Course Number:
COMM 111Z
Transcript Title:
Public Speaking
Created:
Aug 04, 2022
Updated:
Apr 26, 2023
Total Credits:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture / Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement:
No
Satisfies General Education requirement:
Yes
Grading Options
A-F, P/NP, Audit
Default Grading Options
A-F
Repeats available for credit:
0
Prerequisites

WR 121 or WR 121Z; placement into MTH 65 or MTH 98

Course Description

Emphasizes developing communication skills by examining and demonstrating how self-awareness, audience, content, and occasion influence the creation and delivery of speeches and presentations. Prerequisites: WR 121 or WR 121Z; placement into MTH 65 or MTH 98. Audit available.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Develop messages for diverse audiences, purposes, and contexts.
  2. Identify and utilize skills to manage communication apprehension.
  3. Deliver and adapt speeches and/or presentations to live audiences.
  4. Evaluate public speeches, including their own, by identifying aspects of preparation, credibility, logic, and delivery.

Alignment with Institutional Learning Outcomes

Major
1. Communicate effectively using appropriate reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. (Communication)
Major
2. Creatively solve problems by using relevant methods of research, personal reflection, reasoning, and evaluation of information. (Critical thinking and Problem-Solving)
Not Addressed
3. Extract, interpret, evaluate, communicate, and apply quantitative information and methods to solve problems, evaluate claims, and support decisions in their academic, professional and private lives. (Quantitative Literacy)
Minor
4. Use an understanding of cultural differences to constructively address issues that arise in the workplace and community. (Cultural Awareness)
Not Addressed
5. Recognize the consequences of human activity upon our social and natural world. (Community and Environmental Responsibility)

To establish an intentional learning environment, Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) require a clear definition of instructional strategies, evidence of recurrent instruction, and employment of several assessment modes.

Major Designation

  1. The outcome is addressed recurrently in the curriculum, regularly enough to establish a thorough understanding.
  2. Students can demonstrate and are assessed on a thorough understanding of the outcome.
    • The course includes at least one assignment that can be assessed by applying the appropriate CLO rubric.

Minor Designation

  1. The outcome is addressed adequately in the curriculum, establishing fundamental understanding.
  2. Students can demonstrate and are assessed on a fundamental understanding of the outcome.
    • The course includes at least one assignment that can be assessed by applying the appropriate CLO rubric.

Suggested Outcome Assessment Strategies

The determination of assessment strategies is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: writings (journals, self-reflections, pre writing exercises, essays), quizzes, tests, midterm and final exams, group projects, presentations (in person, videos, etc), self-assessments, experimentations, lab reports, peer critiques, responses (to texts, podcasts, videos, films, etc), student generated questions, Escape Room, interviews, and/or portfolios.

Course Activities and Design

The determination of teaching strategies used in the delivery of outcomes is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: lecture, small group/forum discussion, flipped classroom, dyads, oral presentation, role play, simulation scenarios, group projects, service learning projects, hands-on lab, peer review/workshops, cooperative learning (jigsaw, fishbowl), inquiry based instruction, differentiated instruction (learning centers), graphic organizers, etc.

Course Content

Outcome #1: Develop messages for diverse audiences, purposes, and contexts.

  • Understand foundational communications theory
    • Basic Communication Model
    • Aristotle’s Communication Model
  • Crafting a message
    • Understanding the purpose
    • Formulating thesis
    • How introduction sets tone
    • Beginning, middle, and end
  • Identifying and understanding audiences
    • Formal and informal settings
    • Environment as relating to message crafting
  • Introduction to unspoken communication skills
    • Parlinguistics
    • Body language/Kinesics
    • Posture
    • Positioning/Space
    • Eye Contact

Outcome #2: Identify and utilize skills to manage communication apprehension.

  • Understanding relationship to environment and communication style apprehension
  • Relaxation techniques
    • Deep breathing
    • Audience focus
    • Relaxed practice
  • Positive reinforcement techniques
    • Positive self-talk
      • Identify self-success metrics

Outcome #3: Deliver and adapt speeches and/or presentations to live audiences.

  • Identify audience types
  • Create targeted speeches utilizing tools, skills, and theories

Outcome #4: Evaluate public speeches, including their own, by identifying aspects of preparation, credibility, logic, and delivery.

  • Review speeches in different settings and audience types
  • Apply tools and skills to compare and contrast speeches
  • Apply critical understanding of techniques and theory to speeches

Suggested Texts and Materials

Public Speaking Project (OER)
Essentials of Public Speaking, by Cheryl Hamilton, 6th ed., published by Wadsworth.