TUESDAYS 8:00AM-10:40AM.
FACILITATOR: CAROLINE KIARIE
(ckiarie@daystar.ac.ke)
Course Description
This course will introduce students to the concepts, principles and art of public speaking. The purpose of the course is to equip the students with skills in speech-making, presentation, critical thinking and critiques.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the learner will be able to:
1.
To gain an understanding of basic theories, principles, and ethics involved in public communication.
2.
To develop effective (critical and constructive) listening skills.
3.
To learn the techniques of careful audience analysis and adaptation to diverse audiences.
4.
To learn how to carefully organize, prepare and deliver effective speeches.
5.
To acquire proficiency in computerized presentational software (PowerPoint).
Course Procedures and Requirements
1.
Learning activities : Critical reflective lectures, in-class exercises, speech presentations, critiques, and group discussions will be the primary mode of instruction. Lecturer may also make use of guest speakers, case studies, visuals etc as deemed appropriate. Students are also expected to participate in class presentations and demonstrate practical ability in the use of various skills discusses in the lectures. Students will be expected to keep up with reading assignments to facilitate profitable participation in class.
2.
Self-critique : Each student will be required to visit the Writing and Speech Centre and have your informative speech videotaped prior to presentation in class. View the tape and write a two-page critique of your speech in view of what you liked about your speech, what you disliked about your speech, your classmates critiques said.. and next time you will… (goals for improvement). Credit will be earned for evidence of effective usage of language, relevance, originality in expression, adaptation of message to audience and occasion.
3.
Speeches : A lot of class time will be spent making speeches and critiques. Theoretical content of the textbook will be discussed briefly, but the bulk of time will be spent developing the speeches in the classroom. The course facilitator will complete a “Speech Evaluation” form for each speech appraising the student’s strengths and areas for improvement and grade the speech. All speeches must be completed satisfactorily to pass this course. An extemporaneous speaking style is preferred for all speeches. Students who read their speeches will be penalized for delivery and cannot receive a grade higher than a “C.”
Speech outlines : Two outlines (formal outline and keyword outline) will be prepared before each speech is delivered (except Tribute Speech). Both outlines must be presented to the facilitator before the speech is presented. Students may use their key-word outline (one page) while presenting the speech.
All speech outlines must be typed, stapled and labeled appropriately.
DU/ COM 223T/ Public Speaking Blocks 2015 1/5

4.
Groups : Group work is an essential constituent of the course as the group will help you reduce your fear and anxiety in public speaking. Your group will deliver a policy speech together towards the end of the semester; therefore the quality of your group is critical. To ensure accountability, every group will write and sign a contract together that will stipulate rules, roles and expectations as well as penalties for group members that do not do their work. Please be mindful of group presentation days. All group members must be present to receive full marks.
5.
Classroom Etiquette : As students in the communication discipline, you are expected to be attentive, respectful, and an active listener and participate in class. Therefore behavior such as sleeping, doing homework, reading newspapers or magazines, attending to cell phones, laptops, demeaning others, holding interpersonal conversations apart from the class discussion etc is unethical and not permissible. It is expected that students will behave attentively, respectfully, and listen actively when others are presenting. Please remember to switch off phones. Being late for class counts for as an absence. Arriving late is disruptive to others; if a colleague is presenting a speech, please wait until after the speech to walk in (during applause).
6.
Submission of assignments: All assignments must be submitted on the stipulated date during class time. Not delivering a speech on the day it is due will result in a zero for that assignment.
There is no make-up for speeches.
7.
Attendance: Punctual and regular attendance of all class sessions. In an event that a student should miss a class, s/he will be responsible for catching up with what happened including any changes if any that were announced during his/her absence. If you travel or are hospitalized, please ensure you follow University procedure (see Registrar’s office). Missing 25% of class sessions will lead to an automatic award of “F” Grade.
8.
Academic dishonesty: While sharing of intellectual views and free discussions of principles and applications of the course content is encouraged, exams, quizzes and other individual-designed academic exercises must be done independently. Plagiarism is an academic crime. Students caught plagiarizing will be subjected to the University’s policy on plagiarism.
Grade Composition
Individual speeches
Mid Semester
Self Critique
Keynote speaker critique
Group speech
Final speech presentation
30%
20%
5%
5%
10%
30%
Grading Scale
A: 91-100
A-: 81-90
B+: 76-80
B: 71-75
B-:66-70 C: 56-60
C+: 61-65 C-: 51-55
Assignments for Public Speaking
D+:46-50
D: 41-45
F: 40
DU/ COM 223T/ Public Speaking Blocks 2015 2/5

Assignment Percentage Description
Informative Speech
Self-Critique
Keynote speaker evaluation (one page report)
Persuasive speech
Mid Semester Exam
Ceremonial Speech
(Tribute Speech)
10%
5%
5%
10%
20%
10%
Prepare an informative speech on a topic of your choice. A minimum of three referenced sources are expected. Support should draw from facts/figures, examples, testimonies, analogies and illustrations. You will use
PowerPoint to illustrate your speech.
You will present your speech in an extemporaneous speaking style. Both full and keyword outline are required . Dress professionally.
Each student will be required to critique his/her Informative speech.
This is also a time for you to integrate readings and the actual speeches you will be presenting.
To improve your critical listening skills, each student is required to critique a keynote speaker found on
TED.com website. Write a one-page report about what you observe and bring to class on the due date.
Seek to create a change of your audience’s attitude or values, beliefs or behaviors on a subject of your choice using Monroe’s Motivated
Sequence. A minimum of four referenced sources are required.
Visual aids are optional. Support should draw from facts/figures, examples, testimonies, analogies and illustrations. Dress professionally.
Both full and keyword outline are required.
This item will assess your understanding of the readings done within the class.
Develop and deliver a Tribute speech about a person that has impacted your life in a significant way. Draw mainly from narratives, examples, and testimonies to develop your ideas in this speech.
You are encouraged to evoke a range of emotions in the speech using humor, respect and admiration.
DU/ COM 223T/ Public Speaking Blocks 2015
Length Due
Date
5 mins
1 page
1 page
8 mins
2 hrs
3 mins
3/5

Group Speech
Exam (Final Speech
Presentation)
10%
30%
Only a keyword outline is required.
You will join a group of three to four students to present a critical evaluation of a policy in Daystar
University. Using the reflective thinking method, choose a topic for a persuasive speech on a question of policy at Daystar University.
Develop and enact the principles of speech for presentation in class.
Everyone must present. Visuals are required. Creativity a must. Groups will mark each other and confirmed by lecturer. Provide formal outline.
Students will prepare and present a speech (to be announced later in the semester) that will assess the student’s integration of all the principles learned in class.
15-20 minutes per group
Textbooks: (*Main Texts)
Jaffe, Clella. (2007). Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society (5 th Ed). Belmont:
Thomson-Wadsworth.
*Osborn, Michael and Suzanne Osborn. (1994). Public Speaking (3 rd
Mifflin Co. Available from Textbook loan program.
Ed). New Jersey: Houghton
Sproule, J. Michael. (1997). Speechmaking. (2 nd Ed). Dubuque: Brown & Benchmark.
*Zarefsky, David. (2008). Public Speaking: Strategies for Success (5 th Ed). Boston. MA: Ally and
Bacon. Available from Textbook loan program.
Websites: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ (to help with presentations and writing)
Public Speaking Schedule
Week/Dates Topic
Week 1 Introduction & course overview
Readings Note:
Week 2
Week 2
Week 3
Fundamentals of public speaking
Communication apprehension
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 1&
2; Zarefsky, Ch. 1 & 2
Ethics of public speaking;
Listening
Audience Analysis
Osborn & Osborn Ch. , 3
& 4;Zarefsky, Ch.1 , 3 & 4
Choosing a topic and purpose; Osborn & Osborn Ch.5, 6 Brainstorm 3
DU/ COM 223T/ Public Speaking Blocks 2015 4/5

Week 4
Week 5
Week 5
Week 6
Week 6
7/7/2015
Week 7
Week 8
Week 8
Week 9
Researching the topic; Use of supporting materials;
Outlining the speech
Types of public speeches: informative, ceremonial
& 8;Zarefsky, Ch.5, 6,7
&10
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 12 -
15, Apendix A; Zarefsky,
Ch. 14 & 16.
Speech 1: Ceremonial (Tribute) speech
Achieving style through language: Presenting the speech; Using visual aids
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 9,
10 & 11; Zarefsky, Ch. 11,
12 & 13
Speech 2: Informative Speech Presentations
Speech 2: Informative Speech Presentations
MID SEMESTER EXAM topics. Bring to next class.
Each 3 mins.
Hand in selfcritique and one page outline
Use power point
Persuasive and speaking in groups.
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 12 -
15, Apendix A; Zarefsky,
Ch. 14 & 16.
Speech 2: Persuasive Speech Presentations
Speech 2: Persuasive Speech Presentations Keynote speaker evaluation due
Group presentations
Course Wrap up
FINAL EXAM – oral presentations. Guidelines to be given before exam date
DU/ COM 223T/ Public Speaking Blocks 2015 5/5