Public Speaking: Theory and Practice

ComSt 102, Fall 2007

Section 28: Tuesday / Thursday , 9:10-10:25

Instructor: Matt Kushin Office: Murrow East, 215

E-mail: mkushin@wsu.edu Office Hours: 1:30-2:30pm
Tues/Thurs, or by appointment
Course website: https://myclass.wsu.edu/2007fall/COMST102S28_PUL_081/
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Course Objectives
Welcome to Public Speaking! In this course, we will explore concepts and theories relating to
communication, message design, and public speaking. ComSt 102 will provide you opportunities to build
upon textbook and classroom materials and to practice the skills and theories explored in class. Through
graded and ungraded classroom activities, you will develop your existing speaking and communication
skills and gain new ones. In addition to giving speeches, you will practice being an effective audience
member.

The primary goal for the course is to develop your abilities (and your confidence!) to draw together
research on your speech topics, to organize your materials and to present them in a way that adapts them
effectively to your audience, and to use strategies that increase the likelihood that you will inform,
persuade and/or entertain your audience.

During this course, students will:

1. Enlarge their communicative competence and confidence as a result of preparation,
presentation, and analysis of oral messages.
2. Recognize and utilize organizational patterns, supporting evidence, and concrete illustrations
in an oral presentation.
3. Identify effective speaking techniques and demonstrate a personal delivery style.
4. Become more effective, supportive listeners.
5. Develop their critical thinking, reasoning, organization, and research skills, as well as their
ability to make effective oral presentations.
6. Learn to analyze audience attitudes and evaluate audience needs.

Required Textbook:
 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 2

Sellnow, D. D. (2005). Confident Public Speaking. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (available at the
Bookie)
Learning Assumptions and Expectations:
• Success is your choice! If you choose to be successful, I will be happy to help you. If you
do not choose to be successful, I will honor your choice. EVERY STUDENT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
• Respect is one of the foundations of an environment conducive to learning. In this class, I
have a commitment to creating a positive and respectful learning environment. I expect
all of us to contribute to a safe, productive and fun classroom environment, valuing each
of our strengths and differences. In class discussions, everyone should be courteous and
respectful of others; no rude, sexist, racist, or other disrespectful comments or behavior
will be acceptable.
• One of the most important aspects of learning is being able to listen. As you listen to your
classmates, you should be attentive and supportive. Everyone has something valuable to
contribute to the class’ learning and to each individual’s success.
• Class discussion will build from the reading so it is necessary that you complete the
reading before the assigned date. We will not be able to discuss everything covered in the
readings, however you will be responsible for the content.
• I am open to your feedback about how I can best meet your needs as a student. I will
actively solicit your feedback a few times in the semester through evaluations, but also
welcome your comments at other times.
Policies:
• Cell Phones: Use of cell phones will not be permitted during class time in any context (e.g.,
sending/receiving calls, text messages, checking voicemail, etc.). Please remember to silence
your ringer or turn it off before the start of class. If your ringer goes off during class, please
turn it off as unobtrusively as possible. If you feel the call may be an emergency, please
quietly step out of class and proceed. There is a zero-tolerance policy in this course for
cell phone usage (this includes text messaging, or use of other features. Silencing a
ringing cell phone is not considered cell phone use). Please do not abuse this policy. If
your behavior becomes disruptive to instruction in any way, I will ask you to leave the
class for the day and your attendance for the day will be marked as an unexcused
absence.
• Attendance: Attendance is expected and will be checked daily. You are expected not only to
be present, but also to contribute to class discussions and participate in all class activities.
Each student will be allowed three unexcused absences. After that absence, every absence
will result in a lowering of your grade at the rate of 7.5 points per day. You are expected to
know the material covered even if you are absent on the day it was covered. If you
 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 3

anticipate an absence in advance please inform me as soon as possible. Excused absences

will be granted only when the reason for the absence is documented in writing. Supporting
documents are required (doctor’s notes, obituary notices, etc.). You are responsible for
obtaining lecture notes and announcements presented in the class session you missed. Please
ask your classmates to obtain any missed information. Obtain contact information from your
classmate in advance. *** NOTE: If you have University Sanctioned Events this semester
that will require you to be absent, set up a meeting with me during the first week. Bring your
calendar.
• You are expected to speak at the time assigned to you. We are on a tight timeline. Make up
speeches will only be allowed once, under the most dire of circumstances and only if there is
time during regular class hours. Illnesses and extenuating circumstances will require written
documentation (see attendance policy).
• Participation:
• Class participation is important for the success of the class. You all have communication
experience and sharing that experience with the rest of the class improves the quality of
class discussion and student learning.
• You are expected to arrive at class every day, on time, and prepared to discuss the
assigned reading.
• You should remain for the entire class.
• Arriving late or leaving early will be counted as an absence, unless prior acceptable
arrangements have been made with me.
• Ten percent of your grade is for participation in the class. I recognize that different people
contribute in different ways. You will lose points for participation if you are absent,
choose not to participate, are disruptive or rude, or are not prepared.
• Academic Honesty/Plagiarism: Plagiarism is using other people’s work and ideas without
giving them credit. This is a violation of both the University rules and regulations and the
rules of this class. Cheating or plagiarism of any kind may result in one of the following
consequences, a zero on the assignment, lowering of your grade by one whole grade, and/or a
grade of “F” for the course. Additional university penalties are possible. This applies to work
on all individual assignments including quizzes, papers, and speeches. The purpose of the
course is for you to learn – you do not learn by copying someone else’s work.
• Late work: Late work will not be accepted without a reduction in the grade earned.
Generally, the assignment will be reduced by 10% per day late. If you are turning in work
and cannot give it directly to me, email it to me as an attachment or take it to the School of
Communication Office. Be sure to write down the names and phone numbers of two of your
classmates in case you want someone to submit your work when you are absent or have a
question about class and can’t reach me.
 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 4

Students with Disabilities: I am committed to providing assistance to help you be successful

in this course. Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented
disability. Please notify me during the first week of class for any accommodations that you will
be requesting. Late notification may interfere with your ability to receive accommodations. All
accommodations must be approved through the Disability Resource Center, which is located in
the Administration Annex room 205 or call 335-3417 to make an appointment with a disability
counselor.
Course Requirements
The following descriptions are provided for your reference. At a later time, you will be provided
with a more detailed description of each assignment.

1. Class Participation (50 points): The class participation includes your active
participation in class/group discussions and activities, as well as contribution to your
group. In-class assignments are a significant part of participation.
2. Chapter Quizzes (10 points each): You will have a short quiz on the content of each
chapter in the text. There will be 7 quizzes and you will be allowed to drop your lowest
quiz score for a final total of 60 points. The quizzes are designed to verify that you have
completed the reading. The questions on quizzes will be objective (multiple choice and/or
true/false) and focus on recognition and recall of ideas, not application. Generally, make-
up quizzes will not be given. See the syllabus for quiz dates.
3. Introductory Speech (25 points): This assignment is to give your audience an
understanding of who you are. Please select one to three aspects of your identity and
concentrate on relaxation and the fundamental techniques of speech delivery. The speech
is to be 3 minutes in length.
4. Themed Informative Speech (75 points): In this assignment, you will be required to
inform your audience on a person, place, event, concept, or object through demonstration
and description as part of a 3 to 5 person panel. Each person in the panel will give a 5
minute speech as part of the panel’s overall “theme”.
5. Persuasive Speech (100 points): In this 7 minute speech, you are required to focus on a
single issue/assertion and convince your listeners of your position. The topic should be
contemporary, significant, controversial/debatable in nature and of interest to both the
speaker and audience.
6. Special Occasion/Entertaining Speech (50 points): This is a 4 minute speech suitable
for a special occasion. I will give more details as the speech nears.
7. Speech Outlines (25 points each): You must turn in a complete outline of your
Informative, Persuasive, and Special Occasion/Entertainment speeches prior to your
speech. Please include references.
8. Critique Assignments (40 points total): Throughout the semester, students will be asked
 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 5

to give written and/or verbal critiques of your classmates’ speeches. This is a mandatory
part of class. Unlike other classes you may take at the college level, this class has a hard
time functioning unless all students are present to give suggestions, offer praise, and get
help/advice from peers throughout the semester. There will be two 10 point critiques and
one 20 point critique.
9. Teacher’s Choice Assignments (25 points): TBD

Course Evaluation:
The final grade will be based on the following:
Maximum Your points
Speeches (50%) (250 points) _________
• Introductory (5%) 25 points _________
• Group Informative (15%) 75 points _________
• Persuasive (20%) 100 points _________
• Special Occasion/Entertaining (10%) 50 points _________

Quizzes (12%) (60) points _________

• Quiz 1 10 points _________
• Quiz 2 10 points _________
• Quiz 3 10 points _________
• Quiz 4 10 points _________
• Quiz 5 10 points __________
• Quiz 6 10 points __________
• Quiz 7 10 points __________

Outlines (15%) (75) points _________

• Informative 25 points _________
• Persuasive 25 points _________
• Special Occasion/Entertain 25 points _________

Critique Assignments (8%) (40) points _________

• Critique 1 10 points _________
• Critique 2 10 points _________
• Critique 3 20 points _________

Listening And Critiquing Assignment (5%) 25 points _________

Participation & Citizenship (10%) 50 points _________

Total points 500 points _________

 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 6

How to calculate your grade: Please keep a record of your grades including quizzes and
outlines as well as attendance. Use the formula below to assess your work and grade. Please keep
all graded assignments until after you have received your final grade.
Formula: Your grade % = (all the points you have earned) / (maximum points possible)
A= 93-100% B+ = 88-89% C+ = 78-79% D+ = 68-69% F =0-59%
B = 83-87% C = 73-77% D = 63-68%
A- = 90-92% B- = 80-82% C- = 70-72% D- = 60-62%

Grading Criteria

For the grade of C (an average speech):

• The speech must be original.

• The speech must be appropriate to the assignment.
• The topic must be appropriate for the audience and sufficiently focused.
• The speech must fit the time restrictions assigned.
• The speech must be presented on the assigned date.
• Main idea or ideas must be supported with facts, examples, or testimonies.
• The speech must have a clear sense of purpose.
• The speech must be complete, with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• The presentation must be extemporaneous.
• The speech includes the required outline.

For a grade of B (an above average speech):

• All requirements of a C speech must be satisfied.

• Select a challenging topic and adapt it appropriately for your audience.
• Reflect a greater depth of research (such as more references).
• Clearly identify sources of information and ideas.
• Create and sustain attention throughout the speech.
• Create an effective flow.
• Demonstrate poise and confidence.
• Present your speech with style.

For a grade of A (a superior speech):

• All requirements of B speech must be satisfied.

• Demonstrate imagination and creativity in topic selection development.
• Develop and sustain strong bonds between speaker, topic and audience.
 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 7

• Reflect an even greater depth of research.

• Demonstrate artful use of language and stylistic techniques.
• Make a polished presentation integrating a variety of communication skills.

A below average speech (a D speech) does not meet one or more of the standards for a C speech or:

• It is unrehearsed.
• It is based on biased information or unsupported opinions.

An F speech (a failing speech) does not meet three or more of the standards for a C speech, shows
either of the problems associated with a D speech, or:

• It uses fabricated supporting materials.

• It deliberately distorts evidence or is plagiarized.
• It uses inappropriate information or actions.

Tentative* T-TH Schedule

*I reserve the right to make changes in this schedule as needed!
Please Note: The chapters indicated should be read by the date listed on the syllabus. We
will not cover all material in class, but you are responsible for having read it and asking
questions if you have them.

WARNING: Dates are closer than they appear!

Date Topic Reading Due
Week 1: August 21 Introduction

Tuesday Introduction to the course & each other

Communication and Ethical Public Speaking Chapter 1

Thursday Communication and Ethical Public Speaking Chapter 1

Reducing Public Speaking Anxiety Chapter 2

Week 2: August 28 Speaking, Listening, Critiquing

Tuesday Quiz Ch. 1, 2, 3

Your First Speech Chapter 3

Thursday Listening and Critiquing Communication Chapter 4

 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 8

Working and Speaking in Small Groups Chapter 18

**Speech Challenge #1: Introducing Your Neighbor Drill

Week 3: September 4 Speech Preparation

Tuesday Introductory Speeches

Thursday Introductory Speeches

Week 4: September 11 Introductory Speech Delivery

Tuesday Quiz Ch. 4, 5 & 18

Selecting and Narrowing Your Topic Chapter 5

Thursday Understanding Your Audience Chapter 6

Supporting Your Speech: Evidence and Research Chapter 7

Themed Informative Speech Groups to be formed

Week 5: September 18 Organizing Your Speech

Tuesday Quiz Ch. 6, 7 & 8

Organizing Your Main Ideas Chapter 8
**Speech Challenge #2: Group Visual Demonstrations

Thursday Introductions and Conclusions Chapter 9

** Listening And Critiquing Assignment due in class

Week 6: September 25 Organizing Your Speech (cont.)

Tuesday Quiz Ch. 8, 9 & 10

Outlining Your Speech Chapter 10

Thursday Language and Style Choices Chapter 11

** Speech Challenge #3: Group Outlining and Language & Style

Week 7: October 2 Delivery

Tuesday Quiz Ch. 11 & 14

Informative Speaking Chapter 14
 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 9

** Speech Challenge #4: Teaching the Types of Informative Speaking

Thursday Creating and Using Presentational Aids Chapter 13

Delivering Your Public Speech Chapter 12

Week 8: October 9 Informative Speeches

Tuesday Themed Informative Speeches + critique

Thursday Themed Informative Speeches + critique

Week 9: October 16 Informative Speeches

Tuesday Themed Informative Speeches + critique

Thursday Themed Informative Speeches + critique

Week 10: October 23 Persuasive Speaking

Tuesday Quiz Ch. 12, 13, 17

Speaking on Special Occasions Chapter 17

Thursday Persuasive Speaking: Types and Designs Chapter 15

Week 11: October 30 Persuasive Strategies

Tuesday Special Occasion/Speech to Entertain Delivery + critique

Thursday Special Occasion/Speech to Entertain Delivery + critique

Week 12: November 6 Persuasive Speeches

Tuesday Quiz Ch. 15 & 16

Persuasive Strategies Chapter 16

Thursday Persuasive Strategies (cont.) Chapter 16

Week 13: November 13 Persuasive Speeches

Tuesday Summing up the semester: Lessons in Public Speaking

 ComSt102, Matt Kushin, page 10

** Speech Challenge #5: Persuasive Speaking Competition

Thursday Work Day – We will not meet in class today

November 19-23 – Thanksgiving Break

Week 14: November 27 Speaking in Small Groups and For Special Occasions

Tuesday Deliver Persuasive Speeches + critique

Thursday Deliver Persuasive Speeches + critique

Week 15: December 4 Special Occasion/Entertain Speeches

Tuesday Deliver Persuasive Speeches + critique

Thursday Deliver Persuasive Speeches + critique

Week 16: December 11 Finals

Date TBD Make Ups & Evaluations