Public Speaking
College of the Desert
Tuesday 6:50PM – 9:55PM – COM 103
INSTRUCTOR
Carl Christman, MA
www.carlism.com
carlchristman@rocketmail.com
Office:
COM 115-J
Office hours: Mon & Wed 12:00PM - 2:00PM
Tue 1:00PM – 5:00PM
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Theory and presentation of public speaking, including audience analysis,
selection and organization of speech materials, development of delivery skills
and evaluation of message effectiveness. Student presentations and active
participation in class activities are required.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Demonstrate an understanding of speech organizational skills.
2. Demonstrate an ability to analyze an audience.
3. Demonstrate the ability to research and integrate data from outside sources into
both prepared and impromptu speaking situations.
4. Demonstrate effective presentational skills.
5. Evaluate public speeches.
6. Practice listening critically and objectively.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Construct outlines that demonstrate organization, thesis construction, and
support with credible research.
2. Demonstrate effective speech style.
3. Evaluate speeches by providing verbal and nonverbal feedback.
4. Analyze audience to select effective rhetorical strategies.
You will demonstrate that you have met these goals in a variety of ways, including class
participation, in-class activities, writing assignments, oral presentations and
examinations. Details regarding these assessment strategies appear in this syllabus.
Further information on each form of assessment will be provided orally in class and/or
on materials distributed during the semester.
REQUIRED TEXT
O’Hair, D., Rubenstein, H., & Stewart, R. (2012). A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking (4th
edition). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
CLASS EXPECTATIONS
Be on time for class.
No food or drinks (except for water) allowed in class.
All cell phones must be turned off during class.
Be respectful of other class members and their presentations.
All assignments must be appropriate for the entire class.
All assignments should be the original work of the student
No assignments should be recycled from other classes.
GRADING INFORMATION
Tests may not be taken without a Scantron Form No. 882-E.
Speeches may not be made up after the assigned date.
A complete outline (not a term paper) with your name on it must be turned in
before completing each speech.
Speeches must be delivered based on an outline and you will not receive credit
for reading a paper to us.
GRADING CRITERIA
Participation
Midterm
Final test
Introductory speech
Informative speech
Persuasive speech
Special occasion speech
Impromptu speech
Total
F = 0%-59%
D = 60%-69%
C = 70%-79%
10%
15%
15%
5%
15%
15%
15%
10%
100%
B = 80%-89%
A = 90%-100%100
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Please let the instructor know if you have a disability
that might affect your participation or studies in this class. The instructor will keep this
information in strict confidence, of course. If you have not yet contacted DSPS, you
should do so very soon since they must identify student-clients prior to providing their
services. (760) 773-2534 dspsinfo@collegeofthedesert.edu
COURSE OUTLINE
Date
Topic
February 2
Introduction to class & communication studies
February 9
Language
February 16
Listening skills & Nonverbal communication
February 23
Audience analysis & Intercultural communication
March 1
Intercultural communication
Take midterm at www.carlism.com
March 8
Speech delivery & style
March 15
Research methods
March 22
Spring Break
March 29
Informative speech
April 5
Informative speech
April 12
April 14
Persuasive theory
Logical fallacies
April 19
Argumentation & debate
April 26
Persuasive speeches
May 3
Persuasive speeches
May 10
Special occasion theory
May 17
Special occasion speech
May 24
8:00PM
Impromptu speeches
Take final exam at www.carlism.com
SPEECH GRADING CRITERIA
The following is a set of criteria that will be used for evaluating all speeches delivered in
this class.
Normally, an “average speech” (C) should meet the following standards:
1.
Conform to type assigned (informative, persuasive, ect.)
2.
Conform reasonably to the time limit.
3.
Exhibit sound organization: a clear purpose adequately supported by main
ideas that are easily identified.
4.
Fulfill any special requirements of the assignment—such as to use three
illustrations, or statistics, or authority.
5.
Be intellectually sound in developing a topic of worth with adequate and
dependable evidence.
6.
Exhibit reasonable directness and communicativeness.
7.
Be correct grammatically and in pronunciation and articulation.
8.
Be ready for presentation on date assigned.
9.
Speaker maintains good audience eye contact.
The “better than average” (B) speech should meet the foregoing tests and also:
1.
Contain elements of vividness and special interest in its style.
2.
Be of more than average stimulative quality in challenging the audience to
think or in arousing depth of response.
3.
Demonstrate skill in winning understanding of unusually difficult concepts or
processes or in winning agreement from auditors initially inclined to disagree
with the speaker’s purpose.
4.
Establish rapport of a high order through style and delivery which achieve a
genuinely communicative response.
The “superior speech” (A) not only meets the foregoing standards, but also:
1.
Constitutes a genuinely individual contribution by the speaker to the thinking
of the audience.
2.
Achieves a variety and flexibility of mood and manner suited to the multitude
differentiation of thinking and feeling demanded by the subject matter and by
the speaker-audience relations.
In addition to the above criteria, the following should be considering.
The below average (D) speech probably exhibits one of these inadequacies:
1.
Does not conform to your assignment or possibly does not adequately meet
all criteria required for this assignment.
2.
It is poorly times.
3.
The central idea and main idea are not completely clear.
4.
The supporting material is minimal.
5.
Sources are not cited nor adequately identified.
6.
Communicativeness is reduced by poor eye contact or some evidence of
written style or characteristics of memorization.
7.
Some evidence of errors in grammar and/or syntax.
8.
Some inadequacies of voice or articulation.
9.
The speaker shows little knowledge of his material other than that presented
within the time limit.
10.
The speaker reveals fallacious reasoning or uncritical acceptance of
authorities.
11.
Speaker does not make adequate audience eye contact.
The unacceptable (F) speech probably exhibits one of these inadequacies:
1.
The speech does not conform to the assignment.
2.
The preparatory outline and/or speaker’s notes indicate a minimal amount of
preparation.
3.
The material is taken from one or two sources only.
4.
The speaker does not carry out his/her central idea even through the speech
may be well organized on paper.
5.
The student is unable to answer questions concerning his/her speech or
otherwise exhibits grave uncertainty about the material.
6.
The speaker reveals serious fallacies in reasoning.
7.
Because the speech was memorized, the speaker is uncommunicative.
8.
Obviously, the speaker is reading more than speaking.
9.
The choice of words and sentence structure are below the level normally
expected of a college student.
10.
The speech is not communicated because of serious inadequacy in voice or
articulation.
11.
Speech is read.