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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Carolina De Luca
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 11:30-12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides students with an introduction to the fundamentals of rhetoric and how they are applied in oral communication, and how these principles and concepts lead to effective public speaking. Students will learn how to prepare and organize persuasive speeches by learning the fundamental structures of the persuasive speech. In addition, students will begin to acquire basic skills in critical reasoning, including how to structure a thesis statement and support it through a specific line of reasoning using idea subordination, coordination, and parallel structure.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Through the analysis of the more fundamental aspects of classical rhetoric students will learn to prepare and deliver effective and persuasive public speeches.  The course will also focus on critical thinking: choosing a topic; brainstorming; forming a thesis and supporting it with specific, effective, and persuasive logical argumentation and data.  The practice of critical listening will be an important element of the course. Students will give peer critiques and reviews, and will learn to give and accept constructive criticism. Sessions will involve debates centered around the content of, and the issues raised by, the speeches. Attention will be given to improving English vocabulary, pronunciation and use.  By the end of the course, students will be able to confidently give a 10-15 minute speech employing the principles, criteria and techniques studied in the course. They will also understand the importance of free speech and the ethical values implicit in speaking in a public forum.

Students will craft and deliver the following types of speeches: Informative, Motivational, Extempore, Pro and Con and Persuasive (final)
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will become better speakers and listeners. They will develop a deeper awareness of their own strengths and shortcomings; they will able to hone the former and improve on the latter.

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
TED TALKS: The Official Ted Guide to Public SpeakingAnderson, Chris.Mariner Books978-1328710284  
Winning Arguments Fish, Stanley.Harper Collins978-0062226679  
Fearless SpeechFoucault, MichelSemiotext(e)978-1584350118  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
   
4 Speeches 40%
Final Persuasive Speech 30%
Attendance and Participation (More than 3 absences will affect your grade)10%
Midterm: Motivational Speech 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students with low attendance do poorly in this class.

After 3 absences, you may be invited to withdraw from the course.  You will be unable to make-up any missed assignments without a legitimate written excused absence.  Students must attend class on speech days; there will be no makeup speeches as a general rule.

You will be marked as absent if you use mobile telephones without permission in class. 

During student speeches you are not allowed to use the restroom. If you arrive late on speech days, enter the room when you hear the applause. 

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE (schedule may vary):

 

WEEK 1

STUDENT INTRODUCTIONS

COURSE INTRODUCTION

FOCUS: CLASSICAL RHETORIC

 

WEEK 2

FOCUS: INFORMATIVE

 

WEEK 3

SPEECH DAY: INFORMATIVE 

MARY BEARD: Women and Public Speaking


WEEK 4

FOCUS: FAMOUS SPEECHES

PERFORMANCE and ANALYSIS


WEEK 5

FOCUS: PRESENCE, BREATHING TECHNIQUES, SELF-CONFIDENCE

MOTIVATIONAL TOPICS


WEEK 6

MOTIVATIONAL: FOCUS

EXTEMPORE PRACTICE


WEEK 7

SPEECH DAY: MOTIVATIONAL MIDTERM


WEEK 8

SPEECH DAY: MOTIVATIONAL MIDTERM

 

WEEK 9

FOCUS: SPEECH PRO AND CON



WEEK 10

SPEECH DAY: PRO AND CON

  

WEEK 11

GUEST SPEAKERS

Parrhesia Truth and Risk

SOCRATES' APOLOGY


WEEK 12

SPEECH DAY: EXTEMPORE SPEECHES


WEEK 13

FOCUS: PERSUASIVE

 

WEEK 14

FINALS WORKSHOP


WEEK 15

SPEECH DAY: PERSUASIVE FINAL (with multimedia option)