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SUMMER 2001
COMMUNICATION 1611
DETAILED ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
DR. MARY TREJO
Department of Communication
The University of Texas at El Paso
COMMUNICATION 1611, Summer 2001, MTWRF 12:50-2:50 PM
Classrooms: Cotton 204 and COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB, 3rd Floor, Cotton Bldg.
Dr. Mary C. Trejo, Instructor
Office: Cotton 102; Phone, 747-5431; email,
Hours, MTWR 2:50—3:30 PM; By Appointment
OVERVIEW OF SEMESTER:
This course provides an introduction to the complementary skills of expository writing and public speaking. The major grading emphasis is on the conception, development, and logical communication of ideas. The course has been designed as a result of the diagnostic exercises utilized during the initial meetings. The planning of assignments reflects the adult status, wide-ranging interests, intelligence, and good mastery of language skills of this specific group. This class has been found to be a mature group well prepared to take responsibility for preparation and completion of assignments. Students are expected to manage their time effectively and provide self-motivation in completing assigned readings and speeches; tests are not expected to be utilized unless an added negative incentive is needed. In addition to taking responsibility for completing readings and preparations, students will be encouraged to select real-world topics of interest to mature adults which call for challenging research and idea development. Both hard work and creativity will be rewarded. Detailed explanations of all assignments will be provided as the semester progresses. If clarifications are needed, students are encouraged to ask questions whenever they wish. Although the schedule is rigorous, the intellectual climate in the class should be exciting.
OVERVIEW OF ASSIGNMENTS:
Warm-Up Exercises to Build Fundamentals
Assignment 1, Introductory Speeches, 50 Points**Note: 2 options available; choose one
Assignment 2, Text Discussions, 25 Points; lead a class discussion on a textbook chapter:
Practicing the Complementary Arts of Speaking and Writing: Speaking & Writing Assignments
Assignment 3, Descriptive Essay, 50 Points
Assignment 4, Informative Speech, 100 Points
Assignment 5, Informative Essay, 100 Points
Assignment 6, Persuasive Speech, 125 Points
Assignment 7, Persuasive Essay, 125 Points
Assignment 8, Persuasive/Motivational Speech, 150 Points
Assignment 9, Writer’s & Speaker’s Journal, 125 Points
Assignment 10, Persuasive Essay, 150 Points
Note: Participation/Attendance Grade, -50 Points (More than 4 unexcused absences will result in being dropped or a lowered grade.)
TOTAL: 1000 Points
1000- 900 A
899- 800 B
799- 700 C
699- 600 D
599 & below F
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Notes:
SUMMER 2001 CLASS SCHEDULE; SUBJECT TO CHANGE
JUNE
WEEK DAY DATE
DIAGNOSTIC PERIOD
1 1 June 4, M Introduction to course; Texts assigned
1 2 June 5, T Overview; Diagnostic Exercise #1; Lucas, Chs. 1-5 assigned
1 3 June 6, W Diagnostic Exercise #2
1 4 June 7, R Lucas, Chs. 1-2, discussed
1 5 June 8, F Diagnostic Exercise #3; Lucas, Chs. 3-5, discussed
Announcement of availability of COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; diagnostic period ends
Note: all classes will meet in COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB unless announced otherwise.
2 6 June 11, M Intro to COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB
#1, Introductory Speeches, and #2, Text Discussions, assigned
2 7 June 12, T COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB;
further discussion of Assignments #1 & #2
2 8 June 13, W COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; #2, Text Discussions, begin:
M. Carlos-- Lucas, Ch. 6, Gathering Materials
G. Ibave-- Lucas, Ch 7, Supporting Ideas
M. Skatzes-- Lucas, Ch. 12, Delivery
2 9 June 14, R Cotton 204; #1, Introductory Speeches, due; all should be ready to speak
2 10 June 15, F COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Work on #3, Descriptive Essay;
#2, Text Discussions, continue:
Robert Rodriguez--Lucas, Ch. 8, Organizing
Ruby Rodriguez--Lucas, Ch. 10, Outlining
Karen Lopez--Lucas, Ch. 9, Beginning and Ending
3 11 June 18, M COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; # 3, Descriptive Essay, due
3 12 June 19, T COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; #2, Text Discussions, continue:
Tim Woodard-- Lucas, Ch. 14, Speaking to Inform
John James-- Lucas, Ch. 11, Language
Raul Armendariz-- Lucas, Ch. 13, Visual Aids
3 13 June 20, W UTEP Library
3 14 June 21, R COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; submit topic for #4, Informative Speech
3 15 June 22, F COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; work on #4, Informative Speech
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4 16 June 25, M COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; workshop on #4, Informative Speech
4 17 June 26, T Cotton 102; #4, Informative Speech, due; all should be ready to speak
4 18 June 27, W COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; finish #4 if needed
4 19 June 28, R COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; workshop on #5, Informative Essay
4 20 June 29, F COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; #2, Text Discussions, continue:
D. Rosales-- Lucas, Ch. 15, Speaking to Persuade
Discussion-- Lucas, Ch. 16, Methods of Persuasion
JULY
WEEK DAY DATE
5 21 July 2, M Work on #5; Research for # 6, Persuasive Speech;
5 22 July 3, T #5, Informative Essay, due
5 -- July 4, W Holiday; no class scheduled
5 23 July 5, R COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Research for # 6, Persuasive Speech
5 24 July 6, F Submit topic for # 6, Persuasive Speech
6 25 July 9, M COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Workshop on #6 outline
6 26 July 10, T Cotton 201; #6, Persuasive Speech, due; all should be ready to speak
6 27 July 11, W COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; finish #6 if necessary
6 28 July 12, R COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Workshop on #7, Persuasive Essay
6 29 July 13, F COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Workshop on #7, Persuasive Essay
7 30 July 16, M COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; #7, Persuasive Essay
7 31 July 17, T COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Work on # 8,
Persuasive/Motivational Speech
7 32 July 18, W COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Workshop on # 8,
Persuasive/Motivational Speech
7 33 July 19, R Cotton 201; #8, Persuasive/Motivational Speech due; all should be ready
to speak
7 34 July 20, F COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; finish # 8 if necessary
8 35 July 23, M COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; practice timed writing for essay final
8 36 July 24, T COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB;
Submit # 9, Writer’s & Speaker’s Journal
8 37 July 25, W COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB; Practice timed writing for essay final
8 38 July 26, R Final Examination, 1:00 AM-3:45 PM,
COMM DEPT COMPUTER LAB**:
**#10, Persuasive Essay, 150 Points (In-class essay serves as final examination)
Notes:
COMMUNICATION 6111, WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION:
ASSIGNMENT #1:
#1, EXPRESSIVE/ DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE SPEECH (50 Points)
Time limit: 3-5 minutes; brief typed outline with title page required, utilizing standard English mechanics.
Your objective is to plan, practice, and deliver a speech of approximately 3-5 minutes, using brief notes.
This first formal speech assignment asks you to tell a story in an expressive, descriptive way. In this assignment, you are asked to plan, briefly outline, and tell a personal story from your childhood. In selecting what story to tell, keep it simple; you may simply tell about something that you or some member of your family experienced. Remember your ethical commitment to your audience, and keep the stories non-offensive. It is often a good idea to concentrate on happy topics or memories. This is intended to be an easy to approach, ice-breaker exercise, so choose a topic that you will enjoy sharing with your audience.
Your speech should have three main sections: (1) an introduction, in which you establish interest and preview, (2) a body, in which you develop your story, and (3) a conclusion, in which you summarize. You may look at your brief outline while speaking, but DO NOT READ ALOUD FROM A WRITTEN TEXT. Your objective is to speak naturally and directly to your audience.
Plan an introduction, a body, and a conclusion for your speech. Include interesting details.
Notes should be brief, easy to read, should occupy no more than one side of a 4x6 note card. A 1-page photocopy of this card must be handed in before your speech.
Speak extemporaneously; utilize good delivery skills such as good eye contact, poise, and vocal variety; review Chapter 12, Delivery, before this assignment.
Be brief--plan, practice, and time your speech to fit the time limit.
Make sure your speech is well prepared--this instruction speaks for itself!
Adapt your remarks to the audience--assume your audience is comprised of intelligent adults.
Relax, enjoy yourself, and feel free to be a little creative. Public speaking can be fun!
COMMUNICATION 6111, WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION:
ASSIGNMENT #2, TEXT DISCUSSIONS (25 Points)
Time Limit: Approximately 10 minutes
As part of the warm-up exercises designed to help you to relax while speaking in public, and to serve the purpose of focusing the attention of the class on the assigned readings in the text book, you are asked to lead a class discussion of approximately 10 minutes on one text book chapter. The educational philosophy behind this assignment and others like it is simple: that people learn more when they are actively engaged in absorbing and practicing the messages contained in class materials than when they are passive listeners.
Speakers: Each student will be assigned a chapter and a due date. Please be sure to be prepared to speak when scheduled!
Audience: All must listen actively and interact with the speaker. You may be required to answer questions, participate in surveys, or make comments at the end of the presentation.
Speakers will need to plan an informal outline to help in remembering important ideas. Also, this is an open book presentation—feel free to quote from the text.
Remember, as a discussion leader, you have the right to plan questions to ask the class. You may also feel free to ask the instructor to help you during this warm-up exercise.
This is an informal exercise; you may either sit or stand at the front of the room. You should speak clearly and distinctly and make an effort to share the important ideas from the chapter with the class. If you are able to elicit discussion from the class, this is a mark of success, so plan strategies to get the class to talk!
COMMUNICATION 6111, WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION:
#3, EXPRESSIVE/ DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY (50 Points)
Length: 200-300 word essay; include a brief phrase outline and title page
Assignment #3 asks for an essay which emphasizes very descriptive and expressive language. Remember that description involves the five senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing), and that expressive writing involves expressing your emotions to some degree. Try to use balance and write descriptively and expressively without going overboard and overwriting.
This first formal essay may develop any topic already mentioned in your Speaker’s & Writer’s Journal, if you wish, but you may also choose a fresh topic not yet mentioned in class and not yet recorded in the notebook.
Feel free to switch topics to any appropriate subject you want to describe in an expressive fashion. Pick a topic you know well and will enjoy writing about.
Your essay should have three main sections: an introductory paragraph, a central body paragraph, and a conclusion paragraph. (Longer assignments will always call for multiple paragraphs in the body section of your essay.) Remember that a good paragraph usually is around 100 words long! For this specific assignment, the introduction and conclusion paragraphs may be somewhat shorter, but the main, or body paragraph should be at least 100 words.
Like all formal assignments this semester, this essay must be computer-generated or at least typed. Grammar, spelling, and all elements of good English usage will be evaluated in grading.
Font size: 12
Use standard page margins as set in the word processor.
COMMUNICATION 1611
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS FOR ASSIGNMENTS # 4 & 5
Assignments #4 and #5, Informative Speech and Informative Essay
The task in Assignment # 4 is to plan and deliver an informative speech. Similarly, the task in Assignment # 5 is to take the same topic used in # 4, then refine, modify, and expand it as needed, and write an informative essay. Both the speech and the essay are to utilize library and internet research. The essay is to be written after the speech has been given, so that what you have learned about the topic and the logical development of ideas which inform us about the topic while preparing and delivering the speech can be utilized in the essay.
· #4, Informative Speech, 100 points; (5 minute speech)
--Research requirement: 3 sources , minimum
Your objective is to research, plan, practice, and deliver a 5 minute speech, using very brief notes. Review Lucas, Chapter 14, Speaking to Inform, for specific instructions; follow these guidelines carefully.
Special assignment adaptations are as follows:
Type of Informative--Announce before you begin your speech which type of informative speech you have chosen (See Lucas, Ch. 14, on speeches about Objects, Processes, Events, or Concepts.) You may not choose Processes, or Process Analysis. Please choose from the other three types of Informative.
Topic/Research--Choose a topic which interests you and which can be researched; find and photocopy at least three research sources to be cited. At least one paraphrase and one quotation with accurate citations should be used in the speech. Note cards with research items to be cited may be used in addition to the brief speaking outline. Note: Note cards should be cut and pasted from photocopies or printouts.
Outline--Before you speak, hand in a two-level (roman numerals and capital letters) sentence or phrase outline with works cited page and photocopies attached. Include a title page. This outline will be graded on neatness and clarity; word processing or typing is mandatory. The speech should be delivered extemporaneously from a brief speaking outline and research note cards. Hand in the speaking outline, printouts, photocopies and note cards at the end of your speech so that they may be evaluated along with the formal outline previously handed in. The formal outline will be considered part of the preparation for the speech and will represent 1/3 of the grade for this assignment. Outlines should exemplify good grammar and spelling; bibliography form should be MLA.
Remember, this is a formal speech; therefore, you will want to utilize text chapters covered which deal with all components of good public speaking, including those on organization, idea development, research, introductions and conclusions, good language use, and delivery. Start early, plan ahead, and practice, practice, practice.