specific purpose, audience analysis, main points, and at least one supporting detail.

Audience Analysis 3: In a short essay of at least 250 words describe the audience of your research conference presentation. First identify the organization that is sponsoring the conference. What specific research discipline does it support? Is the discipline one of pure science or applied science or both? What is the nature of the specific conference you imagine presenting the paper to. What are some typical research topics that are included at this conference?

Next, try to gauge what level of scholarship dominates the conference. Some conferences are designed for graduate students; others are restricted to seasoned researchers.

Finally, try to determine how diverse the areas of research represented by the other presenters are. Are they a homogenous group that studies a narrowly defined topic, or are they different kinds of researcher.

In addressing these three areas of audience analysis try to suggest how each of them might inform your preparation for the speech.

Outline Speech 3: Use this checklist to compose and proofread your preparation outline:

Topic:

• Significant, challenging and controversial
• Timely and timeless 6a(3)
• Sufficiently narrowed 6b
• Lends itself to reasoned scientific argument

Purpose:

• Specific Purpose identified 6c(2)

Thesis:

• Single declarative sentence 6d(1)
• Reflects the major ideas of the speech 6d(1)
• Exemplifies a proposition of fact

Main Points:

• Phrased as single declarative sentences 11b
• All directly related to thesis sentence 11c
• Arranged in logical order 10
• Appropriate number 9e
• Mutually exclusive 9d
• Equal in importance 9f
• Phrased in concise parallel language 11d

Outline Format:

• Typed (spelling, punctuation correct, typos neatly corrected)
• Consistent and correct use of symbols 11a(1)
• Indentation reflects relationships 11a(2)
• Two or more points at each level of subordination 11a(3)
• No more than one sentence per symbol 11a(4)
• Label parts of introduction
• Label parts of conclusion

Post-mortem Speech 3: Send me an email of at least 200 words in which you describe two things about your delivery: (1) what you think was effective, and (2) what you would like to improve.

Speech 4: Arguing in Political Contexts

Political arguments make a case for what is right or wrong, good or bad, just or unjust. This speech will give you practice at supporting such a proposition of value. To obtain the content of this speech you will find a notice of a public hearing and develop a position to defend at such a hearing. To develop your position, search the newspapers for coverage of the hearing and its topic. To familiarize yourself with the kinds of speaking situations that such hearings exemplify, view the following web sites:

• Connecticut Voices for Children http://www.ctkidslink.org/action_howtestify.html
• Connecticut Health Policy Project http://www.cthealthpolicy.org/toolbox/legislative/testify.htm
• UConn Advocates http://www.uconnadvocates.org/public_hearing.html
• Public Utilities Commission of Ohio http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/Consumer/information.cfm?id=4560
• North Dakota Legislative Committee http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/general/testify.html
• Maine Legislature http://www.maine.gov/sos/path/exploring/testify.html

Here is a webcast of the beginning introductory proceedings of a typical public hearing:

• No Child Left Behind Public Hearing http://www.kwfdn.org/webcasts

Here are some webcasts of sample speeches at public hearings:

• Libby Davies in Parliament, 21 Feb. 2005: Same Sex Marriage http://www.workingtv.com/libbyonsamesexmarriage.html
• Indiana Court Hearings and Press Conferences http://www.state.in.us/judiciary/webcast/hearings.html
• Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Public Hearing and Meeting http://www.media.mit.edu/events/movies/video.php?id=eac-2005-04-26
• Presentations to the Public Hearing of the Select Standing Committee on Health of the B.C. Legislature http://www.workingtv.com/healthcommitteehearing.html

Requirements Speech 4:

• Speech should be based on a proposition of value.
• Three to five main points/claims should support the proposition. 22b1
• Support each main point using two pieces of evidence. 15c
• Connect your evidence to your claim through appropriate warrants. 16a1
• Your speech should be eight to ten minutes in length.
• Use a conversational and extemporaneous style of speaking. 23a

Suggestions for Preparation: Select a topic that you are already familiar, that is related to your term topic, and that you can quickly gather additional information on. Practice the speech several times but do not memorize it. Time your speech when practicing. After you have written your outline, set it aside and practice speaking from brief notes.

Speech 4 Preview: Be prepared to give a two-minute preview of your speech which includes your specific purpose, audience analysis, main points, and at least one supporting detail.

Audience Analysis 4: In a short essay of at least 250 words describe the audience of your public testimony. First identify the organization that is sponsoring the hearing. Is it a government agency, community activist group, non-profit organization, or other entity?

Next, identify the issue at stake at the hearing. What is the specific zoning, legislative, environmental, or social issue? Who are the interested parties attending the hearing and what are their positions on the issue?

Finally, speculate on what your audience might already know about your position and what they might think of you the speaker.

In addressing these three areas of audience analysis try to suggest how each of them might inform your preparation for the speech.

Outline Speech 4: Use this checklist to compose and proofread your preparation outline:

Topic:

• Significant, challenging and controversial
• Timely and timeless 6a(3)
• Sufficiently narrowed 6b
• Lends itself to reasoned political argument

Purpose:

• Specific Purpose identified 6c(2)

Thesis:

• Single declarative sentence 6d(1)
• Type of proposition labeled
• Exemplifies a proposition of value
• Reflects the major ideas of the speech 6d(1)

Main Points:

• Phrased as single declarative sentences 11b
• All directly related to thesis sentence 11c
• Arranged in logical order 10
• Appropriate number 9e
• Mutually exclusive 9d
• Equal in importance 9f
• Phrased in concise parallel language 11d

Outline Format:

• Typed (spelling, punctuation correct, typos neatly corrected)
• Consistent and correct use of symbols 11a(1)
• Indentation reflects relationships 11a(2)
• Two or more points at each level of subordination11a(3)
• No more than one sentence per symbol 11a(4)
• Label three parts of introduction 13a,b,c
• Label three parts of conclusion 14a,b,c
• Label three different kinds of supporting material 15a,b,c,d
• Label three kinds of reasoning 16a,b,c,d

Reference list:

• All published sources
• Correct bibliographic form

Q&A: This speech will also give you an opportunity to be an active audience member by acting as an adversary to confront the speaker with a question that challenges his or her position. Prepare for this task as follows:

1. Take a copy of the draft of a classmate's preparation outline and familiarize yourself with its topic, issue, and position.
2. Look for an opposing position on the issue and identify one point in the outline's argument that you can contest.
3. Formulate a question that challenges the speaker on this point.
4. Develop a short impromptu speech that is a rebuttal in the guise of a question to the speaker.
5. In your speech follow this general sequence of moves: (a) acknowledge the speaker's sincerity, (b) point to common ground between you and the speaker, (c) cite some unacknowledged discrepancy in the speaker's argument, (d) pose a question that challenges the speaker on this discrepancy.

5. Grading: In this class you can achieve a maximum of 100 points. Your final grade will be computed on the basis of the following:

20% = Quizzes (10 quizzes, 4 open questions each, maximum 2 points)

10% = Audience Assessment (4x, 2.5 points maximum each)

7.5%= Speech outlines (3x, 2.5 points maximum each)

10% = Speech 1

15% = Speech 2

17.5% = Speech 3

20% = Speech 4

I try to use a comprehensive and professional set of standards to evaluate your speeches. Criteria for Evaluation: First, you must meet all of the listed requirements to receive a passing grade for the assignment. Then, points will be assigned based on how well you carried out each aspect of the assignment.

Grades:

In this class you can receive a maximum of 100 points.

A+: 100-97 points = 4.00 C+: 79 - 77 points = 2.33

A: 96 - 93 points = 4.00 C: 76 - 73 points = 2.00

A-: 92 - 90 points = 3.67 C-: 72 - 70 points = 1.67

B+: 89 - 87 points = 3.33 D+: 69 - 67 points = 1.33

B: 86 - 83 points = 3.00 D: 66 - 60 points = 1.00

B-: 80 - 82 points = 2.67 F: 59 - 0 points = 0.00

6. Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes. Attendance is important to your progress and your classmates'. A formal presentation for which you are absent will be graded as an F. If an emergency prevents you from attending class (such as a personal illness or family emergency), please contact me in advance of your absence, and bring documentation of your absence on your return to class. You may miss one class without penalty; any additional absences will reduce your final grade (3 points per absence).

7. Academic Honesty: I assume that any work you submit in this course is your own. Any attempt to present anyone else’s work as your own, will be considered plagiarism, which is a form of academic misconduct. This includes proper quotation/citation and references. For more clarification on plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, please see Drexel’s Student Handbook or follow this link:

http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp

8. Special Needs: Students with disabilities requesting accommodations and services at Drexel University need to present a current accommodation verification letter (AVL) to faculty within the first week of class. AVLs are issued by the Office of Disability Services. (

9. Assignment Schedule

Class	Date	Topic	Speaking Due	Writing Due	Reading Due	Quiz
1	06/26 Tue	Course overview Understanding Public Speaking (1), Overcome fear of speaking (4),
2	06/28 Thurs	Planning (5), Audience Analysis (7), Topic Selection (6),			5, 6, 7,	Quiz on 5, 6, 7
3	07/03 Tue		Speech 1: PSR Statement	Audience Analysis 1	Tribute: Postel Tribute: Rice (text and audio)
4	07/05 Thurs	Transforming Ideas (9), Organizing Points (10), Outlining (11)		Post Mortem 1	9, 10, 11	Quiz on 9,10, 11
5	07/10 Tue	Connectives (12), Introductions (13), Conclusions (14			12, 13, 14 Tribute: Cleese Tribute: Moyers	Quiz on 12, 13, 14
6	07/12 Thurs	Modes of delivery (23) Social and Ceremonial Context (33) Attention and Interest (18)		Audience Analysis 2	18, 23, 33	Quiz on 18, 23, 33
7	07/17 Tue	Motivational Appeal (20) Language and Style (17),	Speech Preview 2: Paying Tribute		17, 20	Quiz on 17, 20
8	07/19 Thurs	Practice Sessions (24) Rehearsal	Be prepared for rehearsal	Speech Outline 2 (first draft)	24
9	07/24 Thurs		Group 1: Speech 2	Outline 2 (final draft)
10	07/26 Tue		Group 2: Speech 2
11	07/31 Thurs	Vocal Delivery (25) Physical Delivery (26) Adapting to the Speech Situation (28) Supporting Materials (15),		Post-mortem 2	15, 25, 26, 28	Quiz on 15, 25, 26, 28
12	08/02 Tue	Research (8), Informative Strategies (21) Reasoning (16)			8, 16, 21	Quiz on 8, 16, 21
13	08/07 Thurs	Workplace Context (32) Penrose Chapter 5	Speech 3 preview: Arguing in Sci-Tech Context	Audience Analysis 3	5, 32	Quiz on 5, 32
14	08/09 Tue	Practice Sessions (24) Presentation Aids (27) Answering Questions (29)		Speech Outline 3 (first draft)	24, 27, 29	Quiz on 24, 27, 29
15	08/14 Thurs