Course: ENGL. 115                                                            Instructor: Dianna Russell

Section: 010, Spring 2008                                                   Office Hours: TBA

Classes: T Th 9:30-10:50                                                     Email: drussell@ccp.edu

Rooms: BR-26 and BR-50                                                  Phone: 751-8954

 

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Course Information and Assignment Schedule

 

Required Text and Materials

O’Hair, Dan, et al.  A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking, 2nd Edition.  Boston:

            Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007.

Readings and Exercises (Provided by the instructor)

Dictionary

Folders for Exercises and Class Notes

 

Course Description

Engl. 115:  Expository speaking, to inform, to persuade, to entertain.  Emphasis on

both organization and delivery.  Prerequisites: 101 or 114 (may be taken concurrently).

 

Course Objectives

The purpose of this course is to help you develop as a thinker and a speaker.  It is designed to build your confidence and encourage you to explore increasingly varied and complex kinds of oral expression.  Readings, exercises, and skills practice will familiarize you with the techniques that will make you proficient at speaking before an audience.  In addition, the course will lead you through each stage of speech crafting, from pre-writing and development, through editing, revision, and research, to presentation of a fully articulated and well delivered oral argument.

 

Course Requirements

·        Attendance:  Daily attendance is expected. Unless s/he provides sufficient justification, a student with four or more absences will be withdrawn from the course.  If the absences occur after the withdrawal period, the student will receive an F for the semester.  Lateness or early departure will count as half (1/2) an absence.

·        Deadlines:  Exercises and assignments are expected on their due dates; those not handed in will receive a failing grade.  Late presentations will be penalized one letter grade for each day late.  Work that does not fulfill the instructor’s guidelines or expectations will not be graded, and must be revised.  Students may completely revise one speech to earn a better grade, providing they receive the instructor’s permission.  The revision must be presented during revision week.  Exams may not be revised. 

·        Contact Information:  Students must provide the instructor with a current email address.  Students may also provide a telephone number by which they can be

      contacted, if they so desire.  However, the instructor will not email or call to check on students’ absences/missing assignments.  It is expected that students will

      be responsible for their own success in college.  The instructor is not a babysitter.  Students might consider exchanging email addresses with classmates to keep

      up on missed work.

·        Participation:  Active classroom participation is expected, accounting for 15% of a student’s final grade in 115.  Participation includes class discussion, group work, prewriting, exercises, and conferences.

·        Grading:  The grading breakdown for Engl. 115 is as follows:

A: Excellent    B: Good   C: Average   D: Poor   F: Fail

                        3-Minute Personal Introduction Speech:                                    5%

                        3-Minute Personal Introduction of Another Student:                  5%

                        5-Minute Incident and Lesson Speech:                                      5%

                        3-Minute Impromptu Speech (Concrete Topic):                        5%

                        10-Minute Lecture/Demonstration with Questions:                     10%

                        10-Minute Presentation of Published Speech:                            10%

                        500-Word Written Analysis of Attended Public Speech:            10%

                        5-Minute Impromptu Speech (Abstract Topic):                         10%

                        10-Minute Persuasive Speech:                                                  15%

                        Formal Debate :                                                                       10%

                        Participation:                                                                             15%

                                                                                                                        100%

·        Expectations: When presenting their speeches, students should strive to

                        Use standard English grammar and diction

                        Avoid slang, dialect, or vulgarity except as deliberate devices

                        Maintain appropriate body posture and eye contact

                        Incorporate gestures and facial expressions when necessary

                        Adjust volume to the size of the room and the subject matter

                        Control the rate of speech and its inflection

                        Organize the material in a logical manner

                        Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the topic

                        Maintain classroom dignity and decorum

·        Academic Integrity:  Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated.  Papers and/or presentations that exhibit plagiaristic tendencies will receive F grades.  Second instances of plagiarism will result in an F for the course.  Students who cheat on tests/assignments will receive an F for the course.

·        Special Accommodations:  Students who are registered with the Center on Disability must inform the instructor by the end of the first week of classes if special accommodations are requested.

 

Course Schedule:

Jan. 15-17:  Introduction to Course; Forms of Communication; Audience/Culture; Ethics;

            Plagiarism; Brainstorming and Prewriting.  Have read O’Hair 2-15.  Personal

            Introduction Speeches Assigned.

 

Jan. 22-24:  Listeners and Speakers; Constructive Criticism; Types of Speeches; Steps in

            the Speechwriting Process; Managing Speech Anxiety.  Have read O’Hair 16-34,

            Packet #1.  Personal Introduction Speeches Presented; Peer Reviews; Personal

            Introductions of Another Student Assigned.

 

Jan. 29-31:  Audience Analysis; Topic Selection and Purpose; Thesis Statement;

            Supporting Material; Research.  Have read O’Hair 36-80.  Personal Introductions

            of Another Student Presented; Peer Reviews; Incident and Lesson Speeches

            Assigned.

 

Feb. 5-7:  Organization; Transitions; Outlining; Introduction and Conclusion.  Have

            read O’Hair 82-117, Packet #2.  Incident and Lesson Speeches Presented; Peer

            Reviews.

 

Feb. 12-14:  Language; Delivery Methods; Vocal Control; Body Language.  Have read
            O’Hair 117-139.  Impromptu Speeches Begin; Peer Reviews; Lecture/
            Demonstrations Assigned.

 

Feb. 19:  Professional Development Day – No Classes.

 

Feb. 21:  Presentation Aids; Informative and Persuasive Speeches.  Have read O’Hair
            141-203.  Impromptu Speeches Continue; Peer Reviews.

 

Feb. 26-28:  Special Occasion Speeches; Classroom Presentations.  Development.
            Have read O’Hair 204-221, Packet #3.  Lecture/Demonstrations Begin; Peer

            Reviews; Presentation of Public Speeches Assigned.

 

March 4-6:  Spring Vacation – No Classes.

 

March 11-13:  Presentations in College Classes and Business Situations.  Have read

            O’Hair 221-249.  Lecture/Demonstrations Continue; Peer Reviews; Conferences.

           

March 18-20:  Documentation and Citation; Responding to Questions; Mediated

            Communication; Tips for Non-English Speakers.  Have read O’Hair 252-269.

            Presentation of Public Speeches Begin; Peer Reviews; Analysis of Attended

            Public Speech Assigned.

 

March 25-27:  Group Work.  Impromptu Speeches Begin; Peer Reviews; Persuasive

            Speeches Assigned.

 

April 4:  Last Day to Drop Course with a “W” grade.

 

April 3-5:  Group Work.  Impromptu Speeches Continue; Peer Reviews; Analysis of

            Attended Public Speech Due. 

 

April 8-10:  Persuasive Speeches Begin; Peer Reviews; Formal Debate Assigned.

 

April 15-17:  Persuasive Speeches Continue; Peer Reviews.

 

April 22-24:  Formal Debate. 

 

April 25:  Study Day – No Classes.

 

April 28-May 3:  Fifteenth Week – Conferences.

 

This schedule is subject to change.  Any alterations will be carefully explained.