Fundamentals of Public Speaking
(fulfills GESE, 3 units)
Professor: Dr.
Jeanne Flora
Office: Founders Hall, Room 109
Phone and e-mail: 909-593-3511 ext. 4451 floraj@ulv.edu
Course Rationale, Description, and Goals:
Communication skills are essential to personal and academic success. Professionally, people with good communication skills have brighter career prospects, given that employers continually identify the ability to communicate well as a key factor in decisions about hiring, promotion, and advancement.
A primary goal of this class is to help you become a more effective and comfortable public speaker. You will learn principles of communication theory and how to apply those principles to the management of speaking situations. The course focuses on informative and persuasive forms of public speaking--both forms of speaking common to the workplace.
A secondary goal of the course is to improve interpersonal communication skills used in both private and public relationships. A significant portion of our everyday communication at work and home happens in private and small group settings. Understanding ourselves and how we communicate in private and small group contexts is often very useful for improving our public communication skills.
Text: Osborn, S., & Motley, M. T. (1999) Improving
communication.
(Text is available for purchase at the ULV bookstore.)
Course Requirements (Including Special Features and Equipment/Cost)
1. SPEECHES: You will give a total of two speeches, an informative and persuasive
speech. You will receive a detailed speech assignment well before you present the speech so you know the expected format, length, requirements, etc.
You may present the speeches in one of two ways. One way is to videotape your speech in front of three audience members of your choice. This method requires that you have access to a video camera and can put your speech on a videotape to mail to me. You will need two videotapes throughout the semester. Although minimal, mailing costs and videotape costs belong to you. This option works well for people far from the main campus. Another option is to present your speech to me and other classmates on the main campus on an assigned day. This option requires no videotape or mailing costs.
2. OUTLINES: You will prepare an outline for each speech (the informative and persuasive speech). If you are videotaping your speech, you will mail the outline along with the videotape. If you are presenting the speech to me in person, you will bring the outline with you when you present the speech.
3. QUIZZES: You will take two quizzes. Quizzes will be based on the material covered in lecture notes and the book. Quizzes will not be cumulative. Quizzes will be administered online through a combination of multiple choice and short answer. You will receive detailed information about how to take the quizzes.
4. PAPER: You will write one paper of approximately 5 – 7 pages. You will receive a detailed paper assignment later in the semester. The paper will ask you to reflect on communication situations in real life. You will mail the paper to me by the date listed in the syllabus.
5. INTRODUCTION: You will respond in writing to interview questions to introduce
yourself to the rest of our online class. You will receive interview questions in your material for week 1. The introduction assignment under the assignments button in blackboard will show you how to post your answers on our class discussion board.