WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
HAWAII CAMPUS
DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION
MISSION: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging,
learning-focused, and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God
and humankind.
COURSE:
TERM:
INSTRUCTOR:
COMMUNICATIONS:
OFFICE HOURS:
DATE/TIME:
COMS 2303 Public Speaking
SPRING III 2015
Mr. Modesto R. Cordero
Telephone: 294-0232(cell) / E-mail:
modesto.cordero@wayland.wbu.edu and/or mcordero@rcchawaii.org
The professor will be available immediately before and after class or by
appointment.
Mondays 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.; Mililani Campus
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: The course is developed to introduce you to major theories and related
skills for planning, organizing, rehearsing, presenting, and evaluating a variety of types of speeches.
Includes a survey of rhetorical traditions, principles, and strategies used in informative, persuasive, and
ceremonial speeches. Emphasis on student performance and evaluation of oral and written models of
classical and contemporary speeches. Recommended for students pursuing careers in teaching, law, the
ministry, politics, or other professions involving making public presentations.
PREREQUISITES: None. May be taken to meet the core requirement.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
O’Hair, Dan, Rob Stewart, and Hannah Rubenstein (2011) A Speaker’s
Guidebook – Text and Reference (5th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: The professor may provide additional articles and handouts for you to
read throughout the course of the term.
COURSE OUTCOME COMPETENCIES: The student's work will be evaluated for active
participation in small group discussions, knowledge of the subject matter from assigned readings and
class lectures, participation in exercises and assignments designed to apply course materials.
 Students will demonstrate understanding of the importance of public speaking in a democratic
society.
 Students will demonstrate understanding of and apply traditional principles of rhetoric in
presenting and evaluating speeches.
 Students will conduct research focused on types of speeches and gather evidence for from a
variety of valid sources.
 Students will demonstrate understanding of and apply ethical guidelines and responsibilities of
speakers and listeners in public discourse.
 Students will plan and present speeches on a variety of topics and for a variety of purposes.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: Students are required to attend class regularly and
promptly. Being in class means that you arrived on time and stayed until class is over. More than
one unexcused absence will hurt your performance in this class and is automatic -2 points from
the total point system. If you are not present in class, you are still responsible for the material covered.
Homework must be completed on the specified due date. You may make up a test or a speech with
verification that circumstances were beyond your control. If you know that you will be absent, please
notify me before class with a phone call so arrangements for missed assignment may be made. All late
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or missed assignments must be submitted the day you return to class. Late assignments will not
receive full credit and will usually receive a minimum 5 point reduction. WBU policy states that
students must attend 70% of classes to successfully pass.
DISABILITY STATEMENT: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a
disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination
under any education program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services
serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning
accommodation requests at (806) 291-3765. Documentation of a disability must accompany any request
for accommodations.
COURSE FORMAT/REQUIREMENTS: This course is a combination of an interactive,
cooperative experience between the students and the instructor. The format is designed to
integrate lectures, small group work, discussions, and student presentations. Student active
participation is encouraged. Chapter readings of the textbook and homework will be assigned
in advance. It is important that all students read the assigned chapters prior to class and come
well prepared to participate in the discussion of the material. For all written homework, proper
grammar and correct spelling are essential. All written assignment and speech outlines must be
typed double-spaced. Only hard copy will be accepted. Homework and outlines are not
accepted via e-mail or fax. University students are expected to conduct themselves according to
the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is
subject to penalty includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or
examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of
another as one’s own work. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with penalties
associated with plagiarism stated in the catalog.
GRADING: The grading will be based on:
Exams
10%
Test I
5%
Test II
5%
Class Attendance
10%
Class Participation
10%
Speeches Outlines
10%
Informative
5%
Persuasive
5%
Speeches
60%
Ceremonial I
10%
Ceremonial II
10%
Ceremonial III
10%
Informative
15%
Persuasive
15%
_______________________________________________
Total Possible:
100%
A= 100-90, B= 89-80, C= 79-70, D= 69-60, F= 59-Below
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** A grade of incomplete is changed if
the work required is completed prior to
the last day of the next long (10-15
weeks) term, unless the instructor
designates an earlier date for
completion. If the work is not
completed by the appropriate date, the
I is converted to a grade of F. An
incomplete notation cannot remain on
the student’s permanent record and
must be replaced by the qualitative
grade (A-F) by the date specified in the
official University calendar of the next
regular term. An incomplete turned to
a qualitative grade will be indicated by
the notation I/grade on the student
transcript.
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious academic
evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just
evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the
student grade appeal process described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals may not be made for
advanced placement examinations or course bypass examinations. Appeals are limited to the final
course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any
recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Executive Vice President/Provost
to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly
Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more
proper evaluation.
COURSE/READING SCHEDULE: Subject to change!
WEEK
DATE
ACTIVITY
1
2/23/15 Course Overview
Introductions
Getting Started with Confidence
2
3/2/15
Introductory Speech
Public Speaking Basis
Vocal and Nonverbal Delivery
3
3/9/15
Speech: My Hometown
Audience Analysis and Topic Selection
Supporting the Speech
3/16/15 Spring Break
4
3/23/15 Speech: My job/career
Supporting the Speech (CONT.)
The Informative Speech
5
3/30/15 Test 1
The Informative Speech (CONT)
Introductions, Conclusions, and Language
6
4/6/15
Speech: My Heritage
Organizing and Outlining
Presentation Aids
7
4/13/15 Informative Speech Presentation
Special Occasion Speeches
8
4/20/15 The Persuasive Speech
9
4/27/15 Ceremonial Speech I
Ceremonial Speech II
The Persuasive Speech (CONT.)
10
5/415
Ceremonial III
Test #2
11
5/11/15 Persuasive Speech Presentations
3
READING ASSIGNMENT
Chapter 1-2
2 minutes
Chapters 3-5
Chapters 18-20
3 minutes
Chapters 6-7
Chapters 8
3-4 minutes
Chapters 9-11
Chapter 24
Chapters 1-11, 18-20
Chapter 24
Chapters 15-17
3-4 minutes
Chapters 12-14
Chapter 28
5-7 minutes
Chapters 21-23
Chapters 25-27
3 minutes
3 minutes
Chapters 25-27
4 minutes
Chapters 15-17, 21-27
8-10 minutes