Online Speech Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Blake

Office: E.H. 227

Phone: 302-857-6566

Email: ablake@desu.edu

Office Hours: To be Announced

I. Required text: A Speakers Guidebook by Dan OHair, Rob Stewart, and Hannah Rubenstein,
sixth edition

NOTE: All students MUST have a working Delaware State University email account.
Correspondences will only be sent through DSU email. Do not send emails to the professor from
another email account.

II Course Description

This course provides students training in the fundamentals of diction and effective oral presentation with a
focus on a variety of different types of speeches. Emphasis is placed upon preparation and delivery.
Techniques of interviewing will be explored. Prerequisite: English Composition 101 &102

III Course Rationale

Communication is a lifelong activity and process in a persons professional and personal life. This course
gives students practice and experience in different types of communication to gain confidence in their abilities
to speak; however, communication can be unproductive without effective listening skills. All communication
is based on information gathering, processing, transmitting, and decoding. Each activity will require
information from sources such as libraries, computer databases, printed materials, and interviews. The course
will also focus on receiving and decoding messages with respect for the diversity of the senders, their
messages, and their cultures.

IV Course Objectives

The following objectives are in alignment with the General Education Program

(GE-R: Reading, GE-OCD: Oral Communication Discussion, GE-MC: Multiculturalism, GE-CC:

Computer Competency, GE-CT: Critical Thinking, GE-W: Writing, GE-OCP: Oral Communication
Presentation, GE-SE: Self Evaluation)

1. Students will learn that communication is a lifelong, ever changing process (GE-OCD, GE-R)
2. Students will present two special occasion speeches, one informative speech, one persuasive speech,
and one mock interview in their field of study (GE-OCP, GE-L, GE-OCD, GE-W)

3. Students will employ electronic data gathering in at least two speeches GE-CC, GE-W, GE- CT)

4. Students will analyze and evaluate the content and delivery of other speakers (GE-L, GE-CT)

5. Students will evaluate the appropriateness and credibility of their research materials GE-SE, GE-CT)
 6. Students will learn to listen, respect, and analyze diverse points of views GE-L, GE-CT, GE-MC)

V Pedagogical Approaches: Course information will be conveyed to the student through instructor

chapter outlines/notes and forum discussions, videos, and Blackboards integrated systems, such as

Collaborate.

Learning Activities: The following activities have been chosen to achieve the above listed objectives:

1. Chapter Readings: All students will read and engage in chapter discussions using discussion

forum on Blackboard. Weekly chapter activities will be posted under course documents, and

students will also be required to listen to and watch video-taped speeches that they will critique.

2. Exams/Quizzes: All students will do exams/quizzes in the course.

3. Interview: All students will participate in a mock interview (in their field of study) using

Blackboards Collaborate to familiarize themselves with the interview process.

4. Speeches: All students must submit four videotaped speeches of themselves though Blackboards

Collaborate. Students will also peer-critique their classmates speeches. Details of this will be

provided prior to each speech.

VI. Student Learning Outcomes

In accordance with the Center for Teaching and Learnings stipulations and the General

Education program, all assignments and activities must be aligned with the departments

SLOs. The following chart maps the learning activities to the SLOs:

Activities Student Learning Outcomes General Education /

Across-the-Curriculum % of Grade
Codes
GE-OCD, GE-OCP
Students will present four individual Improve Students public speaking GE-R, GE-L 70%
speeches abilities by learning about different
types of speeches and presenting four
speeches
Help students demonstrate knowledge GE-L, GE-CT, GE-W
Students will take Exams/Quizzes of subject matter on public speaking 10%
 Develop students dyadic GE-CC, GE-SE
Students will participate in a mock communication abilities by helping 10%
interview them learn about the interview process

Encourage students participation in GE-CT, GE-SE

Participation online chapter discussions and online GE-R, GE-OCD 10%
activities GE- OCP, GE-MC

VII Grading/Evaluation

A: 90-100%

B: 80-89%

C: 10-79%

D: 60-69%

F: Below 60

VIII. Decorum

In full accordance with DSUs Student Handbook, all students are expected to comply with Items 1 to 5 on
pages 3 and 4. Students who violate these codes of conduct, ethics, and behavior are dealt with according to
DSUs judicial policy.

VIII. Statement on Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, Cheating

The Department of English and Foreign Languages upholds the universitys statement of Academic
Dishonesty, Plagiarism, and Cheating (see Student Handbook, Academic Dishonesty and other Academic
Violations, Items 1 to 3, p. 28). DEFL takes the position that any student who is found guilty of any of these
academic offenses fails the course and is subject further to the universitys disciplinary procedures.

IX Temporary Course Outline. This is aligned with chapter outlines and activities in course documents

Week Speeches, Lectures, and Exams Readings

1. Course Orientation

2. Becoming a Public Speaker Ch. 1

Giving It a Try: Preparing Your First Speech Ch. 2
Managing Speech Anxiety Ch. 3
3. Discuss Special Occasion Speech Assignment
Special Occasion Speeches Ch. 27
Analyzing the Audience Ch. 6
4. Selecting a Topic and Purpose Ch. 7
Organizing the Body of the Speech Ch. 12
Methods of Delivery Ch. 17
The Voice in Delivery Ch. 18
The Body in Delivery Ch. 19
5. Speech 1: Special Occasion Speeches (outlines due)
 Speech 1: Presentations of Special Occasion Speeches
Developing Supporting Material Ch. 8
Finding Credible Sources on the Internet
Citing Sources in your Speech Ch. 10
6. Types of Organizational Arrangements Ch. 12
Outlining the Speech Ch. 13
Introduce Informative Speech/Paper Assignments
The Informative Speech Ch. 23

Exam

7. Developing the Introduction Ch. 15

Developing the Conclusion Ch. 16
Using Language to style the Speech Ch. 16
8. Speech 2: Informative Speeches (outlines due)
Speech 2: Presentations of Informative Speeches
9. Discuss Persuasive Speech Assignment
The Persuasive Speech Ch. 24
Developing Arguments for the Persuasive Speech Ch. 25
Organizing the Persuasive Speech Ch. 26
Designing Presentation Aids Ch. 21
Using Presentation Software Ch. 22
10. Speech 3: Persuasive Speeches (Outlines due)
Speech 3: Presentation of Persuasive Speeches
11. Collaborating and Presenting in Groups Ch. 29
12. Presentations of Second Special Occasion Speeches

13. Course Review Discussions/Exam/Quiz

14. And 15. Mock Interviews