Public Speaking Procedures
One of the obvious challenges to an online COMM 101 class is the presentation of public speeches. There are two methods to accomplish this task: (1) Post the presentation via YouTube, or (2) Present the presentation on-campus on the dates specified by the instructor to a live audience of your classmates.
YouTube Option:
This option has some VERY SPECIFIC procedures must be followed exactly or there will be no credit given.
AUDIENCE
Students will be required to find their own audiences for public presentations. These audiences must be made up of at least 10 adults (over 18 years of age). Possible examples might include a Rotary Club, a group of teachers, a church group, a meeting at work, another class you are taking, etc. Something to consider: you need to find an “existing” audience (i.e. a group of people who meet for some reason OTHER than hearing you speak…..) rather than “create” an audience (i.e. invite 10 relatives over for dinner and a speech). The latter is less formal and tends to create difficult attendance, tone, analysis issues. Family situations WILL NOT work.
SITUATION
Speeches must be presented in a formal environment. This might include a classroom setting, a boardroom, a break room at work, a group meeting hall, etc. Speeches should not be presented in someone’s living room, with audience members on couches and the TV in the background. Generally speaking, if the environment looks like the speaker’s living room, it won’t work. A more formal setting will allow the speaker to demonstrate a greater range of nonverbal delivery skills, will be easier to manage with visual aids and movement, and will create a more controlled environment. All of these will make the actual speaking process go much more smoothly.
Speeches without acceptable audiences (demographics and situation) will be returned with a zero grade to the sender. Audience development and adherence to situational rules is a vital and unavoidable part of the course. Speeches that do not adhere to these rules will not meet the requirements for the assignment.
· Students will then film the presentation and upload it to YouTube for viewing (www.youtube.com). After uploading, send the YouTube link to the instructor via email. Students are responsible for getting materials uploaded by the assigned due date. If you have not used YouTube before, do some practice posts ASAP to make sure you understand the format/technology. The upload time stamp will serve as the official due date. You will then email your instructor the outline and supporting information required by each assignment. Feedback will also be returned electronically.
Whoever is taping the presentation must pan the audience at the beginning and end of the presentation in order to give the instructor a feel for the room. Taping of the presentation should be wide enough to see the entire speaker (i.e. no close-ups of the face).
Again, speeches without acceptable audiences will be returned with a zero grade to the sender. Audience development and adherence to situational rules is a vital and unavoidable part of the course. Speeches that do not adhere to these rules will not meet the requirements for the assignment.
****Please note that these requirements, while specific, do not exist to make this course and your public speaking experience more difficult. Rather, they exist to make your public speaking experience a more pleasant one. While you might not see the logic in this now, trust me that formal audiences are much easier to talk in front of than an assembled group of family and friends. To be frank, formal audiences are, by their very nature, polite. They sit quietly, professionally, and respectfully. They are easy to analyze in terms of what they have in common and they are easier to appeal to with specific evidence. Friends and family, while lovely to eat dinner with, do not always make the distinction between the last family birthday party and your very important, academically significant, speech. They are much more likely to cancel at the last minute, show up late, have little (besides genetics) in common to analyze, bring their crying 12 month old with them, and give you grief about this experience at Thanksgiving. It is far easier to use appropriate movement, eye contact and gestures in a formal room than it is to try to navigate around two bean-bag chairs, a couch, and an end table while the phone rings in the background and the neighbor yells at the dog. Seriously, while it will take a bit of advance planning on your part, the most successful speeches (and the ones speakers feel the best about) happen with formal audiences and in formal environments. Just avoid your living room full of relatives and you will be fine J.*****
On Campus Option:
If a student wishes (and has the ability) to come on campus (rather than taping) he/she may give both the informative and the persuasive speeches to an on-campus class audience that I have arranged. I have audiences arranged for:
CSI Campus (room location TBA)
CSI Campus (room location TBA)
The student needs to be let the instructor know in advance if he/she is utilizing this option. I will ask for confirmations in class discussion boards. Rescheduling WILL NOT be permitted, so make certain that you can travel to class on your assigned day before requesting this option. Students who are coming to campus will be REQUIRED to stay for the entire speaking session. You may not leave when your speech is finished. If you cannot make it for the entire time, please use the YouTube option to complete the speech. I also have a great affinity for live audiences in the speeches. As such, students who are coming to campus to give the speech will also receive 5 extra credit points on the overall score.