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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 101"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Connelly
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 11:00AM-12:45PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: TBA

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, 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

GRADING:  SPEECHES 1 thru 5 = 15% ea.; critique of famous speech = 15%; att&eff = 10%

 

Week 1

Course syllabus / objectives; Self-introductions; ‘Getting to know you’ games; Introducing a classmate; Peer review and critique; What makes a great speech?  Brainstorming; Basic rules of great speechmaking;

Class to read: http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/ethos-pathos-logos/;

Handouts: #1, 10 Tips for Public Speaking; #2, Know Your Audience; Ethos, Pathos, Logos: The Three Musketeers of Public Speaking.   Handouts #3, Mary Beard / The Guardian; #4, Jay Heinrichs, Give a Great Speech; Informative Speech Guidelines

Tone:  Paul Keating, funeral service of the Unknown Australian Soldier, 11 November 1993 (6 minutes + transcript)

Rowan Atkinson, Father of the Bride;

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

PREP:  Informative Speech Guidelines

THURSDAY 28 MAY:  SPEECH 1: Information / Explanation

Week 2

Critique and Class Discussion of Speech 1;

‘There goes the Fear: How to Combat Stage Fright’

Non-verbal communication; Improv Games.

Handouts #5, Joann McAbe, ‘The Fear of Public Speaking’ (PDF); 

What is a pro / Con speech?

Various TED talks. 

PREP: Pro and Con Speech Guidelines

THURSDAY 4 JUNE:  SPEECH 2: Pro / Con

Week 3:  Improv

Critique and Class Discussion of SPEECH 2;

Common Fallacies of Reasoning

Handouts: #6, Common Fallacies of Reasoning; 

Speech 3: Mid-Term Exam Guidelines

Students to critique a famous speech of their choice, taken from 

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speechbank.htm (due Week 4)

PREP: Pro and Con Speech Guidelines

THURSDAY 11 June:  SPEECH 3: Mid-Term Exam

Week 4:  Persuasive

Review and Critique of SPEECH 3

Students to present a famous speech from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speechbank.htm

How do we persuade? 

Obama, ‘Philadelphia Speech’, Review and Critique;

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

Martin Luther King, ‘I have a dream’ (1968);

Robert F Kennedy, ‘On the Assassination of Martin Luther King’

Ronald Regan: ‘Tear down this wall’

PREP: Persuasive Speech Guidelines

THURSDAY 18 JUNE:  SPEECH 4:  Persuasion

Week 5: Laudation

Review and Critique of SPEECH 4.

 How do we praise?

Mike Myers – Sean Connery

The Graduation Rap

Mickey Mantle

PREP: Final Exam Speech, Commemorative / Laudatory

THURSDAY 25 JUNE: SPEECH 5: Commemorative / Laudatory