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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 101-5"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2020
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
James Teasdale
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 1:30-2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
Appointments can be made with the Professor at any point throughout the course
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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.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course primarily aims to provide students with the skills, confidence, command and knowledge to construct and deliver effective speeches. This aim is therefore founded upon parralel focuses on the critical research and construction neccessary for the production of the written piece and the oratorical command and ability neccessary to transmit said piece to the listener. Students will be taught the skills neccessary for critical reading and listening in order to mine relevant data for speeches, the rhetorical modes and written techniques with which to craft a persuasive and engaging speech and the individual rhetorical approaches needed to persuade an audience orally. Alongside this in-depth honing and practicing of skills, will be the fundamental study of why such skills are not only important, but neccessary in the modern world. This being a communications course, the developing of critical reading, thinking and reasoning will serve as vital for further studies and students will be expected to engage thoughtfully with a range of topics touching upon the spheres of media, communication, knwoledge and power.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will develop a range of skills and competences, which, while disparate and defined, are nonethless complimentary and mutually supportive. These broadly fall into three camps. The first informs the student, and improves how this 'informing' takes place through a focus on critical reading, thinking and listening which provides the individual with primary ideas and departure points. The second regards how the student can then transform such ideas and quesitons into an effective and well crafter writeen piece ready for the last camp, which is where students will be able to hone skills neccessary for deploying powerful, incisive and rhetorically sound speeches. In sum, by the end of the course students will udnerstand how to gather information, how to translate this into a written speech and finally how to convince and galvanise listeners through oral presentation.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Speech 1,2,3,4 | | 10 |
| Midterm Speech | | 20 |
| Final Speech | | 30 |
| Attendance | | 10 |
-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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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WEEK 1
Introduction to course, overview of syllabus, student introductions.
Introduction to rhetoric
WEEK 2
Informative speeches
Workshop on informative speech
WEEK 3
Student Speeches
Rhetorical approach and construction
WEEK 4
Expository speeches
Analysis
WEEK 5
Performance workshop
Topic exploration
WEEK 6
Motivational speeches
WEEK 7
Mid-term
WEEK 8
Mid-term
WEEK 9
Pro and cons speeches
WEEK 10
Student speeches
WEEK 11
Comparative analysis
WEEK 12
Persuasive speeches
WEEK 13
Finals workshop
WEEK 14
Finals
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