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Syllabus and Course Description
Critical Thinking and Speech
Ms. Shotola


Primary Textbook: Speech for Effective Communication


Course Objectives
This course will help you:

  1. understand yourself as a communicator
  2. develop research skills
  3. develop reasoning and critical thinking skills
  4. be aware of the techniques and skills used in the deliberative process
  5. strengthen your communication skills in formal and informal communication settings

Grading Policy
  1. Grades are based on points earned for graded work.
  2. Grades are also based on consistent attendance, class cooperation and participation and appropriate behavior.
  3. Performances and tests will vary in value, usually around 100 points.
  4. Quizzes will vary in value from 10-50 points.
  5. Other assignments and activities will range in value from 10-150 points.
Earned points are totaled and averaged to determine grades according to the following scale:

90-100% =A
80-89% =B
70-79% =C
60-69% =D
59% and below =F

Assignments and Activities

    Classroom discussions and activities
  1. Regular homework assignments
  2. Individual presentations:
    • opinion speech
    • informative speech
    • persuasive speech
    • impromptu speech(es)

  3. group presentations:
      group discussion
      debate

  4. Quizzes, unit exams and semester final examinations

    Overview of the Year: Our course has four major units of study divided by mini-units devoted to developing critical thinking skills.

    Unit 1: Exploring Communication
    Unit 2: Critical Thinking
    Unit 3: Public Speaking--The Informative Speech
    Unit 4: Critical Thinking
    Unit 5: Public Speaking--The Persuasive Speech
    Unit 6: Critical Thinking and the Impromptu Speech
    Unit 7: Debate


    Debate is the unit in which everything we have done all year comes together. It is our most extensive, difficult and, perhaps, most important unit. Our debate topic this year is Standards in US Public Education. You will do preliminary readings throughout the year to prepare for this unit. By June we will all be minor experts on the subject/ Pay attention to what you come across in the news, on the net, in magazines, on TV, etc. having to do with this topic. The greater your familiarity with it, the easier the debate unit will be for you.

    Group Discussion: A Recurring Unit
    Every other Friday throughout the year, we will drop whatever we have been doing and engage in semi-formal class discussions. The topics and formats of these discussions will be determined by you. You will work in pairs to prepare the materials to lead the class in discussion. Each pair will direct one discussion. The grade for this assignment will go into your 4th quarter grade.