Description

About the Course A report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows that employers want job candidates with strong communication skills. Similarly, educational success also requires the ability to articulate your thoughts clearly. In this class, we will study the principles of public speaking and critically examine our own and others’ speeches through interactive practice. Unlike many oral communication courses and textbooks, this class spends a fair bit of time working through the unique traits of oral versus written communication in order to help students prepare speeches that are easier to deliver orally and understand aurally. By becoming a student of public speaking, you join a long history of rhetorical study dating back to ancient Greece. Learning objectivesThe overriding goal of this course is to demystify the process of writing, practicing, and performing a clear and engaging speech. In so doing, I hope this course can help each student improve the quality of their speeches and confidence with which they present them. More specifically, upon successfully completing this course, you should be able to: •design and deliver basic presentations concisely; •design and deliver informative presentations clearly; •design and deliver complex arguments persuasively; •speak confidently with appropriate rate, projection, movement, and vocal variety; and •evaluate and critique speeches insightfully. Course ScheduleWeek 1: Course overview and key terms Week 2: Preparing impromptu speeches Week 3: Delivering impromptu speeches Week 4: Informative speech basics Week 5: Preparing informative speeches Week 6: Delivering informative speeches Week 7: Persuasive speech basics Week 8: Preparing persuasive speeches Week 9: Delivering persuasive speeches Week 10: Course Conclusion