Oral and Written Communications
Mass Communications Academy
COURSE NUMBER – 23.051004-2
Carnegie Units (#): .5
Semester/Year: Fall/Spring 2013-2014
Instructor: Gerard A. Holmes
Class Location: Room 2114
Tutorial Day and Time: Thursdays 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Telephone: 404-802-5100
E-mail: geholmes@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Course Description:
This course focuses on developing public speaking skills. The students will identify effective methods to arrange ideas and
information in written form and then convert the written form into an effective oral delivery. The course focuses on critically
thinking, organizing ideas, researching counter viewpoints, and communicating appropriately for different audiences and purposes.
The students analyze professional speeches to enhance their knowledge of solid speech writing.
In today’s society, it is necessary for educated people to be able to present and discuss information with individuals and groups of
people. According to a survey conducted in 2006 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, communication skills, both
written and verbal, ranked as the most important personal quality that employers seek in an employee. The ability to present logically
and clearly one’s ideas is integral to success in almost any area of life.
Oral & Written Communications is a course designed to round out the triad of Critical Thinking and Effective Writing. The purpose of
the Oral Communication component is to hone the speaking and presentation skills of each student. By the end of the course, students
should be capable of delivering an effective speech related to a specific topic, issue, or question from an academic discipline including
subjects related to the Core curriculum and the student’s major field of study.
Course Objectives:
This course will focus on the basic and necessary skills fundamental to oral and written communication. To complete such an end, this
class is designed as a dialogue and lecture laboratory. From the first day of the class, students are expected to begin their journey into
better communication skills in an effort to reach the following goals.
Student will be able to:







State clearly and effectively the thesis of a presentation.
Clearly and logically present their ideas.
Accurately show knowledge of content.
Display awareness of implications drawn from the information presented.
Be proficient in concluding the presentation in an appropriate manner.
Present oneself in a poised manner that displays credibility and professionalism.
Listen and evaluate the content and delivery of speeches with perception and composure.
Course Assignments:
The course assignments are listed below.


Extemporaneous Speeches:
1. Speeches to Introduce
2. Literary Excerpts
3. Ceremonial Speech
4. Speeches to Entertain
5. Speech to Demonstrate
6. Speech to Inform
7. Speeches to Persuade
Outlines of Demonstrative, Informative, and two Persuasive speeches




Reflection Paper
Reading of assigned text
Peer evaluation of speeches
Journaling exercises
Course Expectations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Attendance: Attendance is required. Due to the nature of this class, attendance is of the utmost importance. To deliver a
speech successfully, there must be both a speaker and a listener. Your presence in class will assist you and your classmates to
develop and improve listening skills through audience feedback. Therefore, it is imperative that students are vigilant about
attending class. This being said, absences can happen for unavoidable reasons. Therefore, a total of three free exceptions will
be made. Beyond the aforementioned three absences, refer to the consequences in the student handbook. In cases of absence,
the absent student will be solely responsible for missed information and assignments. Coming to class late or leaving early
will be counted as an absence for the entire class period, unless previously discussed with the instructor.
Required Texts: The Art of Public Speaking, Lucas (provided by the school); and Projects in Speech Communication
Classroom Participation: Students are expected to come to classes prepared by having read the assigned text and being able
to answer questions and discuss the material contained in the assigned readings. Each student is required to give an
evaluation of each speech given, noting strengths and weaknesses of each presentation. Participation includes, but is not
limited to, paying attention to both the instructor and fellow classmates, coming to class on time, and voluntarily answering
questions. It is expected that all students will refrain from disruptive behavior during other students’ presentations and from
talking to fellow classmates during class. Active participation is extremely important, and each student’s grade is heavily
influenced by his/her participation or lack thereof.
Appearance: Presentable dress is necessary for making a good first impression. This principle also applies to public
speaking. Clean, neat attire is required for all public speaking opportunities. Two points will be deducted for each of the
following items: hoody sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, t-shirts, or shorts. Jeans are not allowed at any time in class.
Professional dress is expected for all formal speeches/presentations.
Behavior: All students are expected to abide by all Atlanta Public Schools expectations of behavior, in addition to those
specifically outlined in the Benjamin E. Mays High School Handbook. Violators of these expectations of behavior and/or
classroom policies will be disciplined according to Board and School policy.
Course Evaluation:
a. Daily Assignments (Including Attendance & Participation)
30%
Points will be deducted from your total participation score for each absence (See stipulations under
Attendance).
b. Speeches (various types)
25%
c. Quizzes
10%
d. Writing (Outlines for Speeches, Daily Warm-ups, etc.)
10%
e. Exams
25%
Total:
100%
ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENTS, EVALUATION PROCEDURES, AND GRADING
CULUMALTIVE WRITING FOLDERS
Each student will keep his/her writing products in a writing folder that will remain in the classroom. This folder will be used to help
the teacher and the students monitor their progress as writers. The writings in the folder will be used often as material for revision and
editing practice. The students are encouraged to insert writings from other classes or outside of school into the folder.
THE CITIZEN’S JOURNAL (notebook)
Each student will maintain a Citizen’s Journal. In this journal, students will respond thoughtfully to news items, current issues,
readings, graphic displays of data, photographs, editorial cartoons, and advertisements introduced in class by the teacher.
MINI-LESSONS
Mini-lessons are brief discussions and exercises focusing on revision and editing issues and problems that become apparent during a
particular writing assignment or activity. Students are expected to implement the guidelines and strategies demonstrated in the minilessons in all of their subsequent writing assignments.
THE SOCRATIC SEMINAR
Literature and rhetoric clusters can and often times will operate using the Socratic Seminar, a discussion method that depends upon
participation by each student. Each member of the class is expected to arrive for the seminar prepared—prepared to speak and listen,
prepared to be involved actively in the discussion by offering commentary, questions and taking notes.
PERIODICALS & NEWSPAPER AND ONLINE SITES FOR STUDY
Newsweek, Time, Harper’s, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, USA Today, MSNBC.COM, U.S. News and World Report
CCC (Contemporary Cultural Connections)
Documentation and summary of news articles from print or online media that connects to the work’s thematic, cultural and societal
implications
CritSum (Summary of a Critical Essay)
Documentation and summary of a critical essay from a reputable literary journal or collection of critical readings
Evaluation Procedures
Evaluation:






Writing Assignments (to include approximately two formal essays per month)
Book Tests, Quizzes, and Special Assignments (Some assignments will be completed online.)
Research Projects/Presentations (Online research will be mandatory.)
Daily journals and class work, class participation and discussion, oral responses, class demonstrations and
presentations, home learning, and teacher observations
Mid-semester and final exams
Attendance in class (mandatory for success in the class)
Teacher/Parent Communication:




Parent Conferences-held every Wed. 3:45-4:45p.m. (Contact the counselor)
Schedule conference with teacher through the counselor
Via email at geholmes@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Teacher will contact the parent periodically or if necessary.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Class Rules
Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings.
Stay in your seat unless you have permission to do otherwise.
Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.
Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Use your best manners!
Rewards
Good behavior reaps good rewards!
You may look forward to verbal praise, teacher notes, good
class participation grades, positive calls home to your parent,
and other great surprises in return for cooperative behavior!
“Choose your words carefully, just in case you have to eat them.”
Consequences
Each time a rule is broken, the following consequences shall occur. Offenses of each
rule accumulate to the end of each nine-week period.




1st offense - warning and conference with teacher
2nd offense - parent contact and detention
3rd offense - parent, student, teacher conference and detention
4th offense - disciplinary referral
ACADEMIC POLICIES/CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
Restroom Passes:. The student should use the restroom during his or her breaks as class time is valuable to us all! (Note: Individual
medical problems requiring alternate procedures may be discussed with the instructor.)
Late Work: Class work and homework assignments are not accepted late. Major assignments may be submitted up to THREE
DAYS (not class periods) late with a penalty of -25 points per school day. * Some assignments (e.g. independent reading
assignments) may be accepted over several days. If they are not submitted in by the deadline, they will not be accepted even if the
student has an excused absence on that date.
Make-Up Work: When a student is not in class for a legitimate/excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to schedule
make-up time with the teacher for missed quizzes and tests, obtain all assignments and handouts for the missed class, and copy missed
class work such as notes, vocabulary, etc. Students must make-up all assignments within three days (not class periods) of the
excused absence.
Honor Code: Any student caught cheating will be given a zero for the assignment or evaluation in question. Plagiarism is considered
cheating, and plagiarizing will result in a zero for the assignment. Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s words or ideas and the
presentation of them as though they are entirely one’s own. Acts of plagiarism include but are not limited to using words or ideas
from a published source without proper documentation; using the work of another student (e.g., copying another student’s homework,
composition or project); using excessive editing suggestions of another student, teacher, parent, or paid editor.
Tentative Course Outline
Week 1: Introduction


Week #
Introductions
o To instructor
o To class
o Syllabus review
o Extemporaneous speech
Homework assignment
What is the correlation between public speaking and success in life?
o Typed, double-spaced
o Bullet points or paragraphs
Major assignments (i.e. research
papers, projects, portfolios)
Due Date
Readings for class
Additional assignments, etc.
Week 1
Course Syllabus Review
TBA
Readings: Chapter 1 of The Art of Public
Speaking – Speaking in Public
Introduction to teacher, to class
Impromptu Speech
TBA
Week 2
Speech Preparation
Speech Preparation
Readings: Current events articles
Assignments: Revising writing, current
event articles
TBA
Week 3
Readings: Current events articles
Assignments: Revising writing, current
event articles
Readings: Current events articles
Week 4
Writing PositionsPersuasive/Argumentative Writing
TBA
Assignments: Revising writing, current
event articles
Readings: Current events articles
Week 5
Five Week Assessment
TBA
Writing PositionsPersuasive/Argumentative Writing
Week 6
Readings: Current events articles
TBA
Assignments: Revising writing, current
event articles
TBA
Readings: Current events articles
Writing/Timed Speech
Week 7
Writing Positions- Persuasive/
Writing/Timed Speech Argumentative
Writing
Assignments: Revising writing, current
event articles
Assignments: Revising writing, current
event articles
Presenting the Speech
TBA
Chapter 4 of The Art of Public Speaking
Presenting the Speech
TBA
Chapter 4 of The Art of Public Speaking
Varieties of Public Speaking
TBA
Chapter 5 of The Art of Public Speaking
Writing a Literary Analysis
TBA
Write Source
Writing a Literary Analysis
TBA
Write Source
Writing a Literary Analysis
TBA
Write Source
Reflective Writing
TBA
Write Source
Reflective Writing
TBA
Write Source
Reflective Writing
TBA
Write Source
Final Speeches/Project
TBA
Final Exam
TBA
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18