ENGL 5180: THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS Wednesdays, 6:30 – 9:20 pm Auditorium 306 & Technical Writing Computer Lab Instructor: Office: Office Telephone: Mobile: E-mail: Office Hours: Class Webpage: Dr. Debopriyo Roy Auditorium 303 940.565.2131 214-886-0661 (only in emergency) droy@unt.edu (best way to reach me) 4:00 – 6:00 pm (Wednesdays and Thursdays and by appointment) http://www.engl.unt.edu/~droy Course Description This course is designed to prepare you as an effective business and technical communicator in the corporate /academic workplace. The biggest challenge in this course is to prepare yourself for corporate or complex communicative situations that you might confront in various capacities in your workplace. The skills we will focus include: preparing and delivering technical information to expert and non-expert audiences, facilitating and coordinating group discussions, consent and negotiations building process, interpreting nonverbal communication, conducting interviews, negotiating team dynamics, and assuming leadership responsibilities. Building communication skills in these areas would be largely dependent on the understanding of theories that drives human psychology, societal rules and norms, standard practices, human relationships, communicative behavior, conflict resolution and a thorough understanding of organizational culture. Since these are applied areas of study, this course will consist of both analytical discussions of the required readings and the practical application of this information in terms of presentations. Emphasis on preparing and presenting information during face-to-face conversations, videoconferencing, and theories behind computer-mediated communication, Power Point, and oral delivery will be ongoing throughout the semester. Required Course Texts and Materials: Hamilton, Cheryl and Cordell Parker. Communicating for Results: A Guide for Business and the Professions, 7th edition, CA: Wadsworth, 2005. ISBN: 0-534-60678-4. Additional journal and internet articles and/or book sections posted on the class website. An active e-mail account (UNT or any other account) Several blank VHS videotapes. Policies and Procedures You are responsible for thoroughly reading all materials prior to class and obtaining any additional readings and assignment handouts if you miss a class. Details of all the class assignments and additional reading handouts would be posted online in the class webpage. Since this class meets only once a week, multiple absences will be grounds for failure of this class. I won’t take any class attendance but since the class is small in size, it won’t be difficult for me to keep track if a person is repeatedly absent. Should you meet with extenuating circumstances that prevent you from attending classes, please speak with me during my office hours. Arriving late to class and leaving early will result in a lower course grade. Failure to show up for a team presentation will result in 0 points for that assignment for that individual (NOT FOR THE GROUP). A 0 point will result for failing to show up for an individual assignment. If I am notified in advance, there is still a rare possibility that I might reconsider your case. All assignments, presentations, and project deliverables must be laser-printed, professional, and when necessary stapled. No late assignments will be accepted unless you present a compelling reason at least ONE WEEK in advance of the due date. Failure to show up for either an individual or team presentation will result in 0 points for that assignment. If you arrive in class unprepared to discuss the required readings, you will be asked to leave. On the days you present, you are expected to dress and act as if you are in a professional business environment. Presentations should be well designed, timed, and rehearsed. Americans with Disabilities Act In accordance with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, I will work with the Office of Disability Accommodation to help reasonably qualified students with disabilities. If you have such a disability, please advise me in writing of your needs no later than the second week of class. Course Activities & Assignments Final grades are assigned on the basis of the following points: Class Participation Presentations Company Profile Persuasive Presentation Team Demonstrative Presentation (a physical product) Individual Technical Presentation (a software demonstration) Individual Presentation (on a legal procedure) Team Presentation on a Corporate/ Client Investment Issue Team Negotiations on a Bilateral Plan Research Paper Presentation Written Assignments Research Paper Reflective Papers on Reading Assignments (4 @ 2.5% each) 10% 5% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 5% 5% 10% 10% Presentation Assessments Speaker and Team Member Assessment 5% BONUS 20% (Possible) Grade Distribution (In Points Earned) A = 90% or more B = 80% -89% C= 70% - 79% D = 60% - 69% F= 59% and lower Class Participation As a graduate course, we will be discussing the readings according to the class schedule. I would expect reasonable amount of professionalism from you. Strong work ethics is my highest priority and your final grade would be a combination of the quality of presentations, class discussions, research papers and the amount of time you actually invested for this class. For example, you might be a very good speaker, but that won’t ensure a good grade in this class as I would weigh multiple factors. I expect you to be a productive participant in class discussions. In addition to demonstrating that you have read and thought about the subject matter contained in the readings, engaging in class discussions also increase your class participation grade and decrease the potential tedium of a 3-hour class. Individual Presentations For each presentation assignment, you will receive a handout detailing the specifics. The criteria for evaluation will be clearly listed on each assignment sheet and your grade will be determined based on how well you meet these criteria. No show – no grade. Team Communication Topic Presentations As a team of 2-4 people, you will give a 30-minute presentation on a communication topic that you sign up. All members of the team will receive the same grade for each part of the team project; however, each member of the group will confidentially rate each member’s performance. I expect each team to tackle any group dynamic difficulties first before bringing them to me. Details to follow in a separate handout. Research Paper You are to individually write an 8-10 double-spaced page paper (not including citations) on one of the topics associated with your presentation. You would be asked to start writing this research paper around the middle of the semester, so that you have ample scope for feedback. This paper might be a topic covered as part of the individual or team communication presentation. Use APA citation style for your in-text citations and works cited list. This is an opportunity for you to develop a thesis and create a persuasive argument based on communication theory and research. Wellwritten and insightful papers often make for good conference presentations. Discussion Papers Where noted on the class schedule, you are expected to bring a typed, 2-4 page (single spaced) paper to class that explores the issues discussed in the readings. These papers are intended to help you relate your life experiences (workplace, college, interpersonal, etc) appropriate to the reading content, as well as to stimulate class discussion. Your paper should go beyond a simple summary to include analysis of the issue; feel free to include and discuss related topics as you see fit. DO NOT, however, view this as a venue to vent your frustrations, ramble on about unrelated topics, or otherwise avoid the topic at hand. Attention to grammar, structure, and detail will help boost your grade. Use APA citation style for your in-text citations and works cited list. Typos, inaccuracies, and shoddy work will send your paper grade plummeting. No late papers will be accepted. You can skip one paper without penalty OR drop your lowest paper grade. Presentation Evaluations (E-mail) – Based on a Grading Rubric For each presentation that you give, either individually or as part of a team, you will submit a 200 to 400 word e-mail evaluating the presentation based on your viewing of the videotape. Your evaluation should discuss both the positives and negatives of the presentation (supplemented with examples drawn from the presentation), as well as strategies that you will use to improve future presentations. The presentation evaluation should have 2 sections, wherever applicable. On the first section, you would evaluate your own speech (or for your team) and on the second section, you would choose to discuss speeches of two other individuals or teams. You can skip one presentation evaluation OR drop your lowest evaluation grade. All evaluations are due by the following class period. Evaluation of team presentations may be submitted either individually OR as a team. Class Discussions Every student would be responsible for generating three well thought out questions from the articles and book chapters that are assigned for the week and also write down their own answers. A discussion will follow and each student would be randomly asked to comment on issues pertaining to any specific article. What that means is that students would have to read all assigned articles. Daily Course Schedule and Due Dates Week 1 – January 18th: Introduction to Courses & Icebreakers READ FOR NEXT WEEK Chapter 1: “The Communication Process: An Introduction,” Communicating for Results Anxiety in Public Speaking. EZine Articles Communicating with Speeches and Presentations. EZine Articles How to Scare the "Gooey" Out of a New Public Speaker. EZine Article Chapter 11. “Informative Presentations, “ Communicating for Results PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK A five to ten minute oral presentation – see handout for specifics. (No use of Power Point. This is a diagnostic exercise; it will not be graded.) Bring a blank videotape to class. Week 2 – January 25th: Preparing Professional Informative Presentations ACTIVITIES Diagnostic oral presentations Discussion of readings Company profile presentation development workshop READ FOR NEXT WEEK: Chapter 12 “Researching, Supporting and Delivering Your Ideas,” Communicating for Results 10 Excuses that Doom Presentations. Charlotte Business Journal Talking to an Audience Have you Shaking? Charlotte Business Journal PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK: Presentation self-evaluation (E-mail) Company Profile Presentation Week 3 – February 1st: Informative Presentations & Delivery ACTIVITIES Discussion of readings Persuasive speech presentation sign-ups Individual Company profile presentations (Handout for class) Persuasive presentation development workshop Individual conferences READ FOR NEXT WEEK Chapter 9: “Small Group Communication and Problem Solving,” Communicating for Results All Presenting is Persuasive. EZine Articles Speak to Influence (Parts 1-5). EZine Articles How to be a More Persuasive Speaker: Ten Tips from the Real World. PeopleofFaith.com PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Persuasive presentation Discussion Paper 1 Week 4 – February 8th: NO CLASS – LEAVING FOR CONFERENCE Week 5 – February 15th: Persuasive Presentations and Demonstrative Speech Discussion ACTIVITES Discussion of readings Demonstrative speech presentation discussion and sign-ups Individual Persuasive Presentations READ FOR NEXT WEEK How to write a demonstrative speech. WikiHow How to give a demonstrative presentation. eHow Keeping your audience involved during PowerPoint presentations. EZine Articles The Social Identity Perspective, Small Group Research, 2004. PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Presentation Evaluation (E-mail) Week 6 – February 22nd: Demonstrative Presentations ACTIVITIES Discussion of readings Team Demonstrative speech presentation Technical speech presentation discussion and sign-ups Research Topic Discussion - Assigned READ FOR NEXT WEEK Effective Technical Presentations. Mark Tew. University of Mississippi The Craft of Scientific Presentations. Michael Alley Visual Aids. Michael Alley Delivery. Michael Alley Rethinking the Design of Presentation Slides. Technical Communication. PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Presentation Evaluation (E-mail) Technical Presentation Discussion Paper 1 Due Week 7 – March 1st: Technical Presentation ACTIVITIES Discussion of readings Individual Technical speech presentation READ FOR NEXT WEEK “Improving Interpersonal Relationships”. Communicating for Results 3 Ways to Talk so Clients Listen. Business Know-How Cost-Effective Motivation. Business Know-How Humanizing the presentation will make it more compelling. Charlotte Business Journal Interpersonal Communication articles. Pertinent.com (Practice presentation for next class) PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Presentation Evaluation (E-mail) Week 7 – March 8th: Computer-mediated and Organizational Communication ACTIVITIES Discussion of Readings Brief Discussion on Research Topic Individual Legal Procedure Presentation READ FOR NEXT WEEK Chapter 4, “Effective Listening,” Communicating for Results Chapter 6, “Overcoming Obstacles to Organizational Communication, “ Communicating for Results TBA PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Discussion Paper 2 Preparation for Practice Team Presentation on Effective Listening Skills (Journal Article) Presentation Evaluation (E-mail) Week 9 – March 15th: No Class – SPRING BREAK Week 10 – March 22nd: Effective Listening and Obstacles to Organizational Communication ACTIVITIES Discussion of Readings Practice Team Presentation on Effective Listening Skills (Journal Article) (Counted as part of class participation grade) Team Presentation on a Corporate/ Client Investment Issue discussion and sign-up READ FOR NEXT WEEK Social Validation of Non-verbal Behaviors in Social Skills Training Programs for Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology. 1984. Methods and Techniques. Teaching of Psychology. 1991. PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Evaluation for Practice Presentation Team Presentation Week 10 – March 29th: Nonverbal Communication and Business Presentations ACTIVITIES Discussion of readings Team Presentation on a Corporate / Client Investment Issue Practice Team Presentation on Leadership discussion READ FOR NEXT WEEK Chapter 10, “Participation and Leadership in Small Groups, “ Communicating for Results Brave Hearts. CIO Magazine. 2000. PREPARE FOR NEXT CLASS Presentation Evaluation Practice Exercise Assigned Discussion Paper 3 Week 11 – April 5th: Leadership ACTIVITIES Discussion of readings Concept selling exercise evaluation and discussions PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Chapter 7, “Basic Information for All Types of Interviews, “ Communicating for Results Chapter 8, “The Employment Interview, “ Communicating for Results Field Specific Interview Questions. Monster.com PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Presentation Evaluation Practice Exercise Assigned Week 12 – April 12th: Interviews ACTIVITIES Discussion of readings Product selling exercise evaluation and discussions Team Negotiations on a bilateral plan discussion and sign-ups READ FOR NEXT WEEK Top Management Communication during Crisis. Public Relations Quarterly, 2005 The Negotiator and the Bomber. Negotiation Journal. 2005. PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Bilateral plan presentation Week 13 – April 19th: Crisis and Negotiations ACTIVITIES Discussion of readings Team Negotiation on a bilateral plan presentation READ FOR NEXT WEEK Nothing PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK Presentation Evaluation Discussion Paper 4 Week 14. April 26th. Individual Research Paper Presentation Week 15 – May 3rd: Research Papers Due and Practice Presentation on Class Articles *** There might be occasional changes in the syllabus as we move along. However, all the changes would be reasonable and geared towards better learning.