Course Description
Designed to help students who would like to further develop and practice the skills they have learned in the basic course in public speaking. It emphasizes the same skills and concepts treated in the basic course but explores them in greater depth and with the expectation that students will strive for a higher level of competency.
Athena Title
Advanced Public Communication
Prerequisite
COMM 1300 or COMM 1100 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Students will learn about the basic principles of rhetorical practice. 2. Students will be equipped with advanced public speaking skills in line with the standards expected by persons working in various professions. 3. Students will be put on a path of life-long learning in the area of public speaking. 4. Students will develop research, organizational, and delivery skills for the preparation and presentation of speeches. 5. Students will enlarge their ability to listen critically and analyze public speeches. 6. Students will be able to articulate and practice an ethical approach to public speaking. 7. Students will be able to analyze and articulate differing rhetorical situations and create speeches that are appropriate to the situation. 8. Students will complete library and computer-based research assignments.
Topical Outline
1. Review of basic principles and topical areas in public speaking. 2. Diagnostic short informative speech. Speaking to inform: The unique challenges of clarity and instruction. 3. Topic selection, development, and research. Selecting and developing speech topics: Analyzing topics, audiences, and situations. 4. Composition and form: Outlining speeches, Audience Analysis, Ethics, Listening. 5. Visual aids and other specialized forms of support. Uniquely challenging speaking situations. 6. Speaking to persuade: Methods of persuasion; argumentation, topical and audience analysis, the structure, analysis, and persuasive power of argumentation. 7. Speaking to inspire: Developing a more refined sense of style. Developing manuscript delivery skills. Understanding thematic considerations pertaining to epideictic speech.
Syllabus