Public Speaking
COMM 204 (20378R)
Spring 2015
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:00­10:50 AM, ANN 211 Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism
University of Southern California Instructor: L. Paul Strait, Ph.D. Email: [email protected] Office Hours: MWF 11­12 (ASC 333) Phone: 202­270­6397
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COMM 204: Public Speaking, Spring 2015
I. Course Description & Objectives:
This class covers principles and practices of public speaking, analysis of the speaking­
listening process, selection and organization of speech materials, and the composition and delivery of speeches and presentations. Students will be exposed to a wide range of communication theory and vocabulary, and they will be asked to apply these approaches in several oral communication contexts. The class will also cover a variety of contemporary topics, tied closely to public policy and public culture. Students will learn how to construct and deliver informative, persuasive, and ceremonial speeches, and will acquire skills in creating and integrating effective visual aids. As rhetoric is a practical art, students will have extensive opportunities to put these skills into practice, gaining experience and building competence in a variety of speaking contexts. Students will also strengthen their communicative competence through rhetorical analysis and criticism. Finally, students will gain insight into the strategic challenges and ethical requirements of public speaking, and an enhanced capacity to appreciate the art of the good person speaking well.
This course is designed for both majors and non­majors in communication. Within the communication curriculum, Public Speaking is classified as a methods course (fulfilling half of the methodology requirement for the communication major).
II. Course Materials
Required
Jay Heinrichs, Thank You for Arguing. (Revised & Updated Edition). Three Rivers Press, 2013. [marked TYFA below]
William M. Keith & Christian O. Lundberg, The Essential Guide to Rhetoric. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. [marked TEG below]
Additional readings will be posted on Blackboard. [marked BB below]
Supplementary
The Public Speaking Project. Public Speaking: The Virtual Text. http://publicspeakingproject.org/psvirtualtext.html [marked PSP below]
4 x 6 index cards for presentation notes A current style manual (APA, MLA, or Chicago).
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COMM 204: Public Speaking, Spring 2015
III. Tentative Course Schedule:
**This syllabus represents my current plans and objectives. As we go through the semester, those plans may need to change to enhance the class learning opportunity. Such changes, communicated clearly, are not unusual and should be expected.
Date
Topic
Required Readings / Assignments
Jan 12
Syllabus
Introduction to Course, Public Speaking, and Rhetoric
'Introduction to Public Speaking' (PSP, ch. 1)
Jan 14
Jan 16
Speech: Introduction
'The Rhetorical Tradition' (TEG, ch. 1, pp. 3­14) / (BB)
'Speaking With Confidence' (PSP, ch. 11)
Assigned: Rhetorical Criticism Project
Jan 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – No Class
Jan 21 Speaking to an Audience
Jan 23
'Rhetoric and the Audience' (TEG, ch. 2, pp. 11­23) / (BB)
'Situations & Speech Types' (TEG, ch. 3, pp. 24­31) / (BB)
Rhetorical Situations
'Informative Speaking' (PSP, ch. 16)
Assigned: Informative Speech
Jan 26
Listening
'Listening Effectively' (PSP, ch. 4)
Jan 28
Topic Selection
'Topic Selection & Purpose' (BB)
Jan 30
Delivery
'Delivering Your Speech' (PSP, ch. 12)
Speech: Rhetorical Criticism (Oral)
Due: Rhetorical Criticism (Written)
Due: Informative Speech Topic
Feb 2
Feb 4
Feb 6
Feb 9
Feb 11
Feb 13
Arrangement & Organization
'Organization' (TEG, ch. 5, pp. 55­61)
'Organizing and Outlining' (PSP, ch. 8)
Introductions & Conclusions
'Introductions and Conclusions' (PSP, ch. 9)
'Persuasive Speaking' (PSP, ch. 16)
Speaking to Persuade
Due: Informative Speech Outline Draft
Assigned: Persuasive Speech #1 – Fact/Value
Assigned: Persuasive Speech #2 – Policy
Feb 16
President's Day – No Class
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COMM 204: Public Speaking, Spring 2015
Feb 18
Feb 20
Speech: Informative Speech
Feb 23
Feb 25
Feb 27
Proof & Topoi
'Argument and Persuasion' (TEG, ch. 4, pp. 35­54)
Mar 2
Decorum & Ethos
'Get Them to Like You' (TYFA, ch. 5, pp. 47­56)
'Make Them Listen' (TYFA, ch. 6, pp. 57­67)
Due: Persuasive Speech #1 – Fact/Value Topic
Mar 4
'Use Your Craft' (TYFA, ch. 7, pp. 68­73)
Phronesis & Good Will
'Show You Care' (TYFA, ch. 8, pp. 74­80)
Mar 6
Pathos
'Control the Mood' (TYFA, ch. 9, pp. 81­95)
'Turn the Volume Down' (TYFA, ch. 10, pp. 96­104)
Mar 9
Mar 11
Mar 13
Identification & Definition
'Persuade on Your Terms' (TYFA, ch. 12, pp. 115­127)
Logos
'Control the Argument' (TYFA, ch. 13, pp. 128­141)
'Give a Persuasive Talk' (TYFA, ch. 25, pp. 281­293)
Canons of Rhetoric
'Gain the High Ground' (TYFA, ch. 11, pp. 105­114)
'Capture Your Audience' (TYFA, ch. 26, pp. 294­304)
Due: Persuasive Speech #1 – Fact/Value Outline
Mar 16
Spring Recess – No Class
Mar 18
Mar 20
Midterm Exam
Mar 23
Mar 25
Language & Style
'Using Language Well' (PSP, ch. 10)
Due: Persuasive Speech #2 – Policy Topic
Mar 27
'Style' (TEG, ch. 6, 62­70)
Mar 30
Apr 1
Speech: Persuasive Speech #1 – Fact/Value
Apr 3 Apr 6
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COMM 204: Public Speaking, Spring 2015
Apr 8
Building Policy Cases
'Policy Case Construction' (BB)
Apr 10
Visual Aids
'Visual Aids' (PSP, ch. 13)
Apr 13
Strategy & Tactics
'Use the Right Tools' (TYFA, ch. 27, pp. 305­317)
Due: Persuasive Speech #2 – Policy Outline
Apr 15
Apologia
'Avoid Apologizing' (TYFA, ch. 22, pp. 249­259)
Apr 17
Special Occasions
'Special Occasion Speaking' (PSP, ch. 17)
Assigned: Special Occasion Speech
Apr 20
Apr 22
Apr 24
Speech: Persuasive Speech #2 ­ Policy
Apr 27
Apr 29
May 1
May 11
Intercultural Speech
'Speaking to a Global Audience' (PSP, ch. 14)
Due: Special Occasion Speech Topic
Concluding Thoughts
'Rhetoric in Contemporary Life' (TEG, ch. 7, pp. 71­74)
'Run an Agreeable Country' (TYFA, ch. 28, pp. 318­328)
FINAL EXAM PERIOD – Monday, May 11, 8:00­10:00 AM
Speech: Special Occasion Speech
Readings should be completed before class on the day assigned – Moreover, I expect you to bring your book(s) and/or article(s) to every class session. Lectures will not cover all portions of the assigned readings and will cover additional materials not in the assigned readings; nonetheless, you are responsible for all materials, both in the readings and in lecture, on the exams. IV. Course Requirements & Procedures:
We will meet each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout the semester. Most class sessions will be very interactive as you will be doing activities that will help you create and practice your presentations. This means I am not giving you formal lectures that outline the textbook chapters. It also means you need to have chapters read prior to class and to be able to apply the concepts during in­class activities.
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COMM 204: Public Speaking, Spring 2015
Assignments
You must complete all course requirements to earn a grade in the course. You are responsible for all reading assignments as pop quizzes may be given to determine your preparedness for class. You are responsible for giving speeches on the date when you are scheduled. Late submissions on assignments will result in a letter grade deduction for every day late.
Midterm Exam – 10%
Speeches 60%
­Introduction 0% (Not graded, but must complete)
­Informative 10%
­Persuasive #1 – Fact/Value 15%
­Persuasive #2 – Policy 15%
­Special Occasion 15%
Rhetorical Criticism 15%
­Oral report 7.5%
­Written analysis 7.5%
Participation 20%
Speech Evaluation
A
B
C
D
F
An outstanding speech. Clear goal well adapted to needs and interests of the audience. Excellent content, well­organized, excellent wording and delivery and/or superior accomplishment on the criteria established for that speech.
A speech approaching the qualities of an "A" speech. A good to very good speech, but not achieving a standard of excellence in any or enough areas to merit an "A". A good job of meeting most or all established criteria for that speech.
A satisfactory speech. Reasonably clear goal, adequate support, apparent organization, but may not be entirely clear to the entire audience; some problems in wording or delivery or both; and/or some deficiencies in meeting the major criteria established for that speech.
An unclear goal and serious deficiencies in some and perhaps all areas of content, organization, wording and delivery; and/or serious deficiencies in meeting major criteria established for that speech.
An unacceptable speech that reveals a lack of preparation and/or poor delivery. Failure to meet major criteria established for that speech. For example, being significantly shorter/longer than the time limit or otherwise not conforming to assignment guidelines.
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COMM 204: Public Speaking, Spring 2015
V. Course, School, & University Policies
Academic Integrity ­ The Annenberg School for Communication is committed to upholding the University's academic integrity code. It is the policy of the School of Communication to report all violations of the code. Any serious violation or pattern of violations of the academic integrity code will result in the student's expulsion from the Communication major or minor. The University presumes that you are familiar with its standards and policies; should you be found to have committed a violation, ignorance of these standards and policies will not be accepted as an excuse. You should be familiar with the following resources:
* “Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism” addresses issues of paraphrasing, quotations and citations in written assignments, drawing heavily upon materials used in the university's Writing Program (by Student Judicial Affairs): http://www.usc.edu/student­affairs/student­
conduct/plag.html * “Understanding and Avoiding Academic Dishonesty” addresses more general issues of academic integrity, including guidelines for adhering to standards concerning examinations and unauthorized collaboration (by Student Judicial Affairs): http://www.usc.edu/student­
affairs/SJACS/forms/tio.pdf * The "2014­2015 SCampus" (the student handbook) contains the university's Student Conduct Code and other student­related policies: http://scampus.usc.edu/1300­academic­
integrity­review/ *The USC Code of Ethics: https://about.usc.edu/files/2011/07/USC_Code_of_Ethics_2004.pdf *USC Annenberg School of Communication Policy on Academic Integrity: “USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. SCampus, the Student Guidebook, (www.usc.edu/scampus or http://scampus.usc.edu) contains the University Student Conduct Code (see University Governance, Section 11.00), while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A. All academic integrity violations will be reported to the office of Student Judicial Affairs & Community Standards (SJACS), as per university policy, as well as Communication school administrators. In addition, it is assumed that the work you submit for this course is work you have produced entirely by yourself, and has not been previously produced by you for submission in another course or Learning Lab, without approval of the instructor.”
Attendance – Because of the practical nature of public speaking, your attendance is crucial, as most classes will involve some sort of exercise or active discussion in addition to the lecture. Accordingly, I will take attendance regularly. Any unexcused absences will 7
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COMM 204: Public Speaking, Spring 2015
negatively affect your grade, as will regularly missing portions of class. Absences due to university activities (conferences, competitions, etc.) must be discussed with the instructor before the relevant class period and proof of activity must be submitted in writing. Arrangements concerning absences are entirely at the instructor's discretion.
Grievance Procedure ­ Occasionally, students are dissatisfied with some dimension of a course. In such cases, students should first provide a written argument in support of their position to the instructor and request a meeting with the instructor. All grade appeals on specific assignments must be made within one week of the return of the assignment.
Special Assistance ­ Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Website and contact information for DSP: http://sait.usc.edu/academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.html, (213) 740­0776 (Phone), (213) 740­6948 (TDD only), (213) 740­8216 (FAX) [email protected].
Use of E­mail for Official Correspondence to Students – All students should become familiar with the University's official e­mail student notification policy. It is the student's responsibility to keep the University informed as to changes in his or her e­mail address. Students are expected to check e­mail on a frequent and regular basis in order to stay current with University­related communications, recognizing that certain communications may be time­critical. It is recommended that e­mail be checked daily, but at a minimum, twice per week. I will often send out materials via blackboard’s email tool, which will go to your USC e­mail account.
Stress Management – Students are under a lot of pressure. If you start to feel overwhelmed, it is important that you reach out for help. A good place to start is the USC Student Counseling Services office at 213­740­7711. The service is confidential, and there is no charge.
Sexual Assault Resource Center – The Center for Women & Men and the Sexual Assault Resource Center are one and the same. Student Counseling Services is a separate place that also offers confidential counseling and support groups on a variety of other topics. To schedule an appointment with Student Counseling Services, call (213) 740­7711 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or visit the Engemann Student Health Center on the University Park Campus.
Emergency Preparedness/Course Continuity in a Crisis – In case of a declared emergency if travel to campus is not feasible, USC executive leadership will announce an electronic way for instructors to teach students in their residence halls or homes using a combination of Blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technologies. 8
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