Public Speaking
Fall
Semester, 2008-09
Instructor:
Reuben Sairs
Goal: Students will learn
standard methods used in formal speaking in various situations, and practice
for evaluation in 7 areas of public speaking.
Text: The Elements of
Speechwriting and Public Speaking by Jeff Scott Cook.
Expectations/Evaluation:
There are 8 elements to the class. Your grade will be based on your
cumulative performance in each area.
See percentages below.
·
A
mid-term examination on the Book.
20%
·
Introducing
others. 10 %
·
Praying
formally, publicly. 5%
·
Proposal
presentation. 20%
·
Chairing
meetings. 10%
·
Oral
interpretation/public reading. 15%
·
Formal
speech. 20%
·
A
small amount of credit will be available
through an impromptu speaking exercise on final’s day. 1% participation, 1% for success.
·
There
are written assignments that accompany some of the projects. These are designed to help you plan and
organize your presentations. They will
count for 15 percent of the project grade.
·
Students
will listen to 45 minutes of famous speeches in the library and hand in a short
report of which speeches, and what knowledge of techniques or insights into the
process of public speaking they gained by listening critically. 5 %
Reading Schedule. The book is 225 pages long.
*
Students will read Chapter 7 (140-153)
before the second class meeting.
Class Schedule and information: (This schedule is
general, flexible, and subject to last minute changes.) There are roughly 30 classes over
roughly 13 weeks—two short weeks.
Weeks 1 & 2. General principles and
working with introductions.
Students will introduce another person—a classmate, friend, family
member in a 2 minute presentation.
Weeks 3 & 4 & 5. How to chair a
meeting. Students will learn basic
parliamentary procedure and each chair a meeting, make and act on motions using
formal rules.
Weeks 5 & 6 & 7. Oral
interpretation. Reading Scripture
and other literature out loud in public.
Students will learn about oral interpretation and prepare readings to
present to the class.
Weeks 8 & 9 & 10. Presentations. How to sell ideas, and present project
proposals. Choose a proposal topic
from the list on this syllabus.
Students may use PowerPoint or any appropriate visual-aide materials or
props to present their ideas.
Weeks 10 & 11 & 12. The formal speech. Students will prepare a 10 minute
speech. Although religious subjects
are acceptable and encouraged, this is not to be a sermon or a testimony. The speech may be of the five major
types covered in the book: to stimulate, inform, persuade, activate or
entertain. A so-called
demonstration speech is not acceptable for the formal speech.
Prayer & Scripture
Reading assignment:
Students will be assigned days to open the class with formal prayer. A copy of the prayer will be handed in
before the assigned day. Scripture
reading and formal prayer assignments can be completed by participating in our Monday - Friday
chapel services.
Proposals (choose one for weeks
8-10) You may use the examples below or make any appropriate substitution and request approval. Unapproved topics will automatically be
given a C as the highest possible grade.
No comedy or parody is acceptable.
·
Selling things: For example, your company sells t-shirts, hats, pens,
chocolate and other promotional materials to clubs and organization. Your job
is sell the idea of promotion to the club.
·
Convincing people: Example: Your church is out of room and
needs a bigger building. You
represent the building committee and try to sell a modest building project to the
congregation.
·
Informing people: Example: Most people simply don’t
understand how important it is to wash their hands regularly. Your job is to inform them about the
health benefits of regular hand-washing.
·
Promotion
Examples:
o
Why
should a company relocate to your hometown? You work for the city counsel, selling
your town to a hotel chain that is considering locating a hotel there, but
isn’t sure.
o
Promote
o
Are
you an aspiring missionary? You may
promote your mission.