CSWK 1103 56: PUBLIC SPEAKING
Oklahoma City University PLUS Program
Fall 2006
COURSE SYLLABUS
Times: Friday Oct. 27, Nov. 3, Nov. 10
5:30 – 8:30 PM
Saturday Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 11
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Walker Center, rm. 144
Instructor: Karola Schwartz
Office: PLUS Program Office, Walker Center, rm. 175; 208-5265
Office hours by appointment. You are also welcome to email me or call me at home:
Email: crayon@ou.edu
Phone: 329-4801 (preferably not before 8:00 AM or after midnight)
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Professionally and personally, public speaking is a valuable skill to possess. From business
presentations to wedding toasts, most of us will have to speak before an audience. Yet many
people feel uncomfortable doing so. Some are uncertain about their abilities; some are
apprehensive about speaking publicly. This course is designed to help you acquire basic public
speaking skills and become more comfortable communicating to groups. While we will explore
theoretical ideas about public speaking and rhetoric, the emphasis of the class is on application.
You will learn how to select topics, research them, organize them, and structure them into a
speech adapted to your audience. Through a series of exercises and speeches of increasing
complexity, you will hone your presentation skills and build confidence in your abilities.
TEXTS
Required
Lucas, Stephen E. (2007). The art of public speaking (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Recommended
Lucas, Stephen E. (2007). Student workbook for the art of public speaking (9th ed.). Boston:
McGraw-Hill.
Please note: We will be using some materials from the workbook. Since the contents of the
workbook also appear on the CD-ROM that comes with the textbook, you have the option of
printing out those materials and bringing them to class instead of using the workbook itself.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This course requires you to give three speeches, take one final exam, and participate.
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Speeches
Every week, you will give one speech. As the course and your skills progress, the speeches will
get longer and more complex; they will also count for more of your grade. All three speeches are
extemporaneous, prepared in advance and delivered from notes in more or less everyday
language. The last two speech assignments require formal presentation outlines, with rough and
final drafts (the rough drafts count towards your participation grade). For the third speech, you
will first practice with a small group (the practice session counts towards your participation
grade), then give your polished speech the next day. A detailed assignment for each speech will
be handed out in class.
1) Brief Description Speech. This is basically an informal speech, one minute or less, that
serves as a warm-up. Beginning principles of organization and delivery are emphasized.
The class will decide on the general topic to be described (e.g., majors, hometowns). This
speech is worth five percent of your total grade.
Brief Description Speech due: Saturday, October 28
2) Special Occasion Speech. More formal and a bit longer (two to three minutes), the special
occasion speech focuses on an event or individual. The goal of this assignment is to
demonstrate basic structure, flow, and adaptation to an audience. The content of the
speech can be drawn from personal experience, though outside research is recommended.
A presentation outline is required with this speech, rough draft on the day of the speech,
final draft the next day. The final outline is worth five percent of your total grade, the
speech fifteen percent of your total grade.
Special Occasion Speech due: Friday, November 3
Rough Outline due: Friday, November 3
Final Outline due: Saturday, November 4
3) Research Speech. For this assignment, you will research a topic of your choice and
present your findings/conclusions to the class. Drawing upon a variety of popular and
scholarly sources (five minimum), this speech may be informative or persuasive. It
should run five to seven minutes. Clarity, organization, audience appeal, and competent
delivery are key. The day before the speech is due, the class will hold small-group
practice sessions; a practice version of your research speech and rough outline are due at
that time. The next day, final outlines and speeches are due. The final outline is worth
ten percent of your total grade, the final speech thirty percent of your total grade.
Practice Research Speech due: Friday, November 10
Rough Outline due: Friday, November 10
Final Research Speech due: Saturday, November 11
Final Outline due: Saturday, November 11
Final Exam
In the final exam, you will demonstrate your ability to apply the principles and processes of
public speaking by organizing, critiquing, and creating parts of speeches. The test will be takehome (to be turned in at a campus location TBA, probably the PLUS office). Distributed the last
day of class, Saturday, November 11, the final exam is worth twenty percent of your total grade.
Final Exam due: Friday, November 17
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Participation
Any public speaking class depends on participation—alert audiences, prepared speakers,
involved discussion members, and active participants in exercises raise the energy and ease the
process for everyone. Since our course is condensed into six class periods, your participation is
especially important. Fifteen percent of your total grade comes from attending class,
participating in activities and discussions, being prepared, and being an attentive audience
member for your classmates. Much of this grade is based on assignments (e.g., turning in an
evaluation of a classmate’s speech, participating in an activity) and overall involvement (e.g.,
being a good audience member throughout the course). Attendance plays a major role in your
participation grade; each unexcused absence drops your participation a letter grade.
GRADING
Grading Scale
All letter grades will be assessed numerically as follows.
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
4.00
3.75
3.25
3.00
2.75
2.25
2.00
1.75
1.25
1.00
.75
0.00
Percent of Total Grade
Each grade earned on a course requirement will count towards the total grade as follows.
Brief Description Speech
Special Occasion Speech Outline
Special Occasion Speech
Research Speech Outline
Research Speech
Final Exam
Participation
5%
5%
15%
10%
30%
20%
15%
Total
100%
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POLICIES
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory in this course. Absences will be excused under extenuating
circumstances only and you must provide documentation of your reason. As stated previously,
attendance counts towards your participation grade; for each unexcused absence you lose one
letter grade from participation.
Late and Missed Assignments
In the case of excused absences, accomodations will be made for late/missed work if possible.
Otherwise, speeches and assignments that are missed cannot be made up.
Incomplete Grades
As per university policy, incomplete grades will “only be given if extraordinary circumstances
(beyond the student’s control) occur that preclude students from completing the course.” You
must request an incomplete and submit documentation justifying your request.
Academic Honesty
You are expected to adhere to the university codes governing academic misconduct. Any
instance of plagiarism, cheating, etc. will be pursued to the administration for maximum penalty.
Classroom Ethics
During this course, we may discuss sensitive or controversial subjects. You are encouraged to
express your opinion freely in class, regardless of its popularity with me or anyone else.
However, no tolerance will be given to opinions expressed in a hateful or highly offensive
manner. If you feel ill at ease with any topics discussed in class, please let me know.
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CSWK 1103 56: PUBLIC SPEAKING
Oklahoma City University PLUS Program
Fall 2006
COURSE SCHEDULE
Weekend I (Oct. 27-28)
Introduction and basic principles
Acclimating to the audience
Audience analysis, organization and delivery
Friday, Oct 27: Assign Brief Description Speech
Saturday, Oct 28: Brief Description Speech
Assign Special Occasion Speech and Outline
Readings
Required: Chapters 1, 5, 8, 9, 17
Recommended: Chapters 3, 10, 11, 12
Weekend II (Nov. 3-4)
Support and structure
Informative and persuasive speaking
Friday, Nov. 3: Special Occasion Speech
Special Occasion Speech Rough Outline
Assign Research Speech and Outline
Saturday, Nov. 4: Special Occasion Speech Final Outline
Workshop on Library Research
Readings
Required: Chapters 7, 14, 15, 16
Recommended: Chapters 2, 4, 6
Weekend III (Nov. 10-11)
Polish and critical evaluation
Friday, Nov. 10: Practice Research Speech
Research Speech Rough Outline
Saturday, Nov. 11: Final Research Speech
Research Speech Final Outline
Distribute Final Exam (due Nov. 17)
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