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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Silvia Giagnoni
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
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.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Introductory SpeechStudents are required to introduce themselves to the class (timed performance)10%
Informative SpeechStudents are required to deliver a 6-8 minute-long, informative speech on a relevant, original topic of their choice in a conversational and natural manner. Topic needs to be previously discussed with your Instructor.30%
Persuasive Speech AnalysisStudents will perform a take-home, written analysis of a persuasive speech.15%
Persuasive Speech Students are required to deliver an 8-10- minute-long, persuasive speech on a controversial topic of their choice in a conversational and natural manner. Topic needs to be previously discussed with your Instructor.30%
Participation/AttendanceParticipation/Attendance Students are allowed 3 unexcused absences in this course. After that, students will automatically lose a letter grade for every three absences. Lateness: Students more than 10 minutes late are marked as absent. Late arrival (less than 10 minutes) is marked as such, and 3 late arrivals are counted as one absence. Leaving class early (read, more than 15 minutes before the end of class) will be counted as one absence. Leaving in the middle of class and coming back after more than 10 minutes will also be regarded as an absence. Students are expected to do the required readings for the day before coming to class and to be prepared to comment, discuss them, or ask questions.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

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

!!! Please refer to the Moodle site for updates on the schedule!!!

 

R: Reading

W: Watching

L: Lecture

S: Speeches

 

Week One 

L: Introductions+ Intro to Public Speaking & Human Communication+ Syllabus

R:Public Speaking as Advocacy

W: “I have a dream speech” (1963) by Martin Luther King Jr. & “The Power of Vulnerability” (2014) by Brené Brown

 

Week Two 

S:  Introductory Speeches due 

L: Speaking to Inspire & Breathing + Nonverbal & Body Language

R: “Giving and Receiving Feedback: It is Harder than You Think”+ “Nonverbal Delivery”

W: Amy Cuddy’s “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are”

 

Week Three 

L: Finding a Topic: Mind mapping + Intro to Informative Speaking R:Brainstorming W: 2022 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking: Cyril Junior Dim W:Ted Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking/Chris Anderson/Talks at Google”

Week Four (September 24-30)

L: ... end with Power!

R: Closing a Speech

 

L: Presentational Aids (Use of)

R: Chapter 6 from The Young Adult's Guide to Public Speaking 

 

Week Five (October 1-7)

L: Formulating a Thesis Statement & Organization and Support; Library Research Session

R: Organizing your Speech and Harnessing the Power of Three 

W:A new way to explain explanation by David Deutsch (suggested, at-home watching) & The Tale of Two Robes by Julie Hogan & Where good ideas come from by Steven Johnsons

Extra reading (recommended if you need to know more about storytelling): Chapter S: Storytelling: How to develop Stories to Be a More Compelling Speaker from ABCs of Speaking 

 

Week Six

Informative speech presentations (Midterm)

Week Seven 

L: Persuasion in Public Speaking I
W: NYS Senator Diane Savino speaks on the Marriage Equality Bill (2009)
R: Persuasive Speechmaking

 

Week Eight 

L: Persuasion in Public Speaking II: Using Emotion & Logic (Inductive & Deductive Reasoning +Most Common Logical Fallacies)

R: Persuasive Speechmaking (cont.) 

W:"How can you change someone's mind" created by Hugo Mercier & Niro Sivanathan's "The counterintuitive ways to be more persuasive"

W: Emma Gonzalez' March for Our Lives speech (watch on your own)

Week Nine (October 29-November 4)

L: Audience Analysis

R:Engage your Audience

W:  Barack Obama's A More Perfect Union (watch on your own)

A: Continue working on your persuasive speech ~ focus on counterarguments + Prepare two questions to gauge audience's needs and find common ground for speech 

 

Week Ten 

L: Cont. Speech Analysis

November 8: Speech analysis (due, class time)

Week Eleven

Library Research Session - Researching for Persuasive Speaking 

W: Bryan Stevenson: We need to talk about an injustice (in-class screening & analysis)

 

Week Twelve 

Review+ Final Persuasive Speech Presentations begin

 

Week Thirteen 

Final Persuasive Speeches

 

Week Fourteen 

Final Persuasive Speeches

NO CLASS - November 27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Thursday December 4 the last day of classes 

December 9-12

Final Examinations

 

Note: There is no final for this class, but we will meet on the final examination day.

 

December 9-13

Final Examinations

 

Note: There is no final for this class, but we will meet on the final examination day.