SPEECH 220a
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING
SPRING 2007
Instructor: Katherine E. Oleson
Class
Meetings:
M-F 9:30 -10:20 a.m. D103
Office Hours: M 8:30-9:20 a.m., T 10:30-12:20 p.m., Wed.
11:30-1:30 p.m. & by appointment in R230U
Phone: 425-564-3050
E-mail: koleson@bcc.ctc.edu
Required Textbook: David Zarefsky, Public Speaking: Strategies for Success, Custom Edition (Allyn
& Bacon, 2005; Pearson Custom Publishing, 2004).
Course Description: This
course is designed to enhance your ability to construct and deliver speeches in
a public forum. The method for improving
your public speaking will be a combination of theory, critical analysis, and
practice. By applying rhetorical theories
to public speeches, you will develop the capacity to critically reflect upon
rhetorical practices. This critical
awareness will be put to use in the strategic planning of your own
speeches. By examining the speeches of
others, you will begin to see what does and does not work in a given speech
situation, and by preparing and delivering your own speeches to the class, your
ability to address an audience will improve. Consistent attendance and active
participation are essential to be successful in this course. I highly recommend that you have a college
level reading ability. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Course Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course,
students will be able to:
1. Identify and analyze the four elements of the rhetorical
situation
2. Explain
and apply an understanding of ethical considerations and responsibilities as a
speaker
3.
Demonstrate critical thinking through critique and analysis of one’s own
speeches as well as others’ speeches
4. Evaluate
credibility of evidence
5. Identify
and analyze lines of argument and fallacies
6. Present
speeches that apply recommendations for effective invention, arrangement,
style, and delivery
Methods of Evaluation:
three graded speeches (200 points each) =
600
three outlines (25 points each) = 75
ten oral/written critiques of classmates (3 points
each) = 30
two self-critiques (20 points each) = 40
four homework assignments (25 points each) =
100
three in-class quizzes (10 points each) = 30
ten MySpeechLab ** pre- & post-test combos (5
points each) = 50
attendance and participation (75 points) = 75
1000 points
SPEAKING ASSIGNMENTS
Introductory Speech (ungraded, 2-3 min.): This
is an icebreaker in which you have the opportunity to tell the audience
something about yourself. The purpose of
this speech is two-fold: to get you speaking in the first week of class, and to
begin to establish your ethos
(personal credibility) for the audience.
Informative Speech (200 points, 5-7 min.): This is a speech in
which you educate your audience about
a subject of genuine controversy in the public forum. Like a classroom lecture or a news report,
this speech should be designed to provide information that is newsworthy,
balanced, and interesting for your audience.
It is crucial that the speech provide balance by offering fair and
accurate information from two opposing sides of the issue. The instructional
focus here will be on invention (that is, researching and choosing appropriate
speech materials) and organization. The
use of visual aids is required.
Persuasive Speech (200 points, 6-8 min.): The topic of this
speech will be the same issue of controversy as your first speech. This speech should be strategically designed
to actually persuade those who disagree
with you to move toward your side on the issue. You will use strategies to weaken their
commitment to an opposition position and/or to convert them to your own
position. The instructional focus will
be on constructing strong arguments before an audience with contrary opinions
without compromising your beliefs.
Visual aids are not allowed for this speech.
Protest Speech (200 points, 4-5 min.): Using the same topic
as the first two graded speeches, this speech imagines a different target
audience. Rather than change the opinions of an opposition
audience, this is a speech of leadership that should be designed to intensify beliefs already held by an
enthusiastic audience who have joined you in protest against those who oppose
your position. You will use strategies
to strengthen a friendly audience’s commitment to a position of dissent that
they share with you and inspire them to take further action to support your
shared cause. This speech round will be
held in an outdoor public location to better approximate the setting in which
protest speeches are typically given.
The instructional goal of this speech will be to develop your ability to
make appropriate choices with regard to language use, and the delivery of such. When giving this speech, you may use no more
than three 3x5 inch notecards.
OTHER ASSIGNMENTS
Outlines (25 points each): One day prior to each speech, you will turn in two copies of your
typed outlines. One copy will be graded
and returned to you, the other will be kept in a department file that is used
to deter plagiarism. The format of those
outlines will be described in more detail in class.
Critiques of Classmates (3 points each): You will
be giving several impromptu speeches throughout the quarter in which you orally
critique a specific aspect of a classmate’s speech. These will be assigned before each speech
round begins. You will also be assigned
to produce written critiques that will be due at the end of the speech round. The more complete, constructive, relevant,
accurate, and clear your oral and written critiques are, the higher your
“critiques of classmates” grade will be.
Self-Critiques (20 points each): You will complete two
written self-critiques in this class.
For your Informative Speech and Persuasive Speech, you will view the
videotape and write short papers that critique the development of your speeches
and your performance according to the evaluation standards set in class. These self-critique papers must be typed,
double-spaced, 2 pgs., and written in 12 pt. Times New Roman font. More details will be provided in class.
Homework Assignments (25 points each): There are
four homework assignments designed to illustrate your understanding of course
material. These homework assignments will be directly transferred to your
speeches. One assignment (HW2) will be done on a blog. More information about
these assignments will be given in class.
Quizzes (10 points each): There will be four quizzes to
ensure that you are keeping up with the reading assignments, that you are
following the lectures and discussions, and that you are paying attention to
the learning environment that is developed during the speech rounds. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped; the
other three will count for 10 points each.
MySpeechLab** pre- & post-tests (5 points each): You will
complete ten of the fourteen pre- & post-test combinations which correspond
to Ch. 1-14 in your text. These will be done online through the MySpeechLab
component of the course and are designed to help you understand the course
material and prepare you for your speeches. You will be required to submit the
results of your pre- and post-tests to me. More details will be provided in
class.
POLICIES
Attendance Policy: Regular class attendance is essential for
participation and will be checked each class meeting. It is your responsibility
to make sure that you are counted as present.
Students more than 10 minutes late will receive an absence for the
class. Students with 5 or more absences will not receive credit for the course.
Grading Scale:
940-1000=
A 730-759= C
900-939=
A- 700-729=
C-
860-899=
B+ 660-699=
D+
830-859=
B 600-659=
D
800-829= B- 0-599=
F
760-799=
C+
Statement on Attendance During Speaking Days: Because participation and
cooperative learning are essential to the academic design of this course, your
absence on a day when you are scheduled to speak or critique hurts your fellow
students and impairs your own learning process.
In addition, failure to give a speech at the proper time, or to produce
an oral critique of a speaker who you were responsible for critiquing,
indicates a lack of kairos (ability
to recognize and respond to what is timely).
This is one of the most serious rhetorical errors that one might commit.
It is why the following rule must be enforced: if you do not appear on a day when you are scheduled to speak, you will
receive a “0” for that speech assignment; if you do not appear on a day when
you are scheduled to orally critique a classmate, you will receive a “0” for
that critique assignment. There are
some ways you can avoid these penalties:
·
If you know you will not be able to make it to class on a day when you
are scheduled to speak (or critique), you can demonstrate your ability to adapt
to the kairotic moment by making arrangements with a classmate to switch speaking
(or critiquing) positions with you. You
must also inform your instructor of this change. If you are traveling on an official athletic
schedule, it is up to you to notify your instructor as soon as possible and to
make arrangements to fit your speaking and critiquing schedule with your
travel.
·
If a serious illness or emergency keeps you from performing your
duties, you should do everything you can to contact your instructor as soon as
possible. Prompt consultation with your
instructor (within 24 hours) and possibly required documentation of the
unavoidable event (e.g. a note from your doctor, a copy of the accident report,
etc.) might result in the scheduling of a make-up speech if the teacher deems
the circumstances that caused the absence to be severe enough to merit
rescheduling and if there is time in the schedule to accommodate a make-up
assignment.
·
Please communicate with your instructor.
Late Written Assignments: For purposes of equity and
fairness for all students, you will be given a reasonable amount of time to
complete all written assignments.
Deadlines for all assignments will be announced in class. An assignment is on time when it is delivered
to the teacher in the class session on the day it is due (or via e-mail when
noted and in the time frame given). If you know you will be absent on the day
an assignment is due or there is an activity planned, make arrangements with me
prior to this. In the event that you
do not turn in your assignment in class on the day it is due, you will be
assessed the following academic penalty: late written assignments will receive
a one point grade reduction for every full day they are late (i.e. B+ to C+).
Statement on Academic
Integrity:
You should know that plagiarism is a serious violation of your contract as a
student and will be treated severely. It
is important for you to understand that plagiarism is any representation of another person’s words or ideas in a manner
that makes it seem as if they were your own, in either oral or written
form. Obviously, this means that you may
not copy another person’s papers or speeches.
But it also means that you should not use another person’s unique
phrases or organizational schemes without making it clear to your audience
where those words or ideas originated. Students caught cheating on a quiz or
assignment will not receive any credit for that portion of the class and will
be reported to the Dean of Student Programs.
In
addition, the same speech or other assignments may not be given for credit in
more than one class. If you are taking
(or have taken) some other course in the department with speech assignments,
you may not recycle a speech by giving it in both classes.
Special
Needs:
Please contact the DSS at 564-2498 or go in person to the DSS reception area of
the
Classroom Conduct: It is important that you exercise
discretion and good judgment regarding visual aids, speech topics, and delivery
of speeches. You should not bring to
class any item which is illegal or prohibited on campus (e.g. drugs, alcohol,
firearms, pornography, any related paraphernalia, etc.). It is also important to keep in mind that you
are unlikely to win the respect or gain the assent of your audience if you say
things that are offensive to them. If
you have any questions about what may or may not be appropriate, ask your
instructor. Please consult with www.bcc.ctc.edu/artshum/policy.html to review
the Arts and Humanities Division statement of Student Procedures and
Expectations as well.
In addition, when engaged in
your role as a speech critic, please be constructive in your comments. This
does not mean that you should ignore the flaws in your classmates’ speeches; on
the contrary, it is your responsibility to identify those flaws and communicate
suggestions for improvement to your classmates.
Always treat your classmates with respect. For example, you should frame
your comments regarding strengths and weaknesses of their speeches in a manner
intended to help them (and you) improve.
SCHEDULE
[Note: We will try to remain on this schedule, but
learning does not always happen according to strict timelines, and unforeseen
events can push us off our ideal timeline.
Therefore, this schedule is subject to change. You will be informed in class of any changes
that evolve over the course of the quarter.]
Day Class
Activity Reading
Assignment
Mon.
Apr. 2 Orientation, Ice Breakers
Tues.
Apr. 3 Basic History of Public
Speaking; Ethics Ch.
1: p. 2-10, 26-37;
Rhetoric
Wed.
Apr. 4 Rhetorical Situation Ch. 1: p. 10-25; Appendix A
Preparing the Introductory
Speech
Thurs.
Apr. 5 Introductory Speeches
Fri.
Apr. 6 Introductory Speeches
Mon.
Apr. 9 The Public Forum; Choosing
an Umbrella Topic Ch. 4: p.
92-112,
An Overview of the three
speeches
Tues.
Apr. 10 Audience Ch.
3
Wed.
Apr. 11 Thesis Ch.
4: p. 113-119
Thurs.
Apr. 12 Research & Supporting
Material
Fri.
Apr. 13 Research &
Supporting Material Ch.
5: p. 120-133
HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT #1: RATIONALE OF TOPIC & THESIS FOR INFORMATIVE SPEECH IS DUE
TODAY BY MIDNIGHT VIA E-MAIL
Apr.
16-Apr. 20 Individual Meetings with
Katherine Sign-up
in class
Mon.
Apr. 16 Research & Supporting
Material Ch5: p. 133-155
Tues.
Apr. 17 Arrangement/Outlines Ch.
7
Wed.
Apr. 18 Arrangement/Outlines Ch.
8;
Thurs.
Apr. 19 Speech Criticism Ch.
2
Fri.
Apr. 20 Delivery and Visual
Aids Ch.
11;
Mon.
Apr. 23 Gallery Walk
DRAFT OUTLINES DUE IN CLASS
Tues.
Apr. 24 Gallery Walk
Wed.
Apr. 25 Individual workday
Thurs.
Apr. 26 Informative Speeches
Fri.
Apr. 27 Informative Speeches
Mon.
Apr. 30 Informative Speeches
Tues.
May 1 Informative Speeches
Wed.
May 2 Informative Speeches
Thurs.
May 3 Informative Speeches
Fri.
May 4 Informative Speeches
Mon.
May 7 Choosing a Persuasive
Thesis
Basics of Argumentation Ch.
6
THESIS DUE BY MIDNIGHT VIA E-MAIL
Tues.
May 8 Arguments & Fallacies
Wed.
May 9 Arguments & Fallacies
(continued)
Thurs.
May 10 No class
Fri.
May 11 Arguments &
Fallacies (continued)
Persuading the Opposition Ch.
14: p. 382-413
HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT #2: RESPOND TO EACH STUDENT’S THESIS ON BLOG BY MIDNIGHT
Mon.
May 14 Argument Walk Activity
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #3 DUE IN CLASS
Tues.
May 15 Organizing the Persuasive
Speech
Critiquing Sample Speeches
Wed.
May 16 Gallery Walk
ROUGH DRAFT OUTLINES DUE IN CLASS
Thurs. May 17 Gallery
Walk
Fri.
May 18 Individual Work Day
Mon.
May 21 Persuasive Speeches
Tues.
May 22 Persuasive Speeches
Wed.
May 23 Persuasive Speeches
Thurs.
May 24 Persuasive Speeches
Fri.
May 25 Persuasive Speeches
Mon.
May 28 No class
Tues.
May 29 Persuasive Speeches
Wed.
May 30 Persuasive Speeches
Thurs.
May 31 Speaking in Protest/Further
Motivating Supporters Protest Chapter
Fri.
June 1 Style Ch.
10
Mon.
June 4 Style (continued)
Ethics & Critiquing
sample speeches
Tues.
June 5 Organizing the protest
speech
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #4 DUE
Wed.
June 6 Delivering the Protest
Speech
Thurs.
June 7 Protest Speeches
Fri. June 8 Protest Speeches
Mon.
June 11 Protest Speeches
FINALS TIME Protest Speeches
Wed. June 13
9:30-11:20 a.m.