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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 101-6"
COURSE NAME: "Public Speaking: Oral Rhetoric and Persuasion"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2015
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Brian Thomson
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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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.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Overview of rhetorical theory and the ethics of public speaking
Listening skills and criticism
Selecting topics
Thinking about the audience
Organizing and delivering different types of speeches (informative, deliberative, persuasive, etc.)
Using language effectively
Research, supporting materials, and visual aids
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course you should be able to confidently prepare and present a 10-15 minute speech that logically develops an idea and persuasively addresses the intended audience. You should understand the proper use (and recognize the abuse) of quotations, statistics, and multimedia elements, including the swings and roundabouts of PowerPoint presentations. You should be able to efficiently research a speech using a variety of sources, including interviews. As a listener, you should understand how speakers use classical and contemporary rhetorical devices to persuade their audiences, and you should be able to assess the content, style, and ethics at play on the public stage.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Informative Speech | | 20 |
| Critical Speech | | 20 |
| Persuasive Speech | | 20 |
| Persuasive Speech with Multimedia Presentation | | 20 |
| Peer Reviews | | 12 |
| Homework and participation | | 8 |
-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:
You are expected to attend class regularly. More than two unexcused absences will result in dropping a letter grade. Owing to time constraints, failure to deliver a speech on your assigned day will result in a failing grade for that speech.
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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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Week One
- The Five Canons
- Showing and Telling
Week Two
- Getting a response: The Three Appeals
- Show and Tell
Week Three
- Peer Reviewing
- Brainstorming
Week Four
Week Five
- Organization I
- Organization II
Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight
- Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
- Incentives
Week Nine
- PSA’s
- Lying with Statistics
Week Ten
Week Eleven
- Sources and fallacies
- Persuasion (Kunstler on Urban Planning)
Week Twelve
- Solutions (Mark Thomas on SOCA)
- Avoiding Powerpoint disasters
Week Thirteen
Week Fourteen
- Persuasive speeches with Multimedia Presentation
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