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COMG 251: PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING

Spring 2011Course Director: Dr. Robert R. Boller E-mail: boller@hawaii.eduPhone: 956-3324 Office: 317 George Hall Office Hours: M 11:00 -12:00 pm and W 12:30 - 1:30 pm and by appointment Lab Instructor: Aki L. Kuioka E-mail: akuioka@hawaii.eduPhone: 956-3317Office: 319 George Hall Office Hours: M 9:00 am - 10:00 am, W 10:30 am - 11:20 am, and by appointment Lab Instructor: Abel Gustafson E-mail: abelg@hawaii.eduPhone: 956-3318Office: 315 George Hall Office Hours: M 11:00 - 12:00, R 2:00 - 3:00 pm and by appointment

Lab Instructor: Ryan Delaney  E-mail: rdelaney@hawaii.eduPhone: 956-6354Office: 322 George Hall Office Hours: M 11:00 - 12:00 pm, R 1:30 - 2:30 pm and by appointment

Lab Instructor: Nga Nguyen E-mail: ngatnn @hawaii.edu Phone: 956-3318Office: 315 George Hall Office Hours: M 11:00 - 12:00 pm, W 9:30 - 10:30 pm and by appointment

Lab Instructor: Chris Gilbert E-mail: ckhg@hawaii.eduPhone: 956-6354Office: 322 George Hall Office Hours: M 11:00 - 12:00 pm, W 9:30 - 10:30 am and by appointment

Course Objective – This course is designed to create a supportive, non-threatening, and enjoyable environment to learn effective public expression. Students will learn how to sensibly craft and articulately deliver various types of public presentations; indispensable skills for academic, professional, and civic life. Skills will be learned from lecture, discussion, guest speakers and considerable in class practice and will cover topics such as composition, dynamic delivery, critical thinking, audience analysis, persuasion, and how to cope with anxiety. Students will also learn communication theories relevant to public speaking. With a constructive outlook and sincere effort, you can expect a rewarding, educational, practical, and entertaining experience in this course. Your aim is to learn how to construct and deliver original, dynamic, and critically thought out messages and understand the crucial role of public dialog in society.

Materials required: 1. Text: The Speaker’s Guidebook by O’hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein. 5th edition.

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2. http://manoa.hawaii.edu/researchbase/index.php - research base3. Index cards to be used for speaking notes.4. Video recording: You are required to video record your informative and

persuasive presentations. The recordings will be used as a learning tool for you to view and evaluate your presentations. If you do not have personal access to a camera, your GTA will provide a recording device. MAKE SURE you inform your GTA that you need a recording device in advance of your presentation!

5. Various visual aids (please bring 2 formats of data files to class).6. Iclicker - available in the UH bookstore and online. 7. 2 pocket folder for compiling required presentation materials. The folder will be

given to your lab instructor for review periodically.8. Ancillary course materials will also be available for download from Laulima.

I. GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS A. Presentations : Students are required to deliver four presentations individually,

and one as a group effort. Presentations will comprise 65% of your grade. Two of the presentations (informative {20%} and persuasive {20%}) will require a full sentence typed outline, accompanied by a clear bibliography (number of sources and acceptable types of source material will be assigned for each speech). Outlines are due as specified by your lab instructor, but must be completed the day of your speech, prior to delivery, at the latest. The first speech (Narrative {5%}) will be graded on a pass/not pass basis and will be a springboard for future presentations. Each presentation will be accompanied by a detailed assignment sheet to follow. Students who are unable to perform a speech on their assigned day should immediately contact their lab instructor in advance of the speaking date. Regardless of the reason for missing the presentation (excusable absences will be made at the discretion of your lab instructor) the COMPLETE SPEECH OUTLINE SHOULD BE EMAILED TO THE LAB INSTRUCTOR THE DAY YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO SPEAK IF YOU WILL BE MISSING CLASS. Simply missing your presentation and not making acceptable arrangements with the lab instructor will result in assignment failure!

· Collaborative Current Event : Some class periods not reserved for major speaking assignments will begin with one or more current event debate presentations. Details of the collaborative will follow, but the emphasis will be on facilitating a class discussion and most importantly getting the audience involved! Each collaborative will be a partnered exercise and will be worth 10% of your course grade.

· Commemorative Presentation: Your final presentation will call upon you to praise, honor, recognize, or pay tribute to a person, an event, an idea, or an organization (10% of course grade).

· Topics: Mature and sophisticated topics are not only imperative, but selection will affect your grade. Choose topics you are interested in developing a distinct point of view on. It is strongly encouraged to

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follow an inductive reasoning approach when developing a thesis to encourage open minded research and ideation. You are required to submit your topic for approval to your lab instructor on a specified date. Sample topics (informative and persuasive) will be included on your forthcoming assignment sheets to stimulate ideas.

B. Exams : A midterm and a final examination will be given. The final will be partially comprehensive, as course material will build upon itself. The exams will cover material from text material covered in class, lectures, labs, videos, handouts, and class discussions and will comprise 20% of your grade (Midterm = 10%, Final = 10%). The tests will contain T/F, multiple choice, and short answer questions.

C. Self-evaluations : You are required to evaluate your performances on your informative and persuasive speeches after watching your speeches on video. Both self-evaluations will be due the class period (mass lecture or lab) after your presentations (Total of two self-evaluations = 10%).

D. Attendance/Policies : Attendance will be taken each class period, including mass lecture. You will be allowed two absences this semester to be used at your discretion (But NOT on a day you are assigned to speak!!!). You may miss one mass lecture and one lab without penalty. Each absence beyond the two allowed will result in a 10 pt. reduction in your overall point total. Attendance is especially important on all speech days! Respect your classmates work and be a punctual and attentive audience member when you are not speaking! Do NOT walk in during another student’s presentation! Tardiness in excess of 5 minutes is considered an absence. ANY use of cell phones during lecture/lab is strictly prohibited!

E. Research opportunity : You are required to participate in 2.0 credit hours of social science research via the Communicology dept. Please visit SONA. Research participation counts for 20 pts. overall and you must complete all 2.0 credit hours to receive credit. (2% of your grade).

F. Class Participation: Not only will attendance (physical presence) be considered, but most importantly your active presence (active listening, questioning, taking part in activities, videotaping peers...) will affect your participation grade. Part of your grade will be based on your active participation. 10 pts. will be taken off of your grade for every lab absence past one and every mass lect. absence past one. No point deduction limits for missing classes.

G. Grading Criteria : Each assignment will be introduced with an assignment sheet detailing what is expected of you. Make sure you are very clear on the criteria and do not be afraid to ask questions if you are not! All assignments should be typed and free of grammatical errors. Visuals aids should be computer based (E.g. PowerPoint or Keynote). No poster boards!

H. Make-up work and exams : Late work will not be accepted. If you cannot physically make it to lab (or bring in a hard copy of your outline), send your outline to your lab instructor’s email before your speaking time. You are still required to hand in a hard copy of your outline. Make up exams will

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be given at the discretion of the Professor based upon sufficient evidence of a personal or family emergency. Early exams will not be given for travel or other personal reasons! Student athletes must make arrangements to complete exams prior to travel.

I. Plagiarism and Academic Integrity : Plagiarizing any part of any speech is unethical and will result in failure of the course. All academic work depends on the respect and acknowledgement of the research and ideas of others. You are expected to have full knowledge of the University’s Student Conduct Code (available at the Office of the Dean of Students in the Student Service Center).

J. Students with Disabilities : Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the KOKUA Program for information and services. Services are confidential and free for students. Contact KOKUA at 956-7511, kokua@hawaii.edu or Student Services Center, Room 13.

II. Tentative course outline Midterm - Monday. March 5th during Mass lectureFinal - Friday, May 11th (12-2 p.m.) in Mass lecture hall

III. Grading Scale 97.5-100% = A+ 87.5-89.4% = B+ 77.5-79.4% = C+ 67.5-69.4% = D+ 92.5-97.4% = A 82.5-87.4% = B 72.5- 77.4% = C 62.5-67.4% = D 89.5-92.4% = A- 79.5-82.4% = B- 69.5- 72.4% = C- 59.5-62.4 = D-

A note about effort level and evaluation: Your work is on display for the entire class. Your instructors make it a point to reward those students who clearly challenge themselves and provide stimulating material for their classmates. ORIGINALITY AND EFFORT LEVEL ARE ESSENTIAL TO RECEIVING A HIGH GRADE!

IV. Grade Breakdown Presentations/Outlines (650 pts):

Narrative 50 pts. (pass/not pass)Collaborative 100 pts.Informative 200 pts. (150 pts. presentation, 50 pts. outline)Persuasive 200 pts. (150 pts. presentation, 50 pts. outline)Commemorative 100 pts.

Self-evaluations 100 pts. (50 pts. each)Tests (200 pts):

Mid term 100 pts.Final 100 pts.

Participation/Research 50 pts (30 pts. attendance/20 pts. SONA research).1000 total points possible

Important Policies and Procedures

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1. Be aware of the attendance policy, especially for mass lecture and your speaking dates. If you are tardy the day of one of your presentations, you will not be allowed to present.

2. Make up presentations will not be given except for in extreme circumstances.

3. Assignments: All written assignments should be typed, double-spaced, and should have one inch margins on the left, right, top, and bottom of each page. Please use a standard font type and size. Emailed assignments are NOT accepted; only hard copies of assignments will be accepted. References should be in APA format.

4. Do not walk in late to a class and especially do not walk in during a presentation.

5. Do not text message or otherwise disturb the class with the use of cell phones, food, or other obvious and rude interferences. Laptop usage is not permitted during mass lecture.

6. Be attentive to all speakers regardless of whether they are the instructor, a peer, or a guest speaker.

7. Early exams will NOT be given. Please don’t ask and definitely do not book a plane ticket with the expectation that you will be given an early final.

8. Appointments and Office Hours: Appointments are a privilege and can benefit your experience in 251 immensely. Come on time and prepared with materials and questions to ask prior to meeting with the instructor.

9. Be aware of all course policies. We love teaching this course, but not when we have to crack down on policies. Your continuing attendence indicates your acceptance of all previous course policies.

Narrative Speech Assignment

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Goal: The goal of this presentation is for you to be introduced to public speaking, to become familiar with being in front of an audience, and hopefully to deliver an entertaining and poignant speech. In addition, the assignment is geared toward a personal topic so you can challenge your speaking anxiety with a little more confidence and so you can receive qualitative non-graded instructor feedback.

A narrative is a story that has a beginning, middle and end. The way you tell the story is your interpretation of the events, which invariably has an ethical dimension.

What you have learned from the story is more important than the story itself! This is known as the ethics of memory and is the thematic continuity for the class.

Requirements: The speech should be between 5 and 7 minutes in length. Make sure you practice your speech to make it smooth and so you will abide by the time limits. You are required to hand in a short typed statement (approx. ½ page) about what you are going to talk about which has your thesis statement clearly written on top the day of your presentation. You may use a visual aid.

Choose one of the following options:1. Describe an event, experience, or a relationship that had either an immediate or latent

impact on the development of your personality or on your perception of the world. Begin with a quote.

2. Write/Tell an original story that has some significance to you personally or a folk story that someone has passed down to you. Begin with a quote.

Although the speech should have some structure, it should be delivered in a

conversational tone. Tell us an important story to you as if you were speaking to a group of friends.

You are not expected to present any information you do not feel comfortable presenting or which would make the audience uncomfortable hearing! However, a candid story is usually appreciated and far more entertaining and relevant.

Use clear and concise language, add sensory details to spark interest, speak bravely and sincerely, attempt an effective delivery style, and most of all…be interesting, interested and have fun!

If you are bored, you are boring!

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Collaborative Current Event Assignment

Purpose: To lead a group discussion regarding a current event in a creative way with a partner.

Requirements: Select a compelling topic that you and a partner are interested in exploring/debating/presenting in some creative way. Acceptable topics will be provocative, controversial, entertaining, and timely without being silly or juvenile. Strive for creativity in format and topic selection. Collect 6 sources of information on the topic – 3 sources per person. Each partner should choose a different angle/argument to present. Suggestions include top news stories of the day, editorials, and essays from major news magazines. Make sure to choose something that you have a strong opinion about, but that also has considerable room for discussion and disagreement. In class you will:

1. Briefly summarize your articles, giving enough information to adequately prepare the audience for a discussion. Use all six sources and cite them. Present the main points on some type of visual to help the class follow.

2. Give your opinions on the subject and lay out the opposing sides.3. Floor questions from the audience to clarify the articles and issues they

present.4. Lead a discussion by asking questions of the audience. If no hands are raised,

you are responsible to call on several classmates to answer your questions. Step 4 should constitute at least 50% of the time allotted!

Evaluation Criteria: The collaborative should last between 10 to 15 minutes and will be worth 10% of your course grade each. Evaluation criteria will be based on the following; Topic selection, research, delivery, visual aid, and above all; success in engaging the audience in a hearty discussion. Both students will receive the same grade. Please be accountable to your partner.

Topic ideas: effects of social networking sites, environmental issues, global conflicts, gender issues, ethics in politics, campus issues, Letc.

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Speech 251 - Public Speaking

Guest speaker series - “Rhetoric for Social Justice”

The Department of Speech and the University of Hawai‘i have been pleased to welcome the following contributors:

U.S. Congressman and Hawai’i Governor Hon. Neil AbercrombieInternational Keynote Speaker W Mitchell

Hawai’i Slam Poetry Master KealohaLegendary Hawai‘ian Comedian Frank De Lima

State Senator and Director of State Environmental Quality Control Gary HooserAuthor of Eddie Would Go and Surfrider Foundation Director Stuart Coleman

Honolulu Weekly editor and Huffington Post contributor Mindy PennybackerSustainable Saunders’ Shannah Trevenna

Sierra Club Director Robert HarrisThe UH Debate and Forensics Society

Slack Key Guitar Artist and Community Activist MakanaInternational Keynote Speaker and Viet Nam P.O.W. Capt. Jerry Coffee

KGMB 9 Anchor and Ms. Hawai‘i 2005 Malika DudleyMs. Hawai‘i 2008’ Nicole Fox

Author and Keynote Speaker Wally AmosHawai‘ian Ho‘oponopono Scholar Ramsay Taum

Israeli Olympic Sailor Adva Yacobovich

Free for UH students and alumni. Limited seating.

About the series:Rhetoric, or the use of language to persuade, is a central component of a volitional democracy intent on advancing social justice for all of it's people. The title of the series is intended to be interpreted by both the speakers and the audience in myriad ways. The point of continuity is the serving of community through public advocacy. The speaker series was inspired by late Rep. Walter Capp’s course at the University of California at Santa Barbara; "Voices of a Stranger".

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Student Learning Outcomes for Speech 251 - Public Speaking

1.  Demonstrate understanding of the importance of oral argument in citizenship and public decision-making.

2.  Demonstrate understanding of key concepts from the traditions of rhetoric and social influence and use these concepts to help craft and assess public presentations.

3.  Demonstrate understanding of key ethical issues in public address, including plagiarism, gender and cultural stereotyping, and ethnocentrism.

4.  Demonstrate facility in organizing material in appropriate patterns with clear and concise thesis statements for a variety of genres of public discourse.

5.  Demonstrate ability to identify and use compelling, credible evidence and anticipate audience support of, or opposition to, evidentiary claims.

6.  Demonstrate ability to identify and evaluate lines of reasoning (both logical and fallacious).

7.  Demonstrate ability to adapt presentations to diverse audiences and occasions.

8.  Demonstrate ability to properly cite a variety of sources when speaking and within formal outlines.

9.  Demonstrate ability to adjust physical and verbal delivery appropriately to various presentation contexts (E.g. Control speaking anxiety, display extemporaneous delivery, adjust vocal variety, utilize purposeful movement and illustrative gestures).

10. Demonstrate ability to craft and use visual aids that enhance presentations.

Week Date Topics Assignments1 Jan. 9th Introduction to course, anxiety Read Ch. 1

Lab 1 Review syllabus, narrative introduced

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Week Date Topics AssignmentsLab 2 Greeting activity, anxiety discussion

2 Jan. 16th Holiday M.L.K. Day Read Chs. 2 & 3

Lab 1 Narrative presentationsLab 2 Narrative presentations

3 Jan. 23rd Narratives - W. Mitchell Read Chs. 4 & 5, 8, 9, & 10

Lab 1 Narrative presentationsLab 2 Library Orientation Session

4 Jan. 30th Delivery, hosting a discussion, topic selection

Chs. 6, 7, 17, 18, 19,

Lab 1 Impromptu delivery activityLab 2 Collaboratives

5 Feb. 6th Informative speaking, audience analysis, organizing, transitioning

Chs. 11, 12, 13, & 23

Lab 1 Collaboratives, Informative Assignment

Lab 2 Collaboratives,Audience Analysis

6 Feb. 13th Introductions and ConclusionsEssential guide to Rhetoric

Chs. 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, & 22

Lab 1 CollaborativesThesis writing & outlining activity

Info. Topic Due

Lab 2 CollaborativesWorkshop period - Info speech

4 Sources Due

7 Feb. 20th President’s Day Holiday No readingLab 1 Informative presentations Self-eval due

day after speechLab 2 Informative presentations

8 Feb. 27th Evidence and Visual Aids Ch. 24

Lab 1 Informative presentations

Lab 2 Informative presentations

9 March 5th Midterm Chs. 25 & 26Lab 1 Informative presentations

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Week Date Topics AssignmentsLab 2 Persuasive Assignment Topics due

10 March 12th Persuasion I No readingLab 1 TBA aud. analysis

quest. dueLab 2 Audience analysis activity sources dues

11 March 19th

Persuasion II and argumentation principles

No reading

Activity - Tennis Debates

Workshop period - Persuasive speech

12 Spring Break March 26-30 No reading13 April 2nd Guest speaker (s) Ch. 27

Lab 1 Persuasive speechesLab 2 Persuasive speeches/Friday no labs Friday no labs

14 April 9th Other speech genres Ch. 29Lab 1 Persuasive speechesLab 2 Persuasive speeches

15 April 16th Guest speaker (s) No readingLab 1 Persuasive speechesLab 2 Activity,

Final Assignment16 April 23rd Guest speaker (s) Ch. 30

Lab 1 Final presentationsLab 1 Final presentations

17 April 30th Guest speaker (s)Final presentationsFinal presentations

18 May 11th Final12:00 - 2:00