Speech Communications, Spring 2014
Section #7754 Monday – Wednesday, 7:15 a.m.
Section #7937 Monday – Wednesday, 8:50 a.m.
Instructor: Thom Karlsen
Karlsent2@aol.com
Text: The Art of Public Speaking / Lucas (recommended)
Course Objectives:
I. General:
To improve one’s ability as a communicator
To improve one’s ability to evaluate the exchange of communication in the public arena.
II. Specific:
To develop an understanding of the intention of the speaker, message and audience in creating
meaning in the public transaction.
To develop an awareness of the responsibility of the capable speaker and the critical listener in a
democratic society.
To develop an understanding of audience analysis and ability to adapt messages to audiences.
To develop the ability to analyze issues, research them, build arguments, support and refute them.
To develop an effective use of voice and body movement in public speaking.
To develop greater skill in evaluating the public speaking of others.
Attendance Policy:
Regular attendance is required and will be considered in your overall evaluation. You are allowed a
maximum of three excused absences; unexcused absences will result in deduction of 10-points for each
missed class. Anyone with excessive absenteeism (i.e. five or more absences) will be dropped. If the drop
deadline has passed, excessive absenteeism can result in a failing grade in the class.
Late Work:
Specific presentation dates will be assigned to all students. It is your responsibility to be prepared; any
conflict with speaking dates must be communicated to the instructor in advance. YOU have elected to take
this course at this designated hour of the day. You are therefore accountable and responsible to make every
effort to budget your time and plan your personal, family and work schedules to accommodate the class
meetings and the preparation time necessary to fulfill the speaking assignments. Any Tribute or
Persuasive speech not delivered on the assigned speaking date will be heard on the calendared make
up day at the end of the semester and penalized 50-points for being late. The Informative Speech
(your “midterm”) may not be made up if missed. Outlines are due on the date an assigned speech is
delivered. Any outline not submitted on the due date results in a zero (0).
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.
Demonstrate an understanding of the communication process through intention, organization,
drafting, revision, editing and presentation.
2.
Exhibit an understanding of listening skills and audience analysis techniques in the context of
public presentations.
3.
Differentiate methods used in different speaking occasions.
4.
Practice effective verbal and nonverbal delivery skills in the context of public presentations.
5.
Create outlines that illustrate effective research and writing skills.
6.
Present and participate in public presentations that reflect diversity in culture.
There will be NO tolerance for the disruption of class/speeches caused
by cell phones or text messaging!
Course Requirements / Evaluation Breakdown:
Oral Presentations and *Outlines:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Object Speech:
*Tribute Speech:
*Informative Speech:
*Persuasive Speech:
75 points
125
150
200
**Full-sentence Outlines 150 (50 points/speech; MUST be typed/word processed)
Topic Due Dates
50 (All submitted topics MUST be typed/word processed)
Attendance
(-10 points class meeting/>1 excused absence)
Total Possible Points:
750
**FULL SENTENCE OUTLINES ARE DUE PRIOR TO THE DELIVERY OF ALL SPEECHES
Final Exam
50 Points
Tribute Speech: Your goal is to introduce the audience to a person that has made a positive impact on
your life (someone you personally know or have known); or a person who has made a positive contribution
to the world at large (a public figure). 3 – 5 minutes.
Informative Speech: Your goal is to give your audience interesting and useful information on a subject or
topic that your listeners wouldn’t have known prior to your speech. Emphasis is on adapting information to
this audience and clarity of exposition. 4 – 6 minutes.
Persuasive Speech: This speaking exercise carries the most weight and should demonstrate the speaker’s
strong, personal interest in and conviction to a topic of their choice. The presentation should lead the
audience to recognize the existence of a significant issue, understand its cause and conclude with some
resolution of the issue. Emphasis will be placed on the quality of the evidence, reasoning and argument /
delivery. This is not a speaking assignment where we listen to the personal testimony concerning product
endorsement! A minimum of 3 sources of researched information must be cited in the body of your
speech/presentation as well as in the full-sentence outline. 5 – 7 minutes.
Note: Not delivering the persuasive speech will have a significant and negative impact on your final
grade, even if you complete the final exam.
Grading standards based on total points earned:
675 – 750 = A
600 - 674 = B
525 – 599 = C
450 – 524 = D
<450 = F
It is your responsibility to drop the class
Tentative Course Calendar
January
13:
15:
20:
22:
27:
29:
Course Introduction
Ethics & Public Speaking; Speaker Anxiety; Object Speech assigned
Holiday
Object Speeches [75]
Audience Analysis
Selecting a Topic/Purpose; Organizing the Body of the Speech
February
3:
5:
10:
12:
17:
19:
24:
26:
Introductions/Conclusions; Small Groups formed
Outlining a Speech; Tribute Speech sign-up
Tribute Speeches [125 + 50]
Tribute Speeches
Holiday
Tribute Speeches
Tribute Speeches]
Using Visual Aids; Speaking to Inform; Informative Speech sign-up
March
3:
5:
10:
12:
17:
19:
24:
26:
31:
Topics Due: Informative Speeches [25] *must be word-processed!* No handwritten topics
accepted!
Outlines Due: Informative Speeches [50]
Spring Break
Spring Break
Informative Speeches [150] / Equivalent to Midterm Exam!
Informative Speeches
Informative Speeches
Informative Speeches
Holiday
April
2:
7:
9:
14:
16:
21:
23:
28:
30:
Speaking to Persuade; Persuasive Speech sign-up
Library Orientation/ Using Research Databases – essential informational session for the
Persuasive assignment
Topics Due: Persuasive Speech [25] *must be word-processed!*
Outlines Due: Persuasive Speeches [50]
Persuasive Speeches [200]
Persuasive Speeches
Persuasive Speeches
Persuasive Speeches
Make-up Speeches [Tribute or Persuasive Speeches ONLY! All speeches penalized 50points for being late]
May
5: Final Exam, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
7: Final Exam, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.