Speech
Mr. Dustin Pace
Room 29
dpace@salmon.k12.id.us
Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.
-Mark Twain
Class Syllabus
Ha-hmmm… check, one, two…thp, thp, thp… is this thing on? Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,
to speech class! [Pause for loud cheering awkward silence.] You have, no doubt, heard of fates
worse than death. Well, for many people,there is one that stands above all others: public
speaking. So, I am sure most of you are looking forward to this class as much as, say, a root
canal, or the next television show starring Charlie Sheen. You probably think the state of Idaho
merely likes to torture seniors before they graduate by making them endure something most
people dread more than death itself before allowing them to graduate. Well, you may be partly
right about the torture, but learning to communicate well and speak with poise is among the most
beneficial skills with which you can leave high school. Now, I know you are thinking I’m not
going to be a public speaker, or a comedian, or a politician, so why do I have to take speech?
Okay, you better make sure you are seated (which you should be anyway!) because I’ve got
some difficult news for you. Regardless of which career path you choose, you will have to
interact with people. In fact, to even get a job you will have to go through an interview and,
irrespective of how knowledgeable and well-qualified you are for the position, you must be able
to convince the interviewer(s) that you are the best candidate. Any guesses as to how you might
do that? That’s right. Unless you possess superhuman telepathic abilities, you will have to use
speech. So, open your mind, clear your throat, and get ready to overcome your fears and become
a better orator.
Course Description
Senior Speech is a one-semester course aimed at introducing students to the basic concepts of
communication. It aims to make students not only better communicators, but better rhetoricians;
people capable of using sound and ethical rhetoric and of analyzing other forms of
communication for subtle usage of logos, ethos and pathos.
Instructional Materials
Projects in Speech Communication.Perfection Learning.
The Greatest Speeches of All Time.Video. 1998.
Other notable speeches and examples of interpersonal communication from films and websites.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Communication Basics
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The Fundamentals of Communication
Oral Language
Nonverbal Communication
Listening
Influences on Communication
Unit 2: Interpersonal Communication
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7.
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Effective Interpersonal Communication Strategies
Interpersonal Listening
Solving Problems and Managing Conflict
Interviews
Unit 3: Group Communication
10. The Power of Groups
11. Group Dynamics and Goals
12. Group Discussions
13. Parliamentary Procedure
Unit 4: Public Speaking
14. Preparing to Speak
15. Researching Your Subject
16. Organizing Your Speech
17. Preparing Supporting Materials
18. Using Language Effectively
19. Presenting Your Speech
Unit 5: Types of Presentations
20. The Speech to Inform
21. The Speech to Persuade
22. Speeches for Special Occasions
23. Competitive Speech Events
Unit 6: Mass Communications
24. Mass Communications in Society
25. Technology in Everyday Life
Speeches (Subject to Change)
1. Introduction Speech (10 points): A short “who I am” speech (1-2 minutes) to help
break the ice and foster community. It will be an all-or-nothing grade. In other words,
everyone who presents gets full credit!
2. Instant Replay (20 points): As in a sports broadcast, students will prepare and present a
short scene demonstrating the communication process in small groups. They will
perform it through once without interruption. Then, they will do a replay with
commentary, stopping at planned moments.
3. “Who’s on First?” (20 points): Using Abbot and Costello’s famous sketch as a model,
students will develop a short sketch in pairs demonstrating a conversation in which one
party is continually misunderstood by the other.
4. Silent Movie (20 points): Students will create a short silent-movie scene to demonstrate
non-verbal communication. No vocal utterances (talking or otherwise) or use of text will
be permitted. Therefore, facial expressions, hand gestures, and body movements are
required to convey meaning. Use of a “silent movie soundtrack” (ie. music without
lyrics) is okay. This assignment may be performed live or video recorded.
5. Active Listening (20 points): Rather than speaking, students will listen to a speech
which will be paused periodically, at which time they will be asked to respond to a
question relating to the content of the previous section. This assignment is designed to
make students aware of the integral value of active listening.
6. Art Critic (20 points): Students will be provided with a piece of abstract art. Each
student will then present an interpretation of the piece to the class to demonstrate the
ways in which different people both communicate and interpret information.
7. Know Your Audience (20 points): In pairs, students will present two 1-minute
conversations on the same topic, first as high school peers and then as a high school
student with a grandparent, to demonstrate how we alter our speech depending on our
audience.
8. Poetry Out Loud (20 points): Students will select a piece of poetry (long enough that it
takes at least 45 seconds to recite) to memorize and perform for the class. It will be
graded on memorization, poise, and vocal dynamics.
9. Job Interview (20 points): In pairs, students will prepare and present an interview for a
summer job. With one as the interviewer and the other as the interviewee, students will
illustrate the steps in the interview process. Afterward, each interview will be discussed
by the class to increase awareness of best interview practices and responses.
10. Group Presentation (40 points): In groups of 5 or 6, students will choose from a list of
topics about which to prepare a presentation. Students will be graded on how well they
interact with their groups and their involvement in the actual presentation. As in
professional presentations, groups will be required to use technology and visual aids to
help convey information.
11. TV Newscast (20 points): In small groups, students will create a newscast, including
different areas of coverage (news, sports, weather, and advertisements). This should be
video recorded and edited.
12. Advertisement (20 points): Students will prepare and present a 3-5 minute persuasive
speech in the form of a long advertisement or infomercial. It may be for a product, issue,
or political campaign.
13. Final Paper and Speech (25% of final grade): Students will compose a research paper
and 10-15 minute speech on the influence of media on communication, both written and
oral. The thesis statement will be submitted by the end of the quarter and must be
approved by the teacher. Students should cite at least 10 reputable sources in MLA
format and include multimedia in the presentation. More info to come…
Class Expectations
The class will be challenging, but if you follow these basic expectations, you WILL succeed:
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7.
BE HERE.
Come to class on time and prepared to learn.
Respect yourself, your classmates, and the teacher.
Participate.
Do not leave a mess.
Be positive.
DO YOUR WORK, AND TURN IT IN ON TIME!
Grading Policy
Attendance and Participation 10%
Quizzes and Assignments 15%
Speeches 50%
Final Paper and Speech 25%
Late Assignments
Late Assignments will be penalized 10% per day late. In cases of planned absences, missed
assignments are due BEFORE you leave.
Grade Scale
90 – 100% = A
80 – 89% = B
70 – 79% = C
60 – 69% = D
0 - 59% = F