Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 101-8"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Fenella Joan Collins Smith
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

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:

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.

● The need for public speaking skills,

● Speech anxiety, components of a speech (introduction, support and conclusion),

● audience adaptation,

● choosing, developing, researching and structuring a speech topic,

● freedom of speech and ethical speaking,

● rhetorical devices,

● critical listening,

● verbal and nonverbal public speaking cues,

Students will craft and deliver the following types of speeches: Informative, Pro and Cons, Impromptu, and Argumentative Persuasive (final).

This being a communications course, the developing of critical reading, discourse, is crucial to engaging with topics and audiences. Students will be expected to participate in discussion in a range of topics that connect directly and indirectly with public speaking and rhetoric.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

● Students will become better speakers and listeners. They will develop a deeper awareness of their skills and areas in need of improvement.

● Develop confidence and overcome speech anxiety.

● Successfully deliver a range of speeches: informative, pro and con, impromptu and persuasive

● Be able to develop, research, structure and deliver a speech using appropriate verbal and non-verbal cues.

● Understand and apply the principles of audience adaptation.

● Engage in constructive feedback and self-criticism.

● Develop a toolbox of rhetorical strategies for persuasive speaking. Know your own shortcomings and be on the way to improve on them.

● Build speeches with strong organization (introduction, thesis statements, topic sentences, signal words, supporting arguments and conclusion)

● Learn about the principles of ethical speaking and freedom of speech.

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
In-class participation	Short answer quizzes, homework assignments, in-class informal presentations	20
Informative Speech	This is a 5-7 minute speech to educate your audience on a topic of your choice. This speech can discuss the development of an issue historically or provide a guide for improvement in an area. Your speech should emphasize why this is an important issue for your audience to become informed about.	20
Motivational Speech	This is a 4-5 minute speech that you will deliver in class with a few minutes to prepare for. The important criteria for this speech is that it addresses the topic accurately, engages the audience, has a clear organization, and communicates these ideas utilizing appropriate verbal and nonverbal cues.	15
Persuasive Speech	This is a 7-10 minute speech to introduce your audience to a debatable topic of your choice. Visual slides and MLA.	30
Final Speech	This speech is 7-10 minutes long and seeks to persuade/inform/motivate your audience of a topic of your choice. Your speech should be well-researched, and accurately cited and while it seeks to convince your audience of your side, it must also address criticisms and opinions from the opposing side. Attention should be placed on why your audience should be concerned about the topic. The speech should have a clear organization, engaging content and be delivered with appropriate verbal and nonverbal cues.	15

-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:
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.

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

Week	Content
Unit 1	Course Orientation. Intro and origins of public speaking.
Unit 2	Understanding and overcoming speech anxiety. Basic Speech Components. Selecting and developing a topic.
Unit 3	Adapting to listening obstacles.
Unit 4	Audience Adaptation
Unit 5	Intros and Conclusions/Thesis Statements/Topic Statements/ Transition words and fluidity
Unit 6	Researching and supporting your arguments
Unit 7	Verbal and Nonverbal delivery skills
Unit 8	Persuasion/Rhetorical devices/Logic
Unit 9	Ethics and freedom of speech