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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 101-3"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Connelly
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.  Jerry Seinfeld

The aim of this course is to empower student presentation by sharing the knowledge and practical skills that evince memorable public speaking. 

We seek to achieve this by (a) honing student confidence; (b) enlarging student awareness of the power of speech-making; (c) engaging students in critical listening and peer review; (d) focussing on body language and the tenets of effective declamation. 

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Throughout, we will work with the fundamentals of classical rhetoric and the bases of modern performance so as to create rounded, incisive, and memorable public speeches.   By analysing great speeches and speech-makers, we will seek to instil in students the necessity for logic, cohesion, and cogency in all acts of public speaking.   Students will make a total of six speeches to their classmates, variously framed as informative, explanatory, persuasive, pro and con, extempore and laudatory.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Effective presentation is essential to a successful public career.  By the end of this course students will have learnt techniques to overcome tension and nervousness prior to public performance, to garner instant and credit-worthy attention, to retain force and vigour when making speeches, and to adduce maximal resonance beyond the immediate moment.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Speeches 1, 2, 4, 5See Schedule and Preparation Advice15% ea.
SPEECH 3: Midterm ExtemporeSee Schedule and Preparation Advice10%
SPEECH 6: LaudatorySee Schedule and Preparation Advice20%
Attendance and Input 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:

Students with low attendance do poorly in this class. After 3 unexcused absences, you may be invited to withdraw from the course.  You will be unable to make-up any missed assignments or quizzes without a legitimate written excused absence.  Students must attend class on speech days; there will be no makeup speeches as a general rule.

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

14 Jan: Self-introductions; ‘Getting to know you’ games; Course syllabus / objectives; Handouts: #1, 10 Tips for Public Speaking; #2, Know Your Audience; Ethos, Pathos, Logos: The Three Musketeers of Public Speaking.  Class to Read:http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/ethos-pathos-logos/

16 Jan: Introducing a classmate; Peer review and critique; Rowan Atkinson, Father of the Bride

Week 2

21 Jan: What makes a great speech?  Brainstorming; Basic rules of great speechmaking; Speech1: Informative Speech (Due Week 3); appropriate tone:  Paul Keating, funeral service of the Unknown Australian Soldier, 11 November 1993 (6 minutes + transcript)

Handouts #3, Mary Beard / The Guardian; #4, Jay Heinrichs, Give a Great Speech; Informative Speech Guidelines

23 Jan: JK Rowling, Harvard Commencement, 2009 (23 minutes); critique and review of speech, class discussion

Week 3:  SPEECH 1: Informative

28 Jan: Students:                       Informative Speeches

30 Jan: Students:                       Informative Speeches

Week 4

4 Feb:  Critique and Class Discussion of Speech 1; There goes the Fear: How to Combat Stage Fright.  SPEECH 2: Pro and Con (Due Week 5)

Handouts #5, Joann McAbe (PDF); Pro and Con Speech Guidelines

6 Feb:  Non-verbal communication; Improv Games.

Week 5:  SPEECH 2: Pro and Con

11 Feb:  Students:    Pro and Con

13 Feb:  Students:    Pro and Con

Week 6: 

18 Feb:  Critique and Class Discussion of SPEECH 2; Common Fallacies of Reasoning

20 Feb:  Common Fallacies of Reasoning; Mid-term exam guidelines.

Handouts: #6, Common Fallacies of Reasoning; Speech 3: Mid-Term Exam Guidelines

Week 7:  SPEECH 3: Mid-Term Exam

25 Feb:    Students:  Impromptu Speech, 5 minutes, in class

27 Feb:    Students:          Impromptu Speech, 5 minutes, in class

Students to critique a famous speech of their choice, taken from http://www.emersonkent.com/famous_speeches_in_history.htm, due Week 8

Week 8:

4 March:  Students:   Famous Speech

6 March:  Students:   Famous Speech

SPEECH 4: Interview Speech Guidelines (Due Week 9)

Week 9: SPEECH 4: Interview

11 March:  Students:  Interview Speech

13 March:  Students:  Interview Speech

Week 10: 

25 March: Obama, ‘Philadelphia Speech’, Review and Critique; SPEECH 5: Persuasive Speech Guidelines (due Week 12)

27 March:: Pathos:  Elie Wiesel, The Perils of Indifference vs Enoch Powell, Rivers of Blood

Week 11

1 April:  Martin Luther King, ‘I have a dream’ (1968); Robert F Kennedy, ‘On the Assassination of Martin Luther King’

3 April:  

Week 12: SPEECH 5: Persuasive

8 April:  Students:            Persuasive Speech

10 April:  Students:            Persuasive Speech

Week 13: 

15 April:     Review and Critique of SPEECH 5.  Discuss: Guidelines for SPEECH 6, Final Exam Speech, Commemorative / Laudatory

17 April:   TBA

Week 14:  Finals:  SPEECH 6: Commemorative / Laudatory

22 April: Students:  Commemorative / Laudatory Speech

24 April: Students:  Commemorative / Laudatory Speech

GRADING:

SPEECH 1, 2, 4, 5: 15% ea.

SPEECH 3, Midterm extempore: 10%

SPEECH 6: 20%

Class activities and attendance: 10%