SS’01--Com101

Public Speaking

 

Instructor:              Dr. Wood, Chair, Communication Studies

                         Office: 106 Independence Hall

                         Phone: 874-4030 //  Fax: 874-4722 

             Email: DocWood@uri.edu

 

Text:  The Art of Public Speaking (6th edition) by Stephen E. Lucas

 

Course Objectives: to learn how to speak effectively and with confidence.  Specifically, we will examine how to select appropriate topics, how to research them, organize them and present them effectively.  The course is divided into two phases: theory and practice.  In order to have enough time to practice, we will handle the theory phase quickly and intensely. 

 

Calendar Strategy: The course is divided into three distinct sections:

 1. Weeks 1 & 2 -- readings and tests

 2. Week 3 -- drills

 3. Weeks 4 & 5 -- two speeches per week

 

Week 1:              Monday, May 21  Introduction to the course

                        Tuesday, May 22  Chapters 1-3

                        Wednesday, May 23 Chapters 4-6

                        Thursday, May 24 Test, Chapter 1-6

Week 2:              Monday, May 28  no class , Memorial Day

                        Tuesday, May 29  Chapters 7 & 8

                        Wednesday, May 30 Chapters 9 & 10

                        Thursday, May 31 Chapters 11 & 12

Week 3:              Monday , June 4  Test, Chapters 7-12

                        Tuesday, June 5  Drills, Intros & Conclusions

                        Wednesday, June 6 Drills, Main points

                        Thursday, June 7  Drills

Week 4:              Monday, June 11  Speech 1, group 1

                        Tuesday, June 12  Speech 1, group 2

                        Wednesday, June 13 Speech 2, group 1

                        Thursday, June 14 Speech 2, group 2

Week 5              Monday, June 18  Speech 3, group 2

                        Tuesday, June 19  Speech 3, group 1

                        Wednesday, June 20 Speech 4, group 2

                        Thursday, June 21 Speech 4, group 1

 

Beginning Monday, June 5, you must bring to every class a blank VHS video tape.  One tape is all you will need, but you will need to bring it for every class beginning with the June 7th class.

 

Grading: the exams will total 30% of your grade, 20% for drill work & participation, and 10% for the first  two speeches and 15% for the last two speeches.  As you know, the summer session is quite short and your  attendance is expected.

 

 

 

Speeches 1 & 3 are speeches to inform and speeches 2 & 4 are speeches to persuade.  You will need one topic for both speeches 1 & 2 and you will need one other topic for speeches 3 & 4. Each speech (1-4) is expected to be 5-8 minutes in length (therefore try for 6-7 minutes).  Speakers may use a speaker’s outline, but the less dependent on notes, the better!

 

Topics must be chose from the last 18 months of current events.  All research supporting your speech must be no older than 2000.

 

 

Speech Assignments

 

            Your first two speeches (and then your third and fourth speeches) are linked by a common topic.  That is, you will use the same topic and often much of the same research for the first two speeches. You will select another topic of contemporary importance for the third and fourth speeches.  The first and third speech are speeches to inform and the second and fourth speech are speeches to persuade.  Using a common topic, you must be careful to keep the distinctions between a speech to inform and a speech to persuade.

 

            The time minimum for each speech is five minutes and the time maximum is 8 minutes. Violations of the time parameters will negatively affect your grade.  Hint: one way to know you are within the time parameters is to practice your speech out-loud, often, and time it!  There really is no excuse for serious time violations--long or short.

 

            Topic: select an issue of contemporary importance.  Your research should minimally include five sources.  One source should be the trigger article and not be older than January 1, 2001!  Your trigger article is the one article that inspired or confirmed your topic selection.  The other five sources must all be dated 2000 or 2001.  If you can’t find five articles, books, etc. in the last 18 months, then the topic does not warrant the label “contemporary importance.”  A full bibliography should be included in each preparation outline with the trigger article listed first in bold print. You are expected to quote from your sources (and identify them as you quote from them) in every speech.

                       

            Outlines: you are required to computer generate both a preparation and speaker’s outline (see text for detailed models of each).  Print one copy of each for you and one copy of each for me.  Also, save all your outlines on your computer disk.  The outlines are to be turned in to me when you are called upon to speak.  When you speak, you must use only the speaker’s outline.  I am available to review your outlines with you anytime before the day you are assigned to speak.

 

            Visual Aids: you are required to computer generate at least one visual aid for each speech and more if warranted by the information you are presenting.  You may also use virtually any type of visual aids (models, etc.), but at least one visual aid must be computer generated.  I am available to review your visual aids with you anytime before the day you are assigned to speak.

www.mhhe.com/lucas