Syllabus for COM-209
PUBLIC SPEAKING
This course focuses on the skills necessary for effective public speaking: organizing materials, selecting appropriate content, developing a comprehensive outline, integrating visual aids effectively, and using an appropriate style of delivery. Students learn the principles of public speaking and critical thinking including the discovery and evaluation of arguments and evidence, organization, style, audience analysis and adaptation, speech composition, and presentation skills. This course prepares students to develop professional presentations in the increasingly diverse workplace.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
CO1 Articulate public speaking ethics.
CO2 Identify appropriate supporting material to strengthen speeches such as statistics, testimony, and examples.
CO3 Develop effective introductions, conclusions, and transitions for speeches.
CO4 Demonstrate the effective use of organizational speech patterns.
CO5 Effectively demonstrate delivery techniques in speeches.
CO6 Develop a comprehensive outline for a persuasive speech.
CO7 Develop a comprehensive outline for an informative speech.
CO8 Integrate visual aids effectively into speech delivery.
You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. To purchase course materials, please visit the University's textbook supplier.
Public Speaking is a three-credit, online course consisting of six modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.
For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete written assignments, and complete a PowerPoint and video presentation, a podcast activity, and two video speeches. See below for details.
Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in this document.
You are required to participate in seven online discussions. Communication with your mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online class discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a discussion question and at least two subsequent comments on classmates' responses.
All of these responses must be substantial. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate or your mentor, state and support your position.
You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation, including your use of relevant course information to support your point of view, and your awareness of and responses to the postings of your classmates. Remember, these are discussions: responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, mature, and respectful.
You are required to complete five written assignments. The written assignments are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. For specific details consult the individual course modules. Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.
Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.
You are required to create one podcast, using the instructions provided in Module 3. Podcasts are a product of digital media, a reinvention of traditional media. As they proliferate and grow in popularity, it is important to be able to utilize this form of media. You will learn to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the format, and communicate through this form of digital media.
Please reference Module 3 of the course website for full details and requirements. Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
To practice designing and delivering a speech with visual aids, you are required to focus on the visual aid component and effective language for this assignment. This visual presentation with voiceover requires you to demonstrate the effective use of visual aids and vivid language in a speech. Consult Module 4 for more information and the Course Calendar for due dates.
You are required to deliver one informative speech video using research, organization, and outline skills. This speech is not a manuscript speech; you are not to write it out word for word. Consult Module 5 for more details and the Course Calendar for due dates.
You are required to deliver one persuasive speech using research, organization, and outline skills. This speech is not a manuscript speech; meaning, you are not to write it out word for word. However, you may have notes on cards that will help you to keep order and stay on track. Be sure to speak clearly and emphatically, using pauses and vocal variety for emphasis. This speech will be a complete video presentation including, webcam video/audio and PowerPoint visual aids. Consult Module 6 for more details and the Course Calendar for due dates.
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:
A | = | 93–100 | C+ | = | 78–79 | |
A– | = | 90–92 | C | = | 73–77 | |
B+ | = | 88–89 | C– | = | 70–72 | |
B | = | 83–87 | D | = | 60–69 | |
B– | = | 80–82 | F | = | Below 60 |
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a course not in your area of study), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., assignments, discussion postings).
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:
Consider the following study tips for success:
To ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University, familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies including those related to academic integrity, course late submissions, course extensions, and grading policies.
For more, see:
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