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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Thomas Govero
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
By appoinment including weekends
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
"There are three things to aim at in public speaking:
first to get into your subject, then to get your subject
into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the
heart of your audience."
-Alexander Gregg
COURSE AIMS
Scope and Aims of the Course
The course will integrate two elements of communication: rhetorical theory which has developed since the Greeks
and is still applicable today, and preparing and delivering public speeches and oral reports. In addition, there will
be an examination of critical thinking including how to choose an appropriate topic, brainstorm the topic, structure
a thesis statement, support it through a specific line of reasoning, and organize data effectively and persuasively.
Students will also learn how to overcome anxieties and fears when speaking. They will be introduced to proper
poses, rhythm and voice control as well as clear enunciation and diction. Practicing critical listening will be an
important element of the course. There will be peer critiques and reviews and students will learn to accept
constructive criticism to improve their presentations. Lincoln, Churchill, Martin Luther King and President Barak Obama
will also be featured speakers on video, DVDs etc.
By the end of the course students should be able to confidently make a 10-15 minute speech employing the
principles, criteria and techniques outlined above. They should have come to understand the importance of
free speech and ethical values when speaking in a public forum.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Introductions and presentations
. A review of rhetorical theory and development from the Greeks to modern times.
. Topic selection, brain storming, topic refinement, outlining, developing a thesis statement
. Techniques of persuasion; format for reports
. Structuring an argument with supporting arguments, and rhetorical devices
. Adaptation of content and style to the audience.
. Introductions and conclusions - formats, variations, appeals.
. Review of great speeches in history and speakers. (with critiques)
. Listening skills.
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This is a hands-on course designed to build skills. This does not mean that it has no cognitive
content, however. We shall also examine the rhetorical tradition from the Greeks to modern
times and consider its applicability today as noted above.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the termination of the course...
. You should be able to confidently, calmly be to develop and present a 10-15 minute prrepared speech using
clear diction, logical development, persuasive ideas, apt quotations, data and statistics...and maybe some humor
too.
. Have a critical arsenal to judge content, style and persuasiveness of public speeches
. Be a critical, more attentive, careful listener.
. Have the skills to deliver informative reports clearly and precisely
. Have developed and employed interview skills as a means to collect data for your speeches.
. Know your own shortcomings and be on the way to improve on them.
. Be able to use appropriate voice control and body language when speaking publicly.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| xxxxxxxx | xxxxxxxx | xxxxxxxx | xxxxxxxxx | | No text for this course. | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| 5 Resumes | | 10% |
| Participation | | 10% |
| Speeches - 4 | | 60% |
| Impromptu Speeches | | 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
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:
Please note the following "housekeeping" guidelines:
. If you are late, please do not enter the classroom if a student is speaking. Too distracting. Wait until the speaker
has finished and then enter - better, don't be late!
. Order of speakers: this will vary for each speech. In most cases I will designate the speaker on the spot. If you are
not prepared, THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP or POSTPONEMENTS. Speeches can be delayed only for the most grave
reasons such as serious illness.
. Please respect (as you wish to be respected) the speakers by listening (and not talking during their presentations)
or otherwise distracting them.
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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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"A good orator is pointed and impassioned" -Marcus Tullius Cicero
"Grasp the subject, the words will follow" -Cato the Elder
"The trouble with talking too fast is you may say
something you haven't thought of yet." -Ann Landers
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Note the following on-line resources:
www.chow.com
(Sixteen videos of Scott Ginsberg giving many useful tips on public speaking)
video.google.com
(Public speaking on-line class)
www.youtube.com
(On-line public speaking workshop)
www.speech-topics-help.com/index.html
(Help choosing speech topics)
Other sites: Please see handout for other sites relating to public speaking
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. "To public speaking we must appeal either to the prejudices of others,
or to the love of truth and justice. If we think merely of displaying
our own ability, we shall ruin every cause we undertake."
-William Hazlitt
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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
| Monday, Jan. 13 | Introduction to the course: review of syllabus, logistics, "burning questions", evaluation, goals; self-introduction (non-graded). Definition of terms: rhetoric,
persuasion, deliberative speaking, judicial/forensic speaking, celebratory speaking.
C. Cavafy, "Ithaca" | Article: "Sound" | Two outside, public speeches. One due at Midter, October 17th | |
| Wednesday, January 15 | Paired introductions. Overcoming anxiety and fear. Benefits of public speaking.
Adjusting speech to audience. Review of "Sound". The voice: producing sound, projecting sound, the voice as an instrument. | Artilcle: "Parts of Speech" | | |
| Monday, January 20 | Listening skills. Choosing a speech topic, brainstorming, outling the speech, basic
rules of speech delivery, use of notes and props. | | Speech No. 1: Deliberative-Informative Speech
"Guidelines and Criteria" | |
| Wednesday, January 22 | Brainstorming, outlining, preparing and using notes.
Film: J. K. Rowland, "Harvard Commencement Speech 2008"
Critique and review of speech. Critiquing the speech: logos, ethos, pathos | | | |
| Monday, January 27 | Speech Presentation No. 1: Deliberative Speeches | | | |
| Wednesday, January 29 | Continued presentation of Speech No. 1
Note: this is the last day for presentations. | | | |
| Monday, February 3 | General critique and review of speeches. Confessions: What do I need to do to improve? Overview of the development of rhetoric and communications since the
Greeks. | Harold Innis, article. | | |
| Wednesday, February 5 | Impromptu speeches No. 2 (graded) | The Alphabet Effect (In-class reading) | Speech No. 2: "Pro/Con" Speech" Guidelines and Criteria | |
| Monday, February 10 | Guest Speaker: Barack Obama, "Philadelphia Speech"
Review and critiques | | | |
| Wednesday, February 12 | Elements of non-verbal communiation. Gestures and body language.
Impromptu speech 3 | | | |
| Monday, February 17 | Presentation of Speech No. 2, "Pro/Con" | | | |
| Wednesday, February 19 | Continued presentation of Speech 2: "Pro/Con" | | | |
| Monday, February 24 | General critique of speeches. Confession: What I need to do to Impove. | | Speech No. 3: Interview Speech. "Criteria and Guidelines" | |
| Wednesday, February 26 | Interviewing Techniques.
Paired interviews | | | |
| Monday, March 3 | Impromptu speech 3
Catch-up | | | |
| Wednesday, March 5 | First speech critique due
Oral review of critiques. | Article: "Only Connect" | | |
| Monday, March 10 | Review of article, "Only Connect"
TED talk: Ken Robinson "A New Paradigm" | | | |
| Monday, March 10 | Speech Presentations No. 3: Inteview Speech | | | |
| Wednesday, March 12 | Continued Presentations of Speech No. 3: Interview Speeches | | | |
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| Monday, March 24 | Persuasive speech "Guidelines and Criteria"
Techniques of the Persuasive Speech | | Speech No. 4: Persuasive Speech | |
| Wednesday, March 26 | Embellishments in Language: Epigrams, Proverbs, Crystalized Speech and Language | Handout to be discussed in class. | | |
| Monday, March 31 | Workshop: Negotiation
Negotiation Techniques | | Negotiation Workshop assignments | |
| | Negotiation Workshop: Negotiation Techniques and Strategies | | | |
| Wednesday, April 2 | Negotiation Presentations
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| Friday, April 4 | Review and Critique of Negotiation Workshop | | | |
| Monday, April 7 | Presentation of Speech No. 4: Persuasive Speech | | Cicero Speech Contest | |
| Wednesday, April 9 | Continued Presentation of Persuasive Speeches.
Last day to present speech | | | |
| Monday, April 14 | Review and Critique of Speeches No. 4
Guest Speaker. TBA
Review and critique of speech | | | |
| Wednesday, April 16 | | | | |
| Monday, April 21 | Overall review. | | | |
| Wednesday, April 23 | Last Class: Overall review and summation | | | |
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