Course Description

This course explores the fundamental principles and practices of effective informative and persuasive speeches. It examines basic elements of public speaking, including increasing speaker confidence, speaking ethics, audience analysis and adaptation, appropriate methods of delivery, researching supporting materials, effective use of presentational aids, and effective outlining and delivery of speeches.

Course Outcomes

1. Overcome speech apprehension.
2. Study the theories of public speaking, audience analysis, presentation strategies, and critical public speaking analysis.
3. Improve public speaking skills, verbal ability, self-confidence, and audience adaptation.
4. Improve students' ability to become critical consumers of public speaking.

Requirements

Speeches, quizzes, tests, writing, attendance, peer speech evaluations, and group work (discussions & speech sessions).

This course will require 10+ gigabytes of data over the semester for viewing videos and if the student opts to participate in synchronous meetings to deliver speeches. Synchronous meetings in this course are strongly encouraged for giving speeches and receiving immediate feedback from the instructor.

Required Resources

• Speaking with a Purpose (10th Edition) by Arthur Koch. The library offers a free digital version of the textbook, accessed through this link: https://doi-org.byui.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9781315228273. The ISBN for this book is 0205220403.
• Students will also need the means to record both video and voice. Most current electronic devices have these capabilities. Test your hardware to make sure that the camera and microphone work correctly.
• Students will primarily record speeches on Zoom. In most cases, students will sign up for a group meeting that will include their instructor and some of their classmates. If the student cannot meet with the instructor and classmates, they will need to find a group to meet with the student while the student presents his or her speech. Students will need to become familiar with Zoom. If students record their videos using a different platform other than Zoom, they are responsible for running the video through My Media and uploading the shareable link from My Media. Instructors and fellow students are not expected to download files onto their computers. All videos must be linked or embedded into the course. Please do not upload files. Students are encouraged to practice using Zoom and My Media so that any software or hardware adjustments can be made before the first assignment's due date.

Public Speaking

Because this is a public speaking class, each student will present to a live audience of no less than eight people. This can be done in either the group setting mentioned above or the student must gather an audience. Students not doing the group meeting will need to be sure that as the speeches are recorded, the student fills most of the screen as the speaker, but audience members are included in the shot. The instructor needs to see that they are there. Students must ensure the sound quality is good. They are being graded on their speech, so the instructor has to be able to hear it.

It is highly recommended that students practice their speeches with a tutor at the Presentation Practice Center as part of the preparation process.

Structure

Major Assignments

The table below is meant to help you see the relevance of each major assignment regarding the course outcomes.

Weekly Patterns

The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions.

*Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.

Learning Model

The three steps of the learning model are the following:

• Prepare
• Teach One Another
• Ponder and Prove

In this course, you will prepare by reading the textbook, learning the steps to prepare a speech, and practicing your speech.

You will be pondering by doing reflections and other assignments, presenting speeches to different people, and using the feedback given and giving feedback.

You will prove by presenting your speech for grading, completing assignments, and taking exams.

You will be teaching one another by watching each other's speeches and giving feedback on those speeches.

Expectations

Workload

This is a three-credit course, and you are expected to spend between 9 and 12 hours on work. Some weeks may be heavier than others, especially when you are practicing and presenting a speech.

Group Work

Group work in this course is primarily when meeting with your instructor and presenting your speech. Speeches are given in Weeks 05, 07, 10, and 12. You will be delivering your speech, hearing your instructor's feedback, and writing down the feedback you want to give to your classmates who presented with you and classmates who presented separately. This feedback will not be provided during the meeting, but you will post it on the discussion board once your instructor has posted the recording of the group meeting on the discussion board.

Class Expectations and Late Work

Post promptly and submit assignments by the due date. Do not put off posting on the discussion board or submitting assignments until the last minute. This can potentially lead to crises, such as finding out that I-Learn has crashed or is unavailable right when the deadline is approaching. This can cause you much strife and impede your progress and success.

Avoid submitting work late unless it is entirely unavoidable. Some situations will occur where it is not inevitable, such as rolling blackouts, tornados, tsunamis, or civil unrest and so on. If these or a medical emergency occurs, don't hesitate to contact your instructor and arrange to get your work turned in as soon as possible.

Because of the need to administer a precise and fair grading policy, the following standards will be in effect:

• One late assignment will be allowed during the first five weeks and is left to the instructor’s discretion. This is only a 24-hour extension. It is not an open door for turning in work a week late. If there is an emergency, students must discuss that with the instructor. This allowance does not include the open book quizzes over the textbook; these must be done on time. At any time, if the instructor does not feel a student's reason for turning in the work late is valid, it is within their right to reject the assignment. This is not an entitlement.
• One late assignment will be accepted during the last half of the semester. This does not include tests or quizzes. This is only a 24-hour extension, not an open door for turning in work a week late. If a student has an emergency, they must discuss that with the instructor. These may only be made up in special circumstances in the last half of the semester. At any time, if the instructor does not feel a reason for turning the work in late is valid, it is within their right to reject the assignment. This is not an entitlement. It is a privilege with which the instructor will use the spirit of discernment to make the right decision for all involved.

Students are expected to contribute to the discussion and the ideas presented. Authentic learning is not a spectator sport—articulate ideas with power, passion, and persuasion.

Retries

Retries are allowed on all reading quizzes, not the final exam.

Extra Credit

Extra credit will be offered four times this semester through meeting with a tutor from the Presentation Practice Center (PPC). You may receive credit for meeting with the PPC tutor once for each speech.

You must schedule an appointment with or upload your speech for review from the PPC before giving it live to your classmates. Then, post the feedback from the PPC in the extra credit assignment for the corresponding speech to get extra credit.

Of course, if you want to meet more often with the tutor, you may do so (provided that there is an opening). Sign up early! There are several sections of COMM 102; this is not the only course that uses the PPC.

Course Assessment and Evaluation

All coursework will have a point value. These values will vary with the increasing expectation of developing skills as the semester progresses. Students will learn public speaking principles and start building a foundation for outlining and speaking before the first speech. They will continue strengthening their skills with each subsequent speech. As such, the first speech will be worth 120 points, and the point value will increase incrementally for each speech after that.

By the first speech, students will be expected to know how and be prepared to organize a speech with a strong central idea, segmented body parts, and supported evidence with at least three sources. Students will also be expected to show signs of beginning understanding of how to speak to an audience, and they will be expected to maintain eye contact with the camera and not read notes.

All of the points from the coursework will be averaged at the end of the semester for a percentage grade. This is broken down at the end of this section.

In addition to speeches, the main focus of the course, students will have reading quizzes, mostly on weeks without speeches. A final proctored exam at the end of the course will evaluate students' knowledge of public speaking.

Proctored Exams and Assessments

This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This allows students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Once the software has been installed, proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam. Proctorio will record exams and review them by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.

For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to Student Help: Proctorio in Canvas.

This course has one comprehensive final exam at the end, in addition to the reading quizzes, coursework, and the four speeches. The final exam is the only proctored assessment.

Grading Scale

Course Assessment Standards

The course will use the following standards to help students assess and evaluate their efforts. The instructor will expect them to use these standards to determine progress throughout the semester.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

BYU-Pathway Worldwide is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified students with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact Accessibility. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by Student Wellness.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered for accommodations and need a transcription for these meetings, please contact Accessibility.

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please click on the links below to learn more about the following policies:

• Academic and Administrative Grievances and Appeals
• Academic Honesty
• Copyright Infringement
• Disability Services
• Disruptive Behavior
• Honor Code
• Nondiscrimination
• Other University Policies

Go to the Student Resources module for further resources and information.