Oral Communication Foundation Test-Out Application/Information Form
Students entering Viterbo University with these backgrounds will be considered to have met the
OC requirement, provided that they can provide written documentation of this experience:

A student with one or more years of formal high school debate, forensics, or individual
events experience (extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking, communication analysis)
will have satisfied the Foundation requirement.
 A student with one or more years of high school oratory, moot court, model United
Nations will have satisfied the Foundation requirement.
If you do not meet either of the above requirements but still wish to test out of the Oral
Communication Foundation requirement, you’ll need to pass both a written exam and give
persuasive speech that meets Foundations requirements in Oral Communication.
Supporting documentation
Oral Communication is defined as “a prepared, purposeful presentation designed to increase
knowledge, to foster understanding, or to promote change in the listeners' attitudes, values,
beliefs, or behaviors.”
In a brief letter, explain how your experiences or prior training justifies a proficiency waiver for
the Communication Foundational Skill. In your letter, address the specific learning objectives
for the Oral Communication Foundational Skill:
1. Convey a central message (the main point/thesis/”take-away” of a presentation).
2. Employ effective delivery techniques, including posture, gestures, eye contact, and use of
the voice.
3. Use appropriate language, including vocabulary, terminology, and sentence structure.
4. Organize material strategically by grouping and sequencing of ideas and supporting
material in a presentation.
5. Convey appropriate supporting material, such as explanations, examples, illustrations,
statistics, analogies, quotations from relevant authorities, and other kinds of information or
analysis that supports the principal ideas of the presentation.
Attach your supporting letter and a signed copy of this form to an email addressed to the Chair of
the Communication Studies Department.
Online Exam
You will be scheduled for a 25-item online test designed to assess your understanding of the
material in the following textbook:
Lucas, S. (2008). The art of public speaking (10th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
There is a study guide at the same Blackboard site where you will take the exam. Once you start
the exam, you will have one hour to complete it. You must score at least 85% on the written
exam to be eligible to present a persuasive speech.
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Oral Communication Foundation Test-Out Application/Information Form
Persuasive Speech Guidelines
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The speech must be a persuasive speech of 8-10 minutes.
It must be given to a panel of 1-3 faculty members.
The speech must include a minimum of two visual aids.
It may be videorecorded beforehand and will be videorecorded in being evaluated.
Presentations will be evaluated using the OC VALUE rubric.
Students must score 15 or better on the rubric to earn exemption of the OC requirement.
To apply for the Communication Foundational Skill proficiency waiver, complete this form mail
it with a check for $25, payable to Viterbo University, to Dr. Raymond Preiss, Chair, Department
of Communication Studies, Viterbo University, 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601-9904.
Submitting this form constitutes a “reservation” for the test-out. It is used to provide some
information to the judges and to determine if you qualify for the test-out process.
Name: __________________________________________ Student ID#: __________________
Phone: ___________________ E-mail: _______________________________________
Major: ____________________ Advisor: _________________ Classification: Fr., Soph., Jr., Sr.
High school attended: ______________________________________________________
Speech-related courses taken in high school (Public Speaking, Theater, etc.) : _________
________________________________________________________________________
Other speech or performance-related experiences (4-H, job, university organizations, etc.):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
My signature given below verifies that I have given correct information on this form. I have read
and understood all of the Test-Out information. I understand that I can receive a study guide for
the test by email by contacting the Chair of the Communication Studies Department, Ray Preiss,
(rwpreiss@viterbo.edu).
Signature: _________________________________
Date: ________________________
C:\General Education\LIVE, Gen ed revision 2008-10\Foundations\Oral Communication\Oral Communication Testout from Ray Preiss 6.25.12.docx
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