DAYSTAR UNIVERSITY- ATHI RIVER CAMPUS
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT
COM 223B PUBLIC SPEAKING
JANUARY 2016 SEMESTER
MONDAYS 12:30 – 3:30 A.M.
FACILITATOR: WINNIE MBATHA
(winniembatha@gmail.com)
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. understand basic theories, principles, and ethics involved in public communication.
2. develop effective (critical and constructive) listening skills.
3. learn the techniques of audience analysis and adaptation to diverse audiences.
4. learn how to organize, prepare and deliver effective speeches.
5. 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 I liked about my speech, what I disliked about my speech,
my classmates critiques said and next time I 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 and keyword) will be prepared before each speech is
delivered (except Tribute Speech). Both outlines must be presented to the professor 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.
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
DU/ COM 223A/ Public Speaking
January 2016
1/5
5.
6.
7.
8.
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.
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 an absence. Arriving late is disruptive to others; if a colleague is speaking, please
wait until after the speech to walk in (during applause).
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.
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.
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
Grading Scale
A: 91-100
A-: 81-90
B+: 76-80
B: 71-75
DU/ COM 223A/ Public Speaking
30%
20%
5%
5%
10%
30%
B-:66-70
C+: 61-65
C: 56-60
C-: 51-55
D+:46-50
D: 41-45
January 2016
F: 40
2/5
Assignments for Public Speaking
Assignment
Percentage
Informative Speech
10%
Self-Critique
5%
Keynote speaker
evaluation (one page
report)
5%
Persuasive speech
10%
Mid Semester Exam
20%
Ceremonial Speech
(Tribute Speech)
10%
Group Speech
15%
DU/ COM 223A/ Public Speaking
Description
Length
Prepare an informative speech on a
topic of your choice. Provide
outlines.
You will use power point to illustrate
your speech.
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.
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.
Only a keyword outline is required. .
You will join a group of three to four
students to present a critical
evaluation of a recent movie. Watch
the movie together and compare
different viewpoints of the movie.
The group will probe for the
“ultimate questions” the movie was
addressing and evaluate how
successful the movie answered those
questions. Each group member is
responsible to present that viewpoint
7 mins
January 2016
Due
Date
1 page
1 page
7 mins
2 hrs
5 mins
15-20
minutes
per
group
3/5
Exam (Final Speech
Presentation)
30%
to the group. You will present your
viewpoints and findings in a final
presentation is class. More on movie
review description can be found in
www.mcs.com/-wcrc/movies.html. ;
www.hollywoodjesus.com. Etc.
Everyone must present. Provide
Outlines.
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.
Textbooks: (*Main Texts)
Jaffe, Clella. (2007). Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society (5th Ed). Belmont:
Thomson-Wadsworth.
*Osborn, Michael and Suzanne Osborn. (1994). Public Speaking (3rd Ed). New Jersey: Houghton
Mifflin Co. Available from Textbook loan program.
Sproule, J. Michael. (1997). Speechmaking. (2nd Ed). Dubuque: Brown & Benchmark.
*Zarefsky, David. (2008). Public Speaking: Strategies for Success (5th 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
Jan. 18
Introduction & course
overview
Jan. 25
Fundamentals of public
speaking
Communication apprehension
Ethics of public speaking;
Feb. 1
Listening
Feb. 8
Feb. 15
Types of public speeches:
informative, ceremonial,
Persuasive and speaking in
groups.
Audience Analysis;
DU/ COM 223A/ Public Speaking
Readings
Note:
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 1&
2; Zarefsky, Ch. 1 & 2
Osborn & Osborn Ch. , 3
& 4;Zarefsky, Ch.1 , 3 & 4
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 12 15, Apendix A; Zarefsky,
Ch. 14 & 16.
Osborn & Osborn Ch.4, 5,
6 & 8;Zarefsky, Ch.4, 5, 6,7
&10
January 2016
Brainstorm 3
topics. Bring to
next class.
4/5
Feb. 22
Feb. 29
Mar. 7
Speech 1: Ceremonial (Tribute)
speech
Choosing a topic and purpose
Researching the topic;
Use of supporting materials;
Outlining the speech
Organizing the speech
(Introduction, body and
conclusion)
Each 5 mins.
Osborn & Osborn Ch.4, 5,
6 & 8;Zarefsky, Ch.4, 5, 6,7
&10
Osborn & Osborn Ch.5, 6
& 8;Zarefsky, Ch.5, 6,7
&10
Mar. 14
Mar. 21
MID SEMESTER EXAM
Achieving style through
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 9,
language; Using visual aids
10 & 11; Zarefsky, Ch. 11,
12 & 13
Mar. 28
EASTER
Osborn & Osborn Ch. 9,
10 & 11; Zarefsky, Ch. 11,
12 & 13
MIDSEMESTER
EXAM
April 4
Presenting the Speech
Apr. 11
Speech 2: Informative Speech Presentations
Apr. 18
Speech 2: Informative Speech Presentations
Apr. 18
Speech 2: Persuasive Speech Presentations
Apr. 25
Speech 3: Persuasive Speech Presentations
8 mins.
Group presentations
Course Wrap up
FINAL EXAM – oral presentations. Guidelines to be given before exam date
May
DU/ COM 223A/ Public Speaking
January 2016
Keynote speaker
evaluation due
Hand in selfcritique and one
page outline
Use power point
8 mins.
5/5