Course Description and
Assignments
in
EH315-Public
Speaking
“According to most studies, people’s No.
1 fear is public speaking,” says comic Jerry Seinfeld.
“ No. 2 is death. So to the average person, if you have to
go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” - from THE READER’S
DIGEST
Stephen Moro
Telephone:
236-8111 home or 236-7800 work
email:
steve_moro@fivetowns.net
Continuing and Graduate
Education
Spring Semester
2003
Mondays,
Conference
Times: 15 minutes before class, 15
minutes after class.
Required
Text: Fujishin, Randy.
The Natural Speaker\ Fourth
Edition
Allyn and Bacon 2002 ( ISBN:
0-205-35953-1)
Overview:
This course
is concerned with the selection, development and expression of ideas in
contemporary public communication.
It involves techniques for preparing, assembling, and delivering
speeches; moreover, it provides practical experience in various types of
public
situations. Primarily, it is performance based. One
learns by doing. Special attention
is given
to voice and
articulation, diction, vocabulary, posture, and body language. Self improvement
and
confidence in both formal and informal speaking situations are twin goals of
this course.
Course
Objectives:
1. To develop
the ability to speak with confidence in representative speaking situations.
2. To develop
communication skills and competencies.
3. To develop
critical listening and analytical skills.
4. To learn
by observation, peer input, and
delivery.
Speech
Assignments:
This course
involves the preparation and presentation of seven major speeches and such short
impromptu speeches that time allows.
...Each
speech will be videotaped for self analysis. You are encouraged to watch your
tape after each speech delivery.
Please use this videotape exclusively for speech class
.
...After
every speech, you will receive peer evaluation sheets, filled with constructive
comments from fellow students.
...After
every speech you will be critiqued orally by the class.
...Periodically,
you will receive speech grade updates from me.
...You are
encouraged to use the visual, auditory, and tactile during every
speech.
...You will
be delivering one or more speeches from among all of the following
modes:
Manuscript - reading
word for word from a prepared text.
Extemporaneous - a prepared
speech using note cards.
Memorization - a
manuscript speech committed to memory, without the aid of
notes.
Impromptu - a speech
given on the spur of the moment, without previous
preparation.
Failure to
deliver speeches on the assigned day:
Speeches
missed, regardless of cause, must be made up when time permits in order for you
to receive a passing grade for the course.
Furthermore, you are subject to a grade penalty of
20%
off the
possible grade for a late speech.
Late speeches are defined as those that (1) the student either does not
get permission from the instructor to reschedule ahead of time, or (2)
speeches
that are not
given on the assigned date because the student did not attend class that day.
Time Limit
for Speeches:
Classroom
speeches will be relatively short, so that everyone in class can have regularly
scheduled, multiple speaking experiences.
Time limits will be taken seriously. You will need to stay within the
time range for each assignment, or suffer a grade reduction. For each speech, you will be assigned a
time range. Some speeches may last only one minute; others may stretch
three to five
minutes.
Use of
Notes:
Notes are
permitted. At times it may be for the entire manuscript, or only a note card or
two.
Notes will
not be allowed during the memorization speech, but a prompter will be available
to help you if need be.
Written
Work:
Prior to each
speech, you need to prepare an outline and meet with me for a short conference.
Attendance:
Regular
attendance is crucial to success in this course. Each class day, we build a
safety net of acceptance and support for one another. Missing class puts rips in
this net. You have three
obligations: speaker, audience, critic.
You can’t meet these obligations if you aren’t present. Any student who cuts more than two
classes will not be eligible for a final grade of an A or B, unless
extraordinary circumstances occur/ and special arrangements are made with the
instructor. In most cases, any
student who cuts more that three classes will be dropped from the class. In the
words of comic Woody Allen, “ 80% of life is showing up.”
Please be on
time for class.
Participation:
Take an
active part in class discussions and make oral/written
feedback
contributions
weekly. You feedback is essential,
in a thoughtful, tactful manner.
Grading:
( Preparation
and Practice are paramount to success in this class.)
Class
participation: 20%
Summer Memory
Speech: 5%
Interview
Speech: 10%
Demonstration
Speech: 15%
Personal
Experience Speech: 10%
Memorization
Speech: 10%
Persuasion
Speech: 15%
Final
Examination Testimonial Speech: 15%
Please
Note: Plagiarism is a serious
offense and results in failure of the course.
Calendar and List of
Weekly Assignments
Week# Date: Activity/
Assignment Due
1. Jan. 6
Course introduction. Read Chapter 2 (17-30)
Course syllabus. Interview Speech -information
gathering
Assignment for next class: Summer Memory Speech (1
minute)
(Type: manuscript
speech 36-37)
Reminder: Bring clean vhs video cassette to
class next week.
2.
Jan.13
Delivery of Summer Memory Speech (1 minute)
Individual video taping
of each speech.
Introduction to peer grading comments.
Completion
of Interview Speech information gathering.
Read about speech preparation in text ( Chapter 7 ,103-121)
Assignment for next
class: Write &prepare to
deliver a 3 minute interview speech.(52
3. Jan.20
Delivery of
Interview Speeches
Introduction to
Demonstration Speech ( 130-133)
Assignment for next class: Decide on a topic for your Demonstration
speech; bring a list /outline of 10 sequential steps to class, along with
ideas on a visual.
Read about listening in text (10-13, 117-121)), Organization ( Chapter 6,
85-91)
Visual Aids (73-76)
4. Jan. 27
Completion
of Interview Speeches
Mini-conferences on Demonstration Speeches (Type: Extemporaneous:
38)
First Demonstration Speeches
Assignment for next class: Prepare a 10-15 minute
Demonstration Speech with
10 clearly presented sequential steps. Also, include visuals. Bring
videotapes to class.
5. Feb. 3
Delivery of
Demonstration Speeches
Assignment for next class: Read about the Personal Experience Speech
(32,33, 89, 90).
Prepare an outline for your Personal Experience Speech for next week.
6. Feb. 10
Completion of
Demonstration Speeches
Mini-conferencing, pre- writing for Personal Experience Speech (5-7
minutes)
(You may choose either
a manuscript or extemporaneous delivery for this speech.)
Assignment for next class:
Prepare a 5-7 minute Personal Experience Speech.
Include a prop or visual. Bring your videotape to
class.
7. Feb. 17
Delivery of
Personal Experience Speeches
Assignment for next class:
Read text on memorization (37). Bring a
memorization
text choice to class ( poem, song, novel chapter, short story excerpt,
dramatic monologue,
etc.) or bring in a children’s book to share
in a dramatic reading that does not have to be memorized.
8. Feb. 24
Completion of Personal Experience Speeches.
Introduction and
mini-conferencing on Memorization or Children’s Literature
Speeches.
Employing techniques for
effective memorization-Memorization practice.
Assignment for next
Class: Prepare a 60-90 second Memorization Speech or
deliver a 3-5 minute
oral interpretation of a favorite children’s book.
9. March 3
Delivery of Memorization Speeches /Chidren’s
Literature Speeches
Introduction to
Persuasion Speeches
Assignment for next
class: Read text on Persuasive Speeches ( Chapter 9, 144-163)).
Outline a thesis statement and subdivisions. Consider props, visuals.
10. March 10 Delivery of Persuasive Speeches ( 5 -10 minutes)
Choice: extemporaneous
or manuscript
Analysis of
famous/current persuasive speeches.
Introduction of
Testimonial Speeches
(100)
Assignment for next
class: Prepare a Testimonial
Speech. Choose someone whom you
wish to honor. Consider
visuals. Bring in videotape.
11. March 17
Delivery of Testimonial Speeches (manuscript: 5-10
minutes)
Impromptu
Speeches
12. March 24
Completion of Testimonial
Speeches.
Final class
activities.
Skill Areas for
Effective Public Speaking:
Ø
Planning
Ø
Practice
Ø
Poise
Ø
Pace/Timing
Ø
Voice/Tone/Articulation
Ø
Visuals/Props
Ø
Clarity/Sequence
Ø
Investment/Motivation
Ø
Body
Language/Gestures
Ø
Breathing
Rate
Ø
Universals/Common
Ground
Ø
“ Um/AH/You
Know/UH/Duh/And/A “ (count)
Ø