Communication Studies 309
Advanced Public Speaking
Class # 11037 • Fall 2012 • Fridays 2:00-4:45
Instructor: Bridget Sampson
Classroom: MZ111
Phone: (818) 888-3162
Email: bspeech@gmail.com
Websites: BridgetSampson.com / SampsonCommunicationConsulting.com
Box for messages: Department Office, MZ 220
Office Hours: Thurs. 2:00-4:00 pm, Fri. 1:00-2:00 pm, MZ 348
Office phone: (818) 677-2112 (office hours only, no messages)
Course Objectives: This course is designed to teach you to:
1. Demonstrate and understand the functioning of public communication messages to affect the
behavior, attitudes, values and beliefs of audiences.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the similarities and differences between a variety of public
communication contexts.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of process of speech preparation, organization, and delivery.
4. Critique various forms of persuasive appeal.
5. Demonstrate the ability to criticize public communication practices using principles of rhetorical
and communication theory.
6. Design and execute a public communication campaign.
7. Access, evaluate and use information effectively and appropriately.
Required Materials:
1. Textbook: Hostetler and Kahl. (2012). Advanced Public Speaking: A Leader’s Guide. First
Edition. Boston: Pearson.
2. COMS 309 Reader/Supplements: Available at Sunstar Copy, 9514 Reseda Blvd. #3, 718-6151
* Please bring your reader to class every week!
Assignments:
5 points:
Speech of Introduction (2-3 minutes)
10 points:
Professional Speech and Outline (4-5 minutes)
10 points:
Two Impromptu Speeches (2-3 minutes each, no preparation required outside of class)
15 points:
Group Advocacy Campaign Packet and Presentation with Outline (5-7 min.)
15 points:
Team Community Informative Presentation, Outline, and Packet (15-30 min.)
20 points:
Public Policy Speech and Outline (6-8 minutes, plus up to 5 minute Q & A session)
5 points:
Commemorative Speech (2-3 minutes)
5 points:
Peer and Self Evaluations
5 points:
Participation and Attendance
10 points:
Quizzes (2)
Final Grades: Grading is based on a 100 point scale. The final grades will be computed using a
plus/minus system based on the following table:
92-100 = A
90-91 = A87-89 = B+
82-86 = B
80-81 = B77-79 = C+
72-76 = C
70-71 = C-
67-69 = D+
62-66 = D
60-61 = D0-59 = F
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Speeches: Typed outlines in the required format must be turned in for professional, persuasive
policy, and group advocacy campaign speeches. You always need to bring TWO copies of your
outline: one to turn in prior to your delivery and the other for you to glance at, not read from, during
the speech. The outline format will be covered in class. Speeches must be delivered on assigned
dates. If you are absent when you’re scheduled to give a speech, there may be a chance to make up
the speech for half credit, only if there is available class time. Speeches will be graded based on
organization of the outline, information, sources, audience analysis, an extemporaneous delivery, and
originality. The required outline format is on the last page of this syllabus.
Attendance/Participation: Attendance and participation will affect your final grade in this course.
Group activities and exercises will occur in class on a regular basis and each student is expected to
participate. Penalties for absence will begin after the first absence from class. For each additional
absence, two points will be deducted from the overall course grade. The instructor will take
attendance at the beginning of each class and if you are not there at that time, you will be considered
absent. Tardiness is very disruptive to the instructor and to the entire class. Every time you are late
to class, it will be recorded as one third of an absence. Please do not enter class during a speech. If
you are late, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor that you were late when class is over
otherwise it will count as an absence since you were not present when attendance was taken.
Quizzes: There will be two quizzes to make sure you are keeping up with the reading. Each quiz is
worth 5% of the course grade and will cover all assigned reading material up to and including
assigned reading for the date of the quiz. The second quiz will not be cumulative, it will only include
reading assigned after the first quiz.
Academic Honesty: Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to university policies
regarding academic honesty, as specified in the current CSUN Catalog and schedule of classes. If
you are caught cheating in any form or plagiarizing any part of a speech or written assignment, you
will receive a failing grade for the course and a report will be filed with the Dean of Students office for
further possible action.
Course Schedule:
Reading due for this week:
8/31
Course Introduction
True Colors Icebreaker
9/7
Speeches of Introduction (1-2 min.)
Text Introduction ix-xii, Ch. 1,
Powerful Presentations Workshop
Appendix pgs. 193-199
Form community speech teams of 2-4
*Bring the reader to every class starting today!
9/14
Speech of Introduction Self Evaluation Due
Professional Speech Topics Due
Organization and Outlining
Ch. 7 pgs. 57-61, Ch. 8 pgs. 94-97
Audience Analysis / Professional speeches
Reader Section 1: Course Information
9/21
Quiz One
Ch. 10, Ch. 12 pgs. 176-181, Ch. 13
Language and Delivery
Advanced Listening Skills / Evaluating speeches
2
9/28
Impromptu Speech #1
Reader Section 4: Advocacy Campaigns
Team Community Informative Presentation Proposals Due
Advocacy Campaigns
Form Advocacy Campaign Groups of 4-5
10/5
Professional Speeches
10/12 Professional Speeches
10/19 Professional Speech Self Evaluation Due
Persuasive Policy Speech Topics Due
Persuasion, Arguments, Fallacies,
Chs. 2, 3, 4, 6, Appendix pgs. 199-205
Policy Speeches / Audience Analysis for Policy Speeches
10/26 Impromptu Speech #2
Group meeting time – Advocacy Campaign Topics Due
11/2
Persuasive Policy Speeches
11/9
Persuasive Policy Speeches
11/16 No Class - Thanksgiving
11/23 Persuasive Policy Speeches
11/30 Quiz Two
Ch. 5, Ch 9 pgs. 130-133
Persuasive Policy Speech Self Evaluation Due
Team Community Informative Speech Packets due
Brief Reports on Community Speeches (not graded)
12/7
Advocacy Campaign Assignment Group Packets Due
Advocacy Campaign Assignment Group Presentations
12/14 Final Exam – 3:00-5:00 pm Commemorative Speeches
Make up Speeches
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Speech of Introduction: In this speech, you will introduce yourself to the class in the 3rd person.
Imagine that you are a speaker for some important event. What do you have experience or expertise
in that would result in you being asked to be a keynote speaker? Come up with a hypothetical topic
for your talk and then develop a speech of introduction about you that would be given by the person
who is asked to introduce you to the audience. You will deliver the speech as if you are the person
introducing you, not as yourself. Please make sure your speech includes some biographical
information about you as well as your accomplishments in the area of your hypothetical talk. This will
help us get to know you a little while also giving you practice in delivering a speech of introduction.
The speech should be two to three minutes long and no outline is required. This speech will be
evaluated by the instructor so that you receive feedback but it will be a credit/no credit assignment
rather than being graded.
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Impromptu Speeches: There are many occasions in life that require us to speak in an organized
and eloquent manner even though we haven’t prepared a formal speech. Examples are responding
to questions during a job interview, telling a story to a group of friends, or being asked to say a few
words at a wedding, retirement party, or other celebration. Impromptu speeches that occur in class
will prepare you for these occasions and will not require any preparation outside of class. You will be
given your topic and then have 2 minutes to prepare a 2-3 minute speech that you’ll deliver for the
class. The presentation outline included in the reader will be used for impromptu speeches.
Professional Speech and Outline: This assignment will give you the opportunity to teach the
audience about a subject relevant to your current job or future career. The class will play the role of
your coworkers (either peers, employers, or new hires). Keep in mind, however, that you should
select a subject that would be interesting and informative to your actual classmates. You will be
informing your audience on a work related topic or providing training on a policy, product, procedure,
etc. This should be a 4-5 minute informative speech. The basic outline format must be used
including a bibliography with at least 3 sources of information. Two copies of the outline (one for you
to use and one for me to review during the speech) are required on the day of the speech. Some type
of visual aid to accompany your speech is required. If you plan to use PowerPoint or videos, they
must be emailed to me at lest 2 days prior to your speech. Your proposed topic is due in advance of
the speech (see course schedule) and is subject to instructor approval.
Team Community Informative Presentation and Outline Packet: This speech allows you to
prepare and deliver an informative presentation to an audience outside of class. In teams of 2-4, you
will propose, prepare, and present an informative presentation to your chosen audience. All
audiences must have a minimum of 15 members present. Topics must be approved by the instructor.
Visual aids and a minimum of 4 sources are required. This assignment is worth 15% of the course
grade. The reader includes a more detailed description of the guidelines for this assignment.
Advocacy Campaign Group Assignment: You will work with the same group as your Community
Presentation team to design an advocacy campaign. The week before the final, each group will turn
in their campaign packet and deliver a 5-7 minute presentation for the class explaining their
campaign. This assignment counts for 15% of the course grade. The packet will determine 10% of
the grade and the presentation will be worth 5%. The reader includes a more detailed description of
the guidelines for this assignment.
Public Policy Persuasive Speech and Outline: This speech will provide you with the chance to
make a case in support of a change in a current issue or problem on campus, in your community, in
the nation, or in the world. You must research your subject thoroughly and present a relevant, wellreasoned proposal for the class to consider. An audience analysis of the class is required as part of
the pre-work for selecting your persuasive policy proposal so that your arguments will be effectively
adapted to your audience. The speech should be 6-8 minutes long and following the speech, you will
facilitate a question and answer session for up to 5 minutes. The basic outline format must be used
including a bibliography with 5 sources of information. Two copies of the outline (one for you to use
and one for me to look at during the speech) are required on the day of the speech. Your proposed
topic is due in advance of the speech (see course schedule) and is subject to instructor approval.
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Self Evaluations: For each speech you deliver in class (except for impromptu and campaign
speeches), the following week you will be required to turn in a one half page to one page selfevaluation. The evaluation should identify what went well and what you feel you could improve upon.
The self-evaluation for your speech of introduction can include general reflections about how you
think you did. Self-evaluations for all the other speeches may include general reflections as well but
must also address all required elements of the introduction and conclusion and at least 3 elements of
organization and 3 aspects of delivery. For example, your evaluation of your introduction should
answer the following questions: How effective did your attention grabber seem in drawing your
audience in quickly? Do you feel you worded the statement of your topic in a clear and interesting
manner? How well did you establish your credibility and goodwill toward the audience? Did you
remember to preview each of the specific main points you were about to cover before diving into the
body of the speech?
Peer Evaluations: You must complete peer evaluations for the professional and policy speeches.
Since there are two evenings of professional speeches, you will evaluate all speakers on the day you
don’t speak. Because there are three evenings of persuasive policy speeches, you will be assigned to
evaluate all speakers on one of the two days that you are not speaking. Peer evaluation forms for
informative and persuasive speeches are included in your reader. It is your responsibility to come to
class prepared with the correct amount of evaluation forms. You can tear the forms out of the reader
or make copies of them to use in class.
Commemorative Speech: In place of a final exam, you will deliver a commemorative speech paying
tribute to yourself. Your commemorative speech may be an after dinner speech, an award
presentation or acceptance speech, a eulogy, a retirement speech, or some other special occasion
speech. Your speech may be delivered in first person (as in an award acceptance) or in third person
(as in a eulogy) but it must be about you. You do not need to turn in an outline for this speech but it is
recommended that you prepare an outline or manuscript for your own purposes. It is optional to
deliver the speech extemporaneously or from a manuscript, as described in chapter 9 of the textbook.
If you choose to speak from a manuscript, you should have your manuscript memorized so that you
can make eye contact with your audience and speak naturally rather than reading from your
manuscript.
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Required Outline Format for Speeches
INTRODUCTION
I. Attention grabber
II. State your topic
III. State your credibility and goodwill towards the audience
IV. Preview the main points in the body of the speech
BODY
I. Main point one
A. Supporting point
1. Supporting point
2. Supporting point
B. Supporting point
1. Supporting point
2. Supporting point
II. Main point two
A. Supporting point
1. Supporting point
B. Supporting point
1. Supporting point
2. Supporting point
C. Supporting point
1. Supporting point
III. Main point three
A. Supporting point
1. Supporting point
2. Supporting point
B. Supporting point
1. Supporting point
2. Supporting point
(You may have 2-5 main points in the body of the speech. There should be a relatively equal amount
of supporting material under each main point.)
CONCLUSION
I. Signal the end of the speech
II. Reinforce the central idea / Summarize
Bibliography
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