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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 101-4"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Mattia Maglione
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: TTH 2:00 PM
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:

Throughout the course students will learn to prepare and deliver effective and persuasive public speeches. This course blends a practical workshop approach with a more traditional and theoretical rhetorical framework for students to fully grasp the characteristics of a public speech in theory and in practice. The course is designed to introduce the basics of critical thinking in order to produce speeches that are supported by sources and logically argued. Each student will have the chance to work on different types of speeches starting from brainstorming and forming a thesis to finally persuade or inform their intended audience. The course also covers the fundamentals of conscious and unconscious bias in public speaking along with the principles of free speech. In conclusion, students will both study and practice public speaking though general constructive peer criticism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will deliver the following types of speeches: Informative or Pro Con, Motivational/Laudatory, and Persuasive.

During this course students will become better speakers. By the end of the course each student will develop a deeper understanding of the main features of a proper public speech, consolidating their oral and rhetorical skills.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Speaking with ConfidenceNick GoldPenguin Books9780241468173     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
ParticipationSilent attendance does not count as participation. To earn this percentage, students are required to actively participate and engage with the material provided. In class, students should be ready to discuss and debate a large variety of analytical and critical perspectives on assigned readings and speeches. Not doing so will constitute a failure of the percentage. 15%
Informative Speech 5 - 7 minutes15%
Motivational/Laudatory Speech 5 - 7 minutes 15%
Persuasive Speech 5 - 7 minutes15%
Final Speech10 minutes35%
Flash Speech This speech is a shorter 4 - 6 minutes speech. Guidelines will be given in class.5%

-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 ____________
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

Schedule: 


Week 1: 

Introduction to Public Speaking. 

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. 

 

Week 2: 

Deconstruction of speeches: Intro, Body and Conclusion.

Body language.

 

Week 3: History of Public Speaking: The Latin tradition & Greek tradition.

Cicero, Quintilian, Isocrates, Aristotle, Gorgias, Protagoras.

Informative Speech Due.

 

Week 4: 

Exploration of Cognitive Bias and Kalos.

 

Week 5: 

The Art of Persuasion and Kairos.

 

Week 6: 

Persuasion Techniques and Research. 

Persuasive Speech Due.


Week 7: 

Persuasion, Controversy and Controversial Topics. 


Week 8: 

Transition from Persuasion to Motivation. 


Week 9: 

Motivation II 

Motivational Speech Due.


Week 10: 

Ethics in Public Speaking: from politics to stand up!


Week 11: 

Public Speaking in Activism. 

Shaping change.


Week 12: 

Women in Public Speaking. 

Faults in the canon.


Week 13: 

New voices. Other voices.

 

Week 14: 

Recap 

Final Speech Due. 

 

Syllabus may be subject to change. All assignments, speeches and readings TBA in class session and/or via Moodle. 

 

A maximum of four unexcused absences is allowed after which the student will fail the course. 

 

Two late arrivals will be considered as one absence.