Course Description
Catalogue description: Theory and practice in the art of public discourse.
Additional description: This course is an intensive performance course that challenges students’ perception of public speaking and moves them into engaging, professional and meaningful methods of public communication.
The key focus in this class is to teach students to speak in a natural, conversational, audience-centered style with little dependency on notes and to encourage community-based and professional situations and approaches to speech-giving. Students will present five varied speeches during this course, most of which will require the speaker to tailor their speech to a specific setting, occasion and target audience. Students are encouraged to choose realistic community, educational, political or business settings in order to assist them in becoming proficient in delivering speeches in non-classroom environments.
It is expected that students have prior knowledge and experience in the area of public speaking, theatre or storytelling and are ready to build further upon established skills. We will not cover the “basics” in this course. You will land with your feet running and be expected to challenge yourself to a high level of proficiency at every point throughout the quarter. Don’t be surprised if we take you out of your comfort zone…you’ll get comfortable with yourself and your audience fast with the opportunities for activities and actual speaking that this class will offer you….and perhaps you will, indeed, become a “silver-tongued” orator!
Prerequisite
COMM 101, 235, EDUC 309 or instructor permission.
This course is ideal for upper-division students who need further experience in public speaking and feel that they have enough personal confidence to jump in at the deep(er) end even if they have not taken a “basic” public speaking course or met the other prerequisites. Please contact the instructor to discuss your experience with public presenting and see if you qualify for “instructor permission” to take the class.
Online/Hybrid version of course
The course is offered almost every quarter as an in-seat, face to face course.
However, this course will occasionally be offered as an entirely online/distance course, usually in summer quarter.
This online version of the course makes extensive use of Canvas online learning portal for detailed assignment descriptions, specific due dates, announcements, discussion boards, access to instructor videos, posting of student presentations, submission of written work and the creation of student blogs, etc.
The instructor will be available frequently throughout the quarter to answer questions online, via email or during office hours for F2F visits or phone calls.
Students will:
- engage in self-directed independent study based on the assignments of the course
- enjoy readings on the art and application of public speaking
- participate in online discussions with other registered students
- develop local opportunities to speak in community settings
- observe live speaking events where students can learn from speakers
- record your speeches in front of an audience, upload to YouTube and post the link online (via Canvas) for instructor and peer observation and review
- and more…..
Face-to-face (F2F) meetings may be arranged if there are enough local students who wish to have a more “hybrid” experience and have some live interaction with the instructor and/or with other class members. Students will have the opportunity to present and record their speeches during these meetings.
Email Rosemary for a copy of the latest syllabus with the current assignments and details.