Effective Oral Communications
Spring semester, 2013-Room 123
Mon-Thur 7:25-8:07am
Mr. Froelich, Adjunct Faculty
Phone: 330-896-7575 ext 616026 or e-mail at froelichdoug@greenlocalschools.org
Office hours: Fridays, 7:25-8:07am
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course will introduce students to the principles and practices of effective communication and apply them in a
variety of speaking situations. Specifically, students will gain the opportunity to learn:
 effective speech composition
 effective oral and visual communication
 how to effectively research a topic and use library resources
 to analyze an audience
 to use various types of support and arguments
 critical listening skills
 to manage communication apprehension
GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Additionally, this course advances the following goals of the General Education Program:
 the capacity for critical, independent thought
 a personal sense of values, tempered by tolerance and a regard for the rights of others
 the ability to use language effectively as a medium of both thought and expression
 the analytical skills necessary to make sound qualitative and quantitative judgments
REQUIRED TEXT
Hogan, J.M., P.H. Andrews, J.R. Andrews and G Williams (2011). Public Speaking for Civic Engagement. Boston:
Pearson Publishing.
SUPPLIES
 Note cards
 Access to APA or MLA style
 Access to laptop and printer
ASSIGNMENTS
Speeches*
Informative Speech
Formal outline
Bibliography
100 points
20 points
10 points
Sales Presentation
Formal Outline
Bibliography
100 points
20 points
10 points
Problem-Solution Persuasive
Formal outline
Reference page (bibliography)
100 points
20 points
10 points
Group Presentation (Dewey’s Reflective Thinking)
100 points
Formal outline
20 points
Bibliography
10 points
Reflective response
20 points
*Students are required to give all speeches in order to pass the course
Assignments to Accompany Chapter Readings
(1) The Engaged Citizen—You!
(2) The Responsible Citizen-Speaker
(3) Building Your Public Speaking Confidence
(4) Audience Analysis: Questionnaire
(5) Audience Analysis: Report
(6) Generating Meaningful Topics
(7) Getting Started on Research
(8) Obtaining Evidence from Your Sources
(9) Identifying Main Ideas & Supporting Materials
(10) Abolitionist Frederick Douglass/Power
Of Language
(11) Delivering Your Speech Effectively
(12)Effective Use of Visual Aids
(13)Barack Obama Speaking to Inform/Race
(14)Persuasive Speaking & Hillary Clinton’s
“Women’s Rights… Speech
(15)Reasoning & HRC’s Speech
Additional Assignments
Extra Credit
Participation (class discussion, etc)
5 points
5 points
5 points
10 points
25 points
5 points
5 points
5 points
5 points
Assignments will be completed
and collected at the time the
corresponding chapter in the
text is studied.
10 points
5 points
5 points
10 points
10 points
5 points
Up to 10 points
50 points
Chapter Quizzes
50 points
Quizzes over the assigned reading will be administered periodically (unannounced) throughout the semester.
These quizzes will vary in length and format.
Final Exam
100 points
Students will complete a comprehensive final exam during final exam week that consists of 50 multiple choice and
true/false questions. Exam is based on required class readings.
GRADING
All grades for this course are recorded in Springboard, not Progress Book. It is the responsibility of the student to
keep track of his or her grades. Students are able to determine grades at any point during the semester by adding
points earned, dividing by points possible and applying the percentage to the University of Akron grading scale,
detailed below.
A
94-100%
B80-83%
D+
67-69%
A90-93%
C+
77-79%
D
63-66%
B+
87-89%
C
74-76%
D60-62%
B
84-86%
C70-73%
ATTENDANCE
Because much of the course material is covered and discussed in class, attendance is of utmost importance.
Students are permitted three absences before the final grade begins to be affected (unless it is associated with a
school activity).
MAKE UP POLICY
If you are absent on the day you are scheduled to present, it will be your responsibility to present first on the next
scheduled class session. The weekly schedule will be posted in the classroom each week. Group speeches will
proceed as scheduled and the absent student will be responsible for making up the points by completing alternate
assignment.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (This schedule is subject to change; up-to-date schedule is posted weekly in the classroom)
Unless otherwise informed, it is essential to have chapters read before class sessions begin.
Week
1
Dates
January 14-18
2
January 21-25
3
January 27-February 1
4
February 4-8
5
February 11-15
6
7
February 18-22
February 25-March 1
8
March 4-8
9
March 11-15
(Adjusted schedule-OGT)
Topics to be Covered
Course introduction
Syllabus
Discuss icebreaker speeches
Informative speaking assignment
Topic selection
Research
Research
Listening
Organization & evidence
Icebreaker speeches
Outlining & citation
Credibility
Sales presentation assignment
Propaganda/fallacies
Outlining & evidence
Communication apprehension
Methods of delivery
Deliver informative speeches
Problem-solution assignment
Persuasion/techniques & methods
Persuasion
Audience types/analysis
Surveys/audience survey
Sales presentations
Visual aids
Reading/Assignments
Chapters 1 & 2
Chapters 6-7 & 14
Chapters 4, 8, 9
Chapter 10
Chapters 3 & 12
Chapter 11
Chapters 5 & 15
Chapters 16 & 13
10
March 18-22
11
April 1-4
12
13
April 8-12
April 15-19
14
April 22-26
15
April 29-May 3
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Note: Schedule is subject to change as needed.
Delivery
Group dynamics
Dewey’s Model
GHS Spring Break
Deliver Problem-solution speeches
Group dynamics
Dewey’s Model
Reflective thinking group work
Reflective thinking group work
Reflective thinking presentations
Reflective thinking presentations
In-class reflective response paper
Self & course evaluations
Chapters 17 & 18