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Fundamentals of Speech

 GSCO 201 (3 credit hours)

Fall 1999, Kentucky Christian College

General Information

 

Instructor: Scott Tucker, B.A. (Kentucky Christian College)

                                       M.A. (Morehead State University)

                                       Ph.D. (in progress, Regent University)

Phone: 474-3135, leave a voice mail message if there is no answer.

Web Site: http://www.angelfire.com/ky/pstucker

Email: stucker@email.kcc.edu

Campus Address: Box 2009

Office: My little corner of campus is in the former guest house behind the library.  I will be available to you most any time during the week that I am not in class.  You are always encouraged to drop by and I welcome you to talk with me about anything.  If you want to make sure I’m in, you should call first.

 

 Required Course Resources

 

There are several resources that you will be responsible for acquiring and using during the semester:

 

1.       Textbook: Ulloth, Dana and Richard Alderfer.  Public Speaking: An Experiential Approach.  Belmont:  Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998.

2.       Infotrac: Packaged with your textbook is a means of access to Infotrac.  This is an online research utility.  This will help you do research on the Internet.

3.       Internet Access: You will be expected to become proficient in Internet research and in forwarding assignments through email.  You will need to have access to the Internet, either through the public terminals on campus or through a personal account with the school.  As part of your Internet access, you need to have an email account that is capable of sending and receiving file attachments.

4.       Microsoft PowerPoint access: You will be using this presentation software in assignments and in your speeches.  You must have access to the software either through a computer account you have paid for on campus or you may use your personal copy of the software, should you own it.

5.       Booklet: To assist you in using PowerPoint software, a booklet outlining the features and how to use them is part of your class resources.

6.       VHS cassette: In an effort to enable better self-evaluation, some of your speeches will be taped for you to review and critique on your own.

 

 

 Course Description and Direction

 

The 1998-2000 catalog states, “This course equips students to prepare and present short informative and persuasive speeches.  The selection and organization of material, methods of securing interest and attention, and elements of delivery will be emphasized.”

 

The framing objectives for this course are rooted in the “canons” of classical rhetoric.  Rhetoric is the study of communication and persuasion through the artful use of language that dates back to Ancient Greece and Rome.  These canons include five areas of presenting public speeches:

1.       Invention: This refers to the process of choosing an appropriate topic and identifying the range of relevant ideas and available evidence.  Our goal here will be to gather and organize information to provide logical, sound and well-documented support for the ideas you present.

2.       Disposition:  This refers to the process of analyzing your audience and properly arranging your ideas in a clear and memorable sequence.  Our goal here will be to clearly organize a speech in and through a written speaking outline for our particular class audience.

3.       Elocution: This refers to the style of language used to clothe and convey the speaker’s ideas.  Our goal here will be to present speeches with appropriate and engaging language, which may differ between varying types of speeches.

4.       Memory: This process of mental recall of learned information was very useful for speechmaking in ancient days.  Our goal will be to present speeches with less reliance on note material and more attention on the audience.

5.       Pronunciation: This word classically refers to the process of delivery.  Our goal here will be to effectively deliver a speech with proper use of voice, gestures and audio-visual aids.

 

Additional goals that fit within these framing objectives, but offer a more contemporary application, will be to communicate well with whatever means are at our disposal.  In addition to speaking, you will be expected to become proficient in using the Internet for research and email for conveying written material.  An accompanying goal for this course will be to assist you in becoming better consumers of the messages you are exposed to every day and to be better critical listeners and thinkers, discerning good from bad arguments and presentation.  These goals will be accomplished through public speaking opportunities, written assignments, critiquing the speeches of others and through discussion of textbook information in class and on paper.

 

 Course Policies

 

ATTENDANCE: Your attendance is expected at each class meeting.  The schedule of assignments and readings have been arranged in a cumulative fashion, so your regular attendance and participation is necessary.  The college policy on absences in a course of this length is that your absences are not to exceed nine in number.  This number includes absences for any reason, including school-sponsored trips and illnesses.  There are no excused or unexcused absences in this course.  An attendance sheet will be passed around each class period.  It will be your responsibility to sign it.  The only proof of your attendance will be your signature on the attendance sheet.

 

LATE WORK:  All assignments including tests, quizzes, papers, speeches, outlines, etc. are expected at the beginning of the class period in which they are due.  If you do not have the assignment ready at that time and intend to turn it in late, you must let me know immediately in order to receive partial credit.  Other than speeches, all late work will be penalized 10 points for each class period it is late past the due date.

 

Speaking rounds will be scheduled before each round begins.  Each new speech will have a new schedule.  Every effort will be made to accommodate your schedule in the event of a conflict.  If you must change dates after the schedule has been set, it is your responsibility to exchange speaking dates with another student.  If you cannot find someone willing to swap dates, you may reschedule your speech later in the round with an automatic 25 point deduction.  I will only allow you to do this if you notify me at least sometime the day before you speak.  Failure to get your work done on time will not be accepted as a reason to reschedule your speech and may result in additional penalties.  For the most part, view your speaking date as an unbreakable commitment.

 

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:  This course is intrinsically about adopting and developing good communication skills and habits.  Whenever anyone is speaking, either as the featured speaker or commenting from their seat, they have the floor and should have your full attention.  When someone is delivering a speech, please do not enter or leave the room until they are done.  This shows consideration for them and keeps them from undue distraction.  Food and drink are welcomed in this class as long as you faithfully clean up your mess.

 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:  The Office of Academic Affairs assists students with documented disabilities in securing reasonable supportive assistance and accommodations.  Students with documented disabilities have the right to request appropriate academic accommodations and access to appropriate auxiliary aids in the classroom.  Students with disabilities who will be requesting academic accommodations or access to auxiliary aids are responsible to identify themselves to the appropriate instructor and to the Office for Academic Affairs.  A student may have a documented disability in any one of the following six areas:  physical disability, communication disability, acquired brain injury, developmental disability, psychological disability, or learning disability.  (from the office of Dr. Blanche Jackson Glimps, 1998).

 

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:  All scholastic dishonesty, especially within the context of a Christian college, is unacceptable.  Scholastic dishonesty includes cheating on exams, turning in reports and term papers as one’s own when they are not, lying, stealing exams and other work, allowing other students to copy one’s work in order to meet a grade requirement for a course and plagiarism.  Plagiarism is defined as passing off as one’s own the ideas of another.  Copying or summarizing another’s ideas in written or oral report must be correctly attributed to the source.  Any of these aforementioned offenses warrant academic discipline.  First offenders are subject to the discipline of the individual professor and are reported to the Vice President of Student Life.  Offenses may be subject to review by the student appeals committee and may be subject to severe penalties.  Disciplinary measures may include: re-doing the work, automatic failure of the course, probation, suspension, and/or expulsion. (from pp. 16-17 of the 97-98 student handbook)

 

Assignment Descriptions

 

All at once, these assignments can seem like a lot, but eaten bite by bite, they can be easily swallowed.

 

SPEECHES:

1.       Introductory Speech - This speech is designed to be short (1-2 minutes) and require minimal preparation. This speech is an effort for you to feel more comfortable speaking before the class as well as a vehicle for us to learn a little more about each other.  This speech is worth 25 points, which you will receive as long as you get up before the class and give it your best shot.

2.       One Minute Speech – This speech is another early exercise in exposing you to arranging your ideas and presenting them before the class.  This will not be an impromptu speech.  You will choose your own topic and speak on that topic for 1 minute, just like the U.S. Representatives do every day during morning business in the House.  And just like rice, it’ll be done in 1 minute. This speech will be graded on a pass or fail basis and is worth 25 points.

3.       Speech of Demonstration – This type of informative speech has a goal of informing the audience about some process so that they can repeat it on their own.  It is, in essence, a show and tell speech.  Some examples might be, “how to paint using watercolors,” or “how to bake the best chocolate chip cookies.”  Just watch Martha Stewart if you need some ideas.  A visual aid will be required for this 2 to 5 minutes speech. Worth 100 points.

4.       Speech of Deliberation – This type of informative speech has a goal of informing your audience about two sides of an issue.  This speech will serve as a bridge between informing and persuading.  Your goal will be to serve as a non-partisan, outside observer.  You will attempt to inform us while you present the primary arguments for two major sides of a currently debated issue.  This will serve to help you identify how arguments are used and set up the persuasive speech in which you will advance arguments of your own.  3 to 5 minutes, worth 100 points.

5.       Speech of Persuasion – This speech has a goal of influencing the audience’s thoughts, attitudes or actions on a particular area of interest.  The speech should address either a fact or value claim (what we believe) and an additional policy claim (how we behave).  We will have a complete discussion of persuasive claims before the round begins.  4 to 6 minutes, worth 100 points.

6.       Speech of Entertainment – This speech will be unique in that you will have a greater range of creative expression.  Your goal can be to inform or persuade, but you should also be mindful to entertain in some way.  This can be done through narrative, humor, novelty or artistry.  This is considered on the major speeches, so take the assignment seriously while having fun.  Special attention will be given to your creative use of language to communicate.  Worth 100 points.

 

 

PAPERS:

1.       Self Critique Papers – On two occasions, your speech will be videotaped for you to privately watch and critique.  This paper will focus on your self-perceived strengths and weaknesses in the areas of delivery, organization, support, language and development.  These papers are worth 50 points each and should be 2 to 3 full pages, typed and double spaced with a 12 point font or less on a page with one inch margins on all sides.

2.       Midterm Paper and Presentation – Your midterm paper will be a unique opportunity to combine your study of speech communication with your study of Scripture.  Out of a desire to view Christ as a model communicator, the midterm paper will be your effort to identify strengths and any perceived weaknesses in the communication styles and strategies of Jesus as presented in the gospels.  Your paper may focus on Jesus’ ability to persuade, confront, teach, converse, and/or pray.  This paper should be at least 2 full pages and no more than 5 pages with the same guidelines as the paper above. This paper will be worth 100 points. The paper itself will be worth 75 points.  Your participation in the discussion of the paper will be worth 25 points.  The discussion will take the form of small group panel discussions.

 

OTHER WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

1.       Outline of a Famous Speech – To prepare for our class session on outlining, you will research and find a famous speech.  Using the guidelines from the textbook, your task will be to create an outline of the speech’s content. Worth 25 points.

2.       Peer Critiques – During two of the speech rounds, each class member will be responsible for completing a speech critique form on one other speaker.  While you will turn this critique in for a grade, it should also serve as a launching pad for your verbal feedback given in class.  These critiques are worth 15 points each.

3.       Bibliography – Before the deliberative speaking round, you will need to compile a bibliography of sources pertinent to a clear and singular topic.  This topic should be arranged according to the MLA style manual. A brief guide sheet will be provided in class.  The bibliography should primarily consist of non-website sources discovered through Internet research.  Worth 25 points.

4.       PowerPoint Presentations – You will prepare a short PowerPoint presentation on two occasions.  The first occasion will be in-class and can be on any subject for the purposes of orientation to the software.  This will be worth 20 points.  The other presentation will be when you use PowerPoint as a visual aid to enhance the delivery of one of your speeches.  This will be worth 35 points.

5.       Written Exercises – These will be written assignments based largely on your textbook reading.  These will be brief exercises and will always be announced in advance.  Combined, these exercises will be worth 75 points.

6.       Speaking Outlines – You will be expected to prepare an outline for every speech you deliver according to guidelines given in class.  These outlines are worth 10 points each.

7.        Final Exam – This final exam will be scheduled for finals week and will be written.  The questions may be based on any information presented in class or the textbook, so in this sense it is a cumulative exam.  A study guide will be provided in advance.  Worth 100 points.

 

 

 Speech Evaluations

 

The four major speeches will each be worth 100 points.  The overall grade for the speech will be obtained by totaling your performance in each of three major categories: delivery, organization and development/support.  Your speeches will be graded on their own merits.  You will not be graded in a fashion that compares you to your classmates.  I will record comments on a copy of your outline, which you shall receive in your box after each of your speeches.  In addition, I, along with your classmates, will offer brief oral feedback immediately following each speech performance.  Oral feedback will be used as a time for constructive criticism and encouragement.

           

The average speech (Grade C) should meet the following criteria:

1. Conform to the kind of speech assigned (informative, persuasive, etc.)

2. Be ready for presentation on the assigned date.

3. Conform to the time limit.

4. Fulfill any special requirements of the assignment - such as preparing an outline, using

    visual aids, number of sources, etc.

5. Have a clear, specific purpose and central idea.

6. Have an identifiable introduction, body and conclusion.

7. Show reasonable directness and competence in delivery.

8. Be free of serious errors in grammar, pronunciation and word usage.

 

The above average speech (Grade B) should meet all the above and the following:

1. Deal with a challenging topic.

2. Fulfill any major functions of a speech introduction and conclusion.

3. Display clear organization of main points and supporting materials.

4. Support main points with evidence that meets the tests of accuracy, relevance,

    objectivity and sufficiency.

5. Exhibit proficient use of connectives - transitions, internal previews, internal summaries, etc.

6. Be delivered skillfully enough so as not to distract attention from the content of the

    speaker’s message.

 

The superior speech (Grade A) should meet all the above and the following:

1. Constitute a genuine contribution by the speaker to the knowledge or beliefs of the

    audience.

2. Sustain positive interest, feeling, and/or commitment among the audience.

3. Contain elements of vividness and special interest in the use of language.

4. Be delivered in a fluent, polished manner that strengthens the impact of the message.

 

The below average speech (Grade D or E) is seriously deficient in the criteria required for the “C” speech.

 

Grading Procedure

 

Your final grade will be based on total points divided for each assignment as follows:

 

Assignment                                                                   Points

                        Introductory Speech                                                       25

                        One Minute Speech                                                        25

                        Demonstration Speech                                                  100

                        Deliberative Speech                                                       100

                        Persuasive Speech                                                         100

                        Entertainment Speech                                                   100

                        Self Critiques                                                               100

                        Midterm Paper and Presentation                                   100

                        Famous Speech Outline                                                  25

                        Peer Critique Sheets                                                       30

                        PowerPoint Presentations                                               55

                        Written Exercises                                                            75

                        Speaking Outlines                                                          40

                        Bibliography                                                                   25

                        Final Exam                                                                   100

                                                            TOTAL POINTS:                  1000

 

A = 900 to 1000 points                       B+ = 850 to 899 points                  B = 800 to 849 points

C+ = 750 to 799 points                     C = 700 to 749 points                                D+ = 650 to 699 points

D = 600 to 649 points                        E = 0 to 599 points

 

This grading system essentially operates on a ten-point scale.  Please note that good attendance has the potential to help you.  If you have faithfully attended class (4 or less noted absences) and your total points are just on the verge of a higher letter grade (i.e., you have 897 points, an 89.7% average), I will round up to provide you with the next highest letter grade. (i.e., your “B+” would become an “A”).  Notice there are no “minus” grades.  Because this is a total point system, it is important that you complete all work, as even small assignments can ultimately have an adverse effect on your final grade.

 

Course Schedule (subject to change at the instructor’s discretion)

 

August

25th W – Introduction to class

27th F – Introductory speeches

30th M – Introduction to the study of speech communication (ch. 1)

September

1st W – Communication apprehension (ch. 2)

3rd F – Audience analysis (ch. 4)

6th M – Choosing a topic (ch. 5)

8th W – One minute speeches

10th F – No class, go enjoy yourself, however famous speech outlines are due

13th M – Outlining the speech (ch. 11 & 12)

15th W – Introduction to demonstrative speaking

17th F – Visual aids and PowerPoint (ch. 13)

20th M – Speech delivery (ch. 6)

22nd W – Deliver speeches of demonstration

24th F – Deliver speeches of demonstration

27th M – Listening and Introduction to midterm assignment (ch. 3)

29th W – Deliver speeches of demonstration

October

1st F – Deliver speeches of demonstration

4th M – The role of language in communicating (ch. 15)

6th W – Support materials and investigating the topic (ch. 9)

8th F – To be announced

11th M – Introduction to informative/deliberative speaking (ch. 7)

13th W – Discussion of the rhetoric of Jesus Christ (paper presentations)

15th F – Discussion of the rhetoric of Jesus Christ (paper presentations)

18th M – Investigating the topic, Internet bibliography due (ch. 10)

20th W – Deliver speeches of deliberation

22nd F – Deliver speeches of deliberation

25th M – No class, a Monday Sabbath – work on your Halloween costume

27th W – Deliver speeches of deliberation

29th F – Deliver speeches of deliberation

November

1st M – Introduction to persuasive speaking (ch. 16)

3rd W – Arguments and fallacies

5th F – Structuring persuasive speeches (ch. 17)

8th M – The role of metaphor in communication

10th W – Deliver speeches of persuasion

12th F – Deliver speeches of persuasion

15th M – Introduction to entertaining/narrative/ceremonial speeches (ch. 14)

17th W – Deliver speeches of persuasion

19th F – Deliver speeches of persuasion

22nd – 26th – Fall Break, be thankful

29th M – Rhetorical analysis of narrative and ceremonial speeches

December

1st W – Deliver speeches of entertainment

3rd F – Deliver speeches of entertainment

6th M – Course evaluations

8th W – Deliver speeches of entertainment

10th F – Deliver speeches of entertainment

13th – 17th – Finals week; the final will be held during the Monday 10:00 finals slot.

 

References for Further Study

 

Although this list is in no way inclusive, these texts are worth a closer look to enhance and broaden your understanding of the principles of speech communication and/or to see critical thinking and argumentation at work.  These books will be helpful in your continued study of communication.

 

 

Aristotle.  On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civic Discourse.  Trans. George A. Kennedy.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1991.

 

Clark, Ruth Anne.  Persuasive Messages.  New York:  Harper and Row, 1984.

 

Deere, Jack.  Surprised by the Power of the Spirit.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing , 1993.

 

Freeley, Austin J.  Argumentation and Debate:  Critical Thinking for Reasoned Decision Making.  9th ed.  Belmont:  Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1996.

 

Golden, James L., Goodwin F. Berquist, and William E. Coleman.  The Rhetoric of Western Thought.  5th ed.  Dubuque:  Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1993.

 

Griffin, Em.  A First Look at Communication Theory.  3rd ed.  New York:  McGraw-Hill, 1997.

 

Herrick, James A.  The History and Theory of Rhetoric.  Boston:  Allyn and Bacon, 1998.

 

McCroskey, James C.  An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication.  7th ed.  Boston:  Allyn and Bacon, 1997.

 

Miller, Calvin.  The Empowered Communicator.  Nashville:  Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1994.

 

Noonan, Peggy.  Simply Speaking.  New York:  Regan Books, 1998.

 

Powers, John H.  Public Speaking: The Lively Art.  New York: Harper Collins, 1994.

 

Spence, Gerry.  How to Argue and Win Every Time.  New York: Saint Martin’s Press, 1995.