CSWK 1103 – Public Speaking
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2006
Instructor: Kristin Shamas
Email: KShamas@ou.edu
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Course Meetings: Friday, March 10, 17, 24 5:30 - 8:30 pm; Saturday, March 11, 18, 25 9:00 am-4 pm
Required Text: Lucas, S. (2005). The art of public speaking. (9th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.
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This syllabus is intended to serve as a guideline for Public Speaking. The instructor reserves the right to
make modifications in content, schedule and requirements as necessary to promote the optimal educational
experience.
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I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will learn the skills and strategies necessary to prepare and deliver special occasion, informative,
and persuasive speeches using different presentational styles (i.e., extemporaneous, impromptu). The
primary emphases in this course are:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
selecting, researching, and supporting speech topics
constructing and organizing speeches
nonverbal and paralinguistic speech delivery skills
critiquing others’ speeches
Although this is a skills-based course, students need to understand the theory and concepts integral to
public speaking and be able to apply and discuss these components creatively and intelligently. The
ultimate goal is for students to gain confidence in communicating in diverse public contexts.
II. COURSE POLICIES
A number of course policies have been implemented and are enforced to ensure quality of education and
fairness.
Academic Misconduct
Students violating university policies regarding academic integrity will be subject to disciplinary action as
described in the undergraduate catalog. Generally, the penalty for misconduct is a grade of “F” (zero
points) on the assignment or for the course, depending on the severity of the infraction. Academic
misconduct involves any act which improperly affects the evaluation of a student’s academic performance
of achievement, i.e. cheating, plagiarims, fabrication, fraud, bribery, or attempts to engage in the
aforementioned.
Email
Your instructor may contact you via your OCU email account. Therefore, it is important that you check
your OCU email regularly.
Attendance
Regular attendance is vital to success in public speaking. Poor attendance will adversely affect performance
and grades. Roll will be taken at the beginning of each class. Also, please turn off cell phones, pagers, and
other technologies that may disrupt classroom proceedings. If you arrive late and a student is giving a
speech, please do not enter until the student finishes the speech.
Absences due to severe illness, official university functions and dire emergencies will be excused only if a
student submits verifiable documentation from an authority to the instructor within one week of the
absence. Absences due to work and household problems are not excusable.
Make-Up Speeches and Other Assignments
You must deliver all assigned speeches on the assigned date in front of an audience of peers. If you miss a
speech due to an emergency that is documented and verifiable and you contact your instructor
immediately, you may be permitted to make-up the speech (in class if time permits), at the instructor's
discretion. Communicate with your instructor in a timely manner.
All assignments (e.g., speaker critiques) are due on the assigned date at the beginning of class. Unexcused
late assignments will receive a letter-grade penalty for each day late. Late assignments will not be penalized
only if tardiness was due to an extreme emergency that is documented and verifiable.
Exams
There will be two exams, each worth 50 points and comprised of two parts: a multiple-choice section and
an essay and/or short answer section. A student may make up an exam only if the student has an extreme
emergency that is documented and verifiable, and the student contacts the instructor immediately.
Preparation—Speeches and Written Assignments
You will be required to deliver all assigned speeches on time. You will be evaluated on your skill in
selecting and researching a topic, organizing and delivering your speeches, and following course
requirements. You will be evaluated on the criteria on the grading sheet, your ability to adapt while
presenting the information orally, and your adherence to time limits.
On each day you are scheduled to speak, you must turn in your grading sheet and your outline. All written
assignments are to be neatly typed (double-spaced on 8.5'' x 11'' white paper with one-inch margins).
Follow current APA guidelines (e.g., 12-point Times New Roman). Deviations from the assigned format,
incomplete sentences, and mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and spelling will adversely affect your grade.
Speech Critique
Student is to complete a critique of an outside speaker (e.g., a speaker on campus, at city council, etc.).
Students must provide proof of attendance (e.g., pamphlet, handout, ticket stub); complete the critique
rubric provided by the instructor, and write a 2 page, typed double-spaced review of the speaker
Grades
Grades will be assigned by points using a standard grading system. Final grades are not “curved.” The point
scale is based on 500 points possible and is as follows:
450 – 500
400 – 449
350 – 399
300 – 349
0 – 299
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
Assignment
Introduction Speech (2-3 minutes)
Special Occasion Speech (3-4 minutes)
Impromptu Speech 1 (2-3 minutes)
Impromptu Speech 2 (2-3 minutes)
Informative Speech (4-6 minutes)
Persuasive Speech (6-8 minutes)
Outside Speaker Critique
Points Earned
Points Possible
25 points
50 points
20 points
25 points
80 points
100 points
50 points
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
In-class assignments (group exercises, peer
evaluations):
50 points
50 points
50 points
Total
500 points
COURSE SCHEDULE - CALENDAR – Spring 2006
Days
3/10
Course Objectives, Assignments
Overview of Course Goals and Objectives; Introductions; History of
Speech
PLEASE HAVE READINGS COMPLETED PRIOR TO
CLASS
Speaking in Public, Chapter 1;
Ethics, Chapter 2;
Listening, Chapter 3
Present Impromptu Speech 1
3/11
Present Introduction Speech
Selecting a Topic and Purpose, Chapter 4;
Analyzing the Audience, Chapter 5
Gathering Materials, Chapter 6
Present Impromptu Speeches 2
Supporting Your Ideas, Chapter 7
Organizing the Body of the Speech, Chapter 8
Speaking to Inform, Chapter 14
3/17
Midterm Exam Chapter 1-8, 14 (50 minutes)
Beginning and Ending the Speech, Chapter 9
Outlining the Speech, Chapter 10
Using Language Clearly, Chapter 11
Methods of Delivery, Chapter 12
3/18
Present Informative Speeches
Using Visual Aids, Chapter 13
Speaking to Persuade, Chapter 15
Methods of Persuasion, Chapter 16
Speaking on Special Occasions, Chapter 17
3/24
Present Special Occasion Speeches
Outside Speech Critique Due
Speaking in Small Groups, Chapter 18
Review for final; work on persuasive speeches
3/25
Present Persuasive Speeches
Final Exam Review
Final Exam