COMMUNICATION 2040 Public Speaking
Fall 2010
Louie Petit E-Mail:
Office Location: GAB 226 Office Hours: By Appointment
Cellular Phone: (417) 459-0350Tu/Th 2:00-3:20pm PHYS 112
Course Overview:
This course is designed to inform students that speaking in front of an audience is more than simply gaining the skill of public speaking. It is learning how to organize your thoughts, to present information to a specific audience, to use language effectively. These skills are all things each of us need to know for any interaction, both privately and publicly; therefore, learning to speak in public can help give you the confidence to speak in any situation.
Course Objectives:
• To create confidence in one's abilities as a public speaker.
• To foster an open environment for discussion in an atmosphere of intellectual exchange.
• To explore the use of rhetorical strategies in argumentation and controversy in a variety of contexts.
Given that this course is designed to discuss our own speaking, it is important to recognize that we all have to speak in front of one another and comment on each other’s speeches. You should know that your opinions are valid, and that you are invited to share any relevant opinions during class discussion. The class discussions may be very energetic, but all relevant political opinions are valued.
Grading:
Your final grade will be based upon the following breakdown:
Informal Assignments50 points
Special Occasion speech50 points
Narrative Speech75 points
Informative Speech100 points
Persuasive Speech - Policy Proposition 150 points
Speech Critique paper50 points
Final Paper100 points
Grade Distribution:
517 – 575= A
460 – 516 = B
367 – 459= C
345 – 366= D
344 and Below = F
Readings for the Course:
Public Speaking. Michael Osborn, Suzanne Osborn, Randall Osborn8th Edition
Assignments:
Informal Assignments –
1) Discussion of varying “Topics in Speech” – You will each be expected to discuss the tasks and skills we have done to learn about speaking and to help you improve our speaking skills.
2) Impromptu speeches – At varying times throughout the semester we will do impromptu speeches. These may be on any topic. This will include, but is not limited too, introduction speeches, an advertisement speech, and a balloon speech.
3) Speech Analyses – Throughout the semester we will discuss several types of speeches and examine famous examples of these forms to understand them. You will be expected to be able to speak about the example speeches.
Speech 1- Special Occasion/Epideictic Speech
This is a 2-4 minute speech in which you address a special situation and/or a special audience. There is an assignment sheet at the bottom of the syllabus.
Speech 2 – Narrative Speech
This is a 3-5 minute speech in which you are to tell us a story that has a moral, convincing us that the moral is important for us to know. There is an assignment sheet at the bottom of the syllabus.
Speech 2- Informative Speech
This is a 4–6 minute speech in which you identify a particular problem that the audience should be aware of. In this speech your primary goal will be to inform your audience of the importance of a particular issue. There is an assignment sheet at the bottom of the syllabus.
Speech 3 – Policy Proposition/Argumentation –
This is a 6-8 minute speech in which you develop a comprehensive argument identifying a serious argument and advocating a particular position. There is an assignment sheet at the bottom of the syllabus.
Speech Critique paper -
Part of this class is theoretical -- what makes a good speech. You are to listen to a live speech (live to you, not televised) and, using the textbook, explain the aspects listed on the handout.
Final Paper – 3-5 pages
You will write a paper that discusses how you will use the skills you have mastered during this class and how those skill will your succeed in either your academic or professional career. This is not a research paper and you should only draw on the knowledge you learned during the class and apply that knowledge to your future life.
Disabilities Accommodation:
The University of North Texas complies with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The University of North Texas provides academic adjustments and auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities, as defined under the law. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation, please see the instructor and/or contact the Office of Disability Accommodation at 940-565-4323 during the first week of class.
Attendance
Much of your success in this course depends on your active participation in the daily class discussions. Consequently, you are expected to attend every class session and to be on time. You will be allowed 3 absences with no deductions from your participation grade and/or overall . The term absence used in this policy does not apply to “authorized absences” as defined in the UNT Undergraduate Catalog.
Assignments and Requirements
All assignments are due on the dates that are specified by the instructor and must be submitted prior to or during class (not by the end of the day). Late assignments are not accepted, and, excepting authorized absences, make-up assignments will not be scheduled. When a reading assignment is listed in the syllabus for a given day, you should complete the reading assignment by that day. Moreover, you will be give your speech on the day it is assigned. Students will not be able to change speech dates once they have been scheduled by the instructor.
Completing the Course
Students are expected to complete all assignments for this course during the semester. Assigning a grade of “incomplete” is rare, and in order to request an “I,” the student must meet these requirements: a) The student must have completed at least 75% of the course assignments; b) The student must be passing the course; c) There must be an unforeseen and compelling reason why the course cannot be completed on time.
Student Conduct and Academic Honesty
All students shall adhere to the Code of Student Conduct regarding academic dishonesty, including acts of cheating and plagiarism. Copies of the code are available in the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities (Union 319). You should make yourself aware of the university’s policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism, and you should know that any infractions of this policy will be dealt with seriously, including an F on a project/assignment, and a report to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.
Additional Policies and Procedures:
Tardiness: If you arrive late, please enter quietly and sit down. Do not walk in front of speakers or disrupt the class in any other way.
Cell Phones: Please remember to turn off phones prior to class.
This syllabus is not a contract. It is a guide and may be changed by the professor at any time without prior notice.
Special Occasion Speech
This is an epideictic speech – a speech of praise or blame. This type of speech is most frequently seen in modern cultures as eulogies, toasts (e.g. for a wedding) and as an introduction for speakers (e.g. at lectures or graduation).
This speech should be 2-4 minutes long. This is not much time so you must focus your speech. You may pick one of these forms of special occasion speeches: tribute, toast, eulogy.
You should prepare an outline for the speech. No one may use a speech manuscript – you must use an outline. Your outline should be typed or handwritten and fit on one side of an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper.
Make sure you practice at home and watch your time. You will be allowed 15 seconds on either side, then you will begin to lose one point per second you are over or under time.
Tribute Speech
The subject may be historical or contemporary, famous or obscure. This speech is not designed to be particularly informative nor persuasive, although it will likely be some of both as you give us details and attempt to convince us of the worth of that information. It focuses especially on using language imaginatively and expressively as a means to enhance clarity and vividness. Your fundamental purpose is not just to inform your listeners, rather to inspire them--to arouse and heighten their appreciation of or admiration for the person, group of people, or institution you are praising. If you are paying tribute to a person, for example, you should not compose a biography that simply recounts details of the person's life. Rather, you should create a speech that goes beyond biography, that clearly shows why the entity is worthy of praise, that penetrates to the essence of your subject, and generates in your audience a deep sense of respect and appreciation.
As you prepare your speech of tribute, keep the following items in mind:
1. Do not exaggerate the tribute so that it becomes unbelievable to the audience. If you are too lavish with your praise or use too many superlatives, you may embarrass the honoree, and perhaps lessen your credibility.
2. Focus on the honoree. Even if you know what effort the accomplishment required because you have done something similar yourself, don't mention your success at this time. It will only seem that you are praising yourself when the focus should be on your subject.
3. Create vivid, concrete images of accomplishments. Speeches of tribute are occasions for illustrating what someone has accomplished, the values underlying those accomplishments, and their consequences. Tell stories that make those accomplishments come to life.
4. Be sincere. Speeches of tribute are a time for straightforward warmth, pride, and appreciation. Your manner should reflect these qualities as you present the tribute. It is not a roast, an entertainment speech, nor a time for sarcasm.
Toast Speech
You will honor a person at an event such as a wedding, birthday, anniversary or retirement celebration. You should select a real person (friend or family member) and select the occasion you are toasting them at.
As you prepare a toast, keep a couple of things in mind:
1. The use of humor is acceptable, but it should be appropriate to the occasion.
2. The speech is not about you. You can tell stories, but remember to focus on the person(s) being toasted.
3. Be sincere. Toasts should reflect appreciation and affection for the ones being toasted.
Eulogy Speech
You will deliver a eulogy, which is similar to what you might present at a funeral. You should select one person to talk about, which should be a family member or friend.
As you prepare the eulogy, here are a few things:
1. Engage the audience in emotion.
2. Organize ideas in a purposeful, cohesive sequence which meets audience expectations and needs (you may use a format typical of your own religious or cultural tradition).
3. Demonstrate an effective celebratory message in a public context.
Narrative Speech
Telling stories is an important form of communication that gives us not only enjoyment but also a way of understanding our lives. Stories organize our world, allow us to learn without suffering the "real" consequences, preserve what matters to us, entertain us while stretching our mental capacities, promote creativity, and connect each person involved in listening to the story. In all types of stories, the underlying function is to convince the audience to accept or believe the point of our narrative. An effective speaker is one who can transform an everyday story event into a larger theme that transcends differences in geography, culture, social status, gender, and language. This is part of the challenge for you in this assignment.
Stories are characterized by a plot that involves characters, events, narrative tensions, and resolution. Oral stories give listeners a sense of action and drama by developing characterizations, dialogue, vivid descriptions, and using animated delivery. Emotional sincerity and involvement are hallmarks of a good storyteller.
Assignment
For this assignment, you will tell a 3-5 minute story that has a moral (lesson). The purpose of your story telling is to illustrate the importance of the moral or lesson for this audience in order to persuade them to accept your moral. Start by thinking about why the audience might find the point of your story important or instructive. Remember that you need to choose a narrative that is appropriate for this audience and this setting. See handout for full description of the speech.
Topics: Hand into me two possible topics that focus on an important lesson you have learned in life. Give me a brief description of the topics.
Outline: Turn in a full working outline with an introduction, thesis, body, and conclusion.
The introduction should set a context that will help the audience realize the importance of the moral for their lives. Remember to get us involved in the idea of the moral before you move into the thesis-it is no different than any other introduction. The thesis should be the moral itself. Do not start out the story as the introduction, but gently draw us into the thesis.
The story-which is the body of the speech-should be carefully constructed so that you give descriptive details, but do not ramble. Language choices, delivery techniques, and dramatic vocals must be chosen to lend interest and animation to your story.
The conclusion of your speech should be carefully thought out and worded since it is your chance to leave a lasting impression with your audience. It will reinforce the moral or point of the story. You will not finish the story in this area, but reinforce the moral and conclude the speech.
Your speaking outline should use brief notes that guide you through the speech:
· Introduction of the speech, with thesis moving us into the story
· Thesis (the moral)
· Body is the story, fully contained-started, narrated and finished
· Conclusion should wrap up the speech, not the story
***(assignment liberally borrowed from Jennifer Sheppard at MTU)
Informative Speech
In this speech you will inform your audience about the topic of your choice. This could include a biography of a person, a description of an event in history or a current event, a description of a policy or even an object. It can be something as simple as how to bake chocolate chip cookies or something more complicated as how to create web pages. It can be the life and times of Thomas Jefferson or places to camp in the Grand Canyon. In the past I have watched how to take a dent out of a fender, how to file taxes, how to hang wallpaper, how to manage time, how to study well, how to brush your teeth effectively...and so on. I have noticed that when students select easier topics they have a difficult time meeting the requirements of the speech, so make sure you choose a relevant challenging topic. Remember, ALL FORMS OF PERSUASION SHOULD BE AVOIDED – you are only informing the audience.
This speech should be 4-6 minutes long. This is not much time so you must focus your speech.
For this speech, focus on organization and the clear development of ideas. Strive to have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Make sure you have included the parts of an introduction and conclusion that were discussed in lecture and in the book. Clearly develop the body of your speech, having between two and five main points (three or four are probably best for this speech). Don’t forget transitions between main points and between the major sections of your speech. Please review the organizing your speech lecture notes and relevant chapters in the book for more information on organizing speech, especially the body.
In order to provide accurate information, research is expected. You are expected to have a minimum of 2 sources. Dictionaries, Encloypedias, Wikipedia.com and personal interviews DO NOT count as sources for the minimum requirements, but you may use them as additional sources if you want. You must cite the sources VERBALLY in the speech.
You may use one 4x6 note card for speech delivery. You should not write out the entire speech, instead you should use a brief keyword outline and can utilize both front of back of the card, but can only use one.
Persuasive Speech – Policy Proposal
There are three types of persuasion speeches: speeches on a question of fact, speeches on a question of value, and speeches on a question of policy.
Question of Fact: this is convincing your audience that something happened or that it will happen. It can be proven or not proven; it can use information which is documented or speculated. A speech that tries to convince the audience that the Blazers will make the play-offs this year would be a speech on a question of fact. Lawyers always use speeches on a question of fact. They present the "facts" and help the jury see them in a manner to prove their clients innocent. When Oliver Stone made his movie about the conspiracy in the assassination of JFK, he was using persuasion on a question of fact. Any speech on the existence of Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster would be a speech on a question of fact.
Question of Value: this is convincing your audience on the value of something. A speech that tries to convince us the importance of good health or that euthanasia is morally justifiable would be a speech on a question of value. It is persuading us of the worthiness/unworthiness of something. It uses both a question of fact and a question of value.