Take your Public Speaking course online today!
Home / FAQs / Online Degrees / Certificate Courses / Admission Policies / Class Rooms / Request Info.

Canyon College

online Public Speaking course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: PUBLIC SPEAKING

Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:
Phone: 		JC360 - Public Speaking
Business/Criminal Justice
Carol Morgan, Ph.D. E-Mail - Vita
(937)429-2781 or (937)775-2829


COURSE DESCRIPTION/OBJECTIVES:

Communicating with others is an activity we all do with a fair amount of expertise. However, there are many times when communication creates feelings of dissatisfaction, confusion, or unexpected outcomes. Improving the way we manage such situations often requires that we develop a sixth sense, an "uncommon sense" that allows us to see communication in new ways. That is the goal of this course: to better understand communication situations, more specifically, public speaking, and thus to improve your skills.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: - Online Bookstore

Mastering Public Speaking, Third Edition, by George L. Grice and John F. Skinner.   Allyn and Bacon (Pearson).
ISBN-13: 9780205270927   ISBN: 0205270921

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

Cheating and plagiarism are acts of academic dishonesty, and are fundamentally dishonorable. Either of these behaviors will result in a final course grade of "F" for the student(s) involved. In addition, a report of these violations should be made to me. Cheating is the giving/receiving of information about test questions to/by someone who has taken a test, is in the process of taking a test, or will take it later. Cheating also occurs if someone turns in work actually done by another person. Plagiarism is written or oral use of another person's words or ideas without appropriate citation or credit being given.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Since this course is being taken via the Internet, there are several options you can choose for assignments.

Option #1: Videotaping Your Speeches

This option requires you to videotape yourself giving three speeches. Obviously, this requires access to video equipment, which not everyone has. However, if you do, this is one of your choices.

You will be required to videotape your speeches and send them in the mail to an address that will be provided for you at a later date. If at all possible, I would like you to gather as many people as you can for your "audience." This can be your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. This is not an absolute requirement, but it will help you get the "real-life" experience. If you cannot round up enough people for your audience, then simply tape yourself giving the speech to the camera.

You will be required to videotape three different speeches. All three of these speeches should be on the same tape. Also, you will need to send one full sentence outline for each speech.

The three speech assignments are:

1. DATE OF BIRTH SPEECH:

The topic for this speech is to research what happened in your community, your state, the nation, or the world, the actual day you were born. For example, if you were born on October 4, 1978, you need to find at least two sources that tell you what happened that day (like the New York Times, Newsweek, or a local newspaper). The time requirement for this speech is 3 to 5 minutes. You will be required to turn in a full content outline for a separate grade. The following areas will be emphasized:
  1. Introduction
  2. Conclusion
  3. Organization
  4. Transitions
  5. Research
  6. Delivery
2. INFORMATIVE SPEECH:

Choose a topic of interest to you and your audience. Narrow the topic so it can be presented in 6 to 8 minutes. You must use a visual aid for this speech. You also must have at least 3 outside sources (books, magazines, articles, etc.). Your speech will be evaluated both on content and delivery. Again, an outline will be graded separately. The following areas will be emphasized:
  1. Introduction
  2. Supporting material
  3. Transitions
  4. Conclusion
  5. Language
  6. Visual Aids
  7. Delivery
    - Extemporaneous, eye contact, movement/gestures, voice etc.
3. PERSUASIVE SPEECH:

The general purpose of this speech is to help your audience to change their attitudes and/or behavior. Again, choose a topic of interest to you and your audience and narrow it so it can be presented in 8 to 10 minutes. As with the informative speech, you need to have 3 outside sources and an outline. In addition to the same requirements as the informative speech, the persuasive speech will be graded on:
  1. Developing a clear and important need
  2. Providing a clear and workable solution
  3. Visualizing the results of the solution
  4. Motivating listeners to action
  5. Using appropriate and effective reasoning for your arguments
MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS:

Both the midterm and final exams will consist of the following format:
-30 multiple choice questions worth 4 points each.
-10 true/false questions worth 3 points each.
-Total: 150 points for each exam
BREAKDOWN OF FINAL GRADES:

Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Date of Birth Speech
Outline
Informative Speech
Outline
Persuasive Speech
Outline

Total Points Possible: 		150
150
100
100
100
100
100
100

900


Option #2: Speech Critiques

If you are unable to videotape your speeches, your alternative is to write papers critiquing three speeches. For this route, you will be required to:

(1) Attend 3 public speeches in your community. OR

(2) Watch 3 speeches on television or videotape. Each paper should be a minimum of 3 pages, and should consist of the following:
MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS:

Both the midterm and final exams will consist of the following format:
-30 multiple choice questions worth 4 points each.
-10 true/false questions worth 3 points each.
-Total: 150 points for each exam
BREAKDOWN OF FINAL GRADES:

Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Paper #1
Paper #2
Paper #3

Total Points Possible: 		150
150
200
200
200

900


Option #3: Alternative Arrangements:

If you can neither find access to a video camera nor find three speeches to critique, alternative arrangements can be made on an individual basis. Please contact me at either or both of my email addresses (cmorgan@canyoncollege.edu) to discuss potential alternatives. If you choose this path, you will still be required to take both the midterm and final exams.