COM 230: TECHNIQUES OF SPEAKING

Summer 1999

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. E. A. Hakanen OFFICE: 5062 MacAlister

OFFICE HOURS: Thurs. 3-5 PHONE: 895-1354

EMAIL: hakanen@drexel.edu

COURSE OVERVIEW

Your ability to communicate can play a considerable role in your professional success. This course is designed to aid you in developing your abilities to communicate effectively. You will develop a greater awareness and knowledge of rhetorical and organizational techniques for effective communication. You will also learn technical aspects of speaking such as gesture, eye contact, and voice and the effective use of visual aids in spoken communication. By the end of the term, you should be a more proficient speaker.

COURSE EVALUATION

attendance/participation 50 pts.

presentation 1 30

presentation 2 50

presentation 3 50

presentation 4 50

videotape critique 50

280 total

DESCRIPTIONS OF REQUIREMENTS

1. Attendance/participation:

Punctual attendance at each class is critical. You can expect your attendance grade to be lowered 10% for each class period you are absent.

Participation is also important. You are expected to listen to the presentations and to critique them intelligently and responsibly.

2. Presentations:

During the course, you will give four presentations. One of these will be a group presentation. You are responsible for coming up with a topic and with providing necessary support/evidence. If you have questions, speak to me.

The four presentations are described below:

Presentation 1: Process Description

Explain a process to a technical/professional audience. The process may be how something works (so that the audience understands the process) or how to do something (so that the audience can carry out the process). Your topic should be one that you are comfortable with and that is related to your major or to your co&endash;op experience.

Presentation 2: Technical Explanation

Explain an abstract technical or theoretical concept from your field to this audience (the class). To succeed you will need to provide good examples and metaphors and use appropriate visual aids.

Presentation 3: Persuasive

Persuade your audience. Depending on your topic, you will probably have one of the following aims:

•If the topic is controversial, your audience should understand your viewpoint and should appreciate this viewpoint, even if they are not persuaded fully to accept your argument; or

•if your topic is one where some action needs to be taken, the audience should be persuaded that a problem exists and that they need to take appropriate action.

Presentation 4: Argumentation -- group project

Prepare a panel designed to persuade the audience to accept an idea or proposal. Your group will have to decide on the audience and its likely reaction to your topic; you will also have to decide on individual responsibilities. One of the group, for instance, will act as leader: this person will introduce the topic/project; will preview the roles that the other members will play; and will summarize/conclude.

Additional Comments on Presentations:

Presentations should be 5-7 minutes long and should use appropriate visual aids. I will time the presentations and you should expect to finish within the prescribed time (=/&endash; 30 secs).

For each of your presentations, you will need to use visual aids. During the course, I want you to use each of the following at least once:

1. overhead projector and transparencies

2. flip charts and/or chalk board

3. handouts and/or objects

All presentations are extemporaneous, not memorized or read.

Present yourself professionally, dressed appropriately. Standard English is expected.

Finally, you must give your presentations on the assigned dates. There are no make-ups.

3. Video-tapings and Critique:

At least two of your presentations will be video-taped. You will review one of your performances and highlight key areas where you have succeeded or where you need work. You must use your text as a basis for your self-critique.

SCHEDULE

All readings are to be completed for the dates indicated.

The instructor maintains the right to deviate from the following schedule.

WEEK FOCUS

1 Introduction to the course

2 Overview of the speech-making process, Communication Apprehension

3 First presentation

4 Organizing

5 Second presentation

6 Persuasion

7 Third presentation

8 Working in groups

9 Fourth presentation

10 Thurs. Videotape critique due