1

COMM 141X

FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION (PUBLIC CONTEXT)

Fall2016

3 credits

Location/Time

Instructor:

Email:

Phone: 474-1876

Office Location: 503 Gruening Building

Office Hours:

Brief Course Description:

This course is an introduction to the skills of effective public presentations. It is designed to help you become more competent and comfortable in communicating in situations where you are responsible for sharing information with and persuading groups of other people. This is a skills development course requiring student participation and attendance. A significant part of your learning will come from observation of class presentations. Your presence in class is an essential component of your success and grade in this course, because class participation in discussions and activities is a required element of your grade. The important point to remember is that a skill takes time to develop properly. Each student must be prepared to spend time in class and outside class in the study and preparation of presentations.

THE COURSE SCHEDULE IS PROVIDED BELOW. THE FOLLOWING PAGES CONTAIN MORE INFORMATION ON THE NATURE OF THIS COURSE. YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO KNOW ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS SYLLABUS. BE SURE TO READ IT VERY CAREFULLY, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS IN THE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION PACKET. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE INFORMATION ON DEADLINES AND GRADING POLICIES.

POLICY: It is the policy of the Department of Communication that, due to the developmental nature of this class, students who are not present in the classroom during the first OR second day of the semester may be dropped from the class by the Instructor (wait listed students included).

Required Textbook:

  1. O’Hair, D., Stewart, R., & Rubenstein, H. (2012). Speaker’s guidebook: Text and reference (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. ISBN#: 978-0-312-67886-9
  2. COMM 141X Student Supplementary Information Packet (SIP)

(available in the UAF bookstore)

Monday/Wednesday/Friday Course Schedule Syllabus is subject to change

Date / Assignment Due/Class Topic

Monday, August 29

/ Syllabus/Schedule/Introductions
Wednesday, August 31 / Diagnostic Presentations
Friday, September 2 / Diagnostic Presentations
Monday, September 5 / Diagnostic Presentations & Chapters 1( getting started),3 (Managing Speaking Anxiety), 18 (Methods of Delivery)
Wednesday, September 7 / Expectations and Grading Explanation
8 Public Speaking Competencies (SIP) - overview
Friday, September 9 / Chapters 2 (Preparing Your First Speech), 4 (Listeners and Speakers), 5 (Ethical Public Speaking) (Handouts and Discussion)
Monday, September 12 / Chapters 6 (Analyzing the Audience), 7 (Selecting a Topic and Purpose) (Competency 1, in-depth)
Wednesday, September 14 / Chapters 12 (Organizing the Speech), 13 (Types of Organizational Arrangements), 15 (Developing the Introduction) (Competency 2, in-depth) In class assignment-prepare thesis
Friday, September 16 / Chapters 8 (Developing Support Material), 9 (Locating Supporting Material), 10 (Using the Internet to Support Your Speech), 24 (The Informative Speech) (Competency 3, in-depth) In class assignment-prepare main points
Monday, September 19 / Chapters 16 (Developing the Conclusion) (Competency 4, in-depth) In class assignment transitions, summary, and final statements
Wednesday, September 21 / Chapters 17 (Using Language to Style the Speech) (Competency 5, in-depth) APA Bias Free Language Appendix V in Supplementary Packet
Friday, September23 / Chapters 19 (The Voice in Delivery) , 20(The Body in Delivery) (Competencies 6,7 & 8, in-depth)
Monday, September 26 / Chapter 14 (Outlining the Speech) Outlining & Note cards
Outlining Assignment-In Class
Wednesday, September 28 / Outlining continued – may adjust presentation schedule this week
Friday, September 30 / Informative Presentations
Monday, October 3 / Informative Presentations
Wednesday, October 5 / Informative Presentations
Friday, October 7 / MIDTERM
Monday, October 10 / Begin work on Visual Aid Presentations
Chapter 21 (Using Presentational Aids), 22 (Designing Presentational Aids), 23 (Using Presentational Software)
Wednesday, October 12 / Chapter 21, 22
Friday, October 14 / Chapter 23
Monday, October 17 / Visual Aid Presentations
Wednesday, October 19 / Visual Aid Presentations
Friday, October 21 / Visual Aid Presentations
Monday, October 24 / Chapter 25 (The Persuasive Speech) + Handouts
Wednesday, October 26 / Chapter 26 (Developing Arguments for the Persuasive Speech)
Friday, October 28 / Chapter 27 (Organizing the Persuasive Speech ) Persuasive Topics Due
Monday, October 31 / Chapter 30 (Communicating in Groups)
Wednesday, November 2 / mini-debates
Friday, November 4 / 1st Persuasive Presentation
Monday, November 7 / 1st Persuasive Presentation
Wednesday, November 9 / 1st Persuasive Presentation
Friday, November 11 / 1st Persuasive Presentation
Monday, November 14 / Introduction to Communication & Discipline; Diversity
Wednesday, November 16 / Impromptu speaking
Friday, November 18 / Handling questions, preparing soundbites
Monday, November 21 / Chapter 31 (speaking in college courses/other disciplines)
Wednesday, November23 / Chapter 28 (Special Occasion/Epideictic Speaking)
Friday, November 25 / THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASS
Monday, November 28 / 2ndPersuasive Presentation
Wednesday, November 30 / 2ndPersuasive Presentation
Friday, December 2 / 2ndPersuasive Presentation
Monday, December 5 / 2ndPersuasive Presentation
Wednesday, December 7 / 2ndPersuasive Presentation
Friday, December 9 / Final Exam Review
Look at final exam schedule online for date/ time/place / Final Exam @