Capital University
UC 120, Oral Communication

Instructor:                         Stephen D. Bruning, Ph. D.  118 Spielman Hall, sbruning@capital.edu
                                        Phone: 236-6323 (w),        338-1715 (h)

Office Hours:                   10:00-11:00 M, W, F                 3:30-4:30 T, TH               and by appointment

 

INSTITUTIONAL GOALS STATEMENTS

 

University Mission:   Transforming lives through higher education (see p. 4, CU UG Bulletin, 2005-2006)

 

University Learning Goals:

Thinking critically, reasoning logically, and communicating clearly (see p. 4, CU UG Bulletin, 2005-2006)

 

General Education Goal #2 (Speaking and Listening Skills):  Students will be able to speak and listen effectively in a variety of contexts (see page 65, CU UG Bulletin, 2005-2006)

 

College of Arts and Sciences Philosophy: Ability to communicate effectively through reading, writing, speaking and listening (see page 77, CU UG Bulletin, 2005-2006)

 

Department of Communication Learning Goals: to develop an appreciation for and understanding of (1) the historical development and relationship of public communication and human interaction, (2) communication media as social forces through which an individual interprets, modifies, controls, and adjusts to the social environment, and (3) the aesthetically satisfying elements and successful performative characteristics of effective communication arts. (see p. 99, CU UG Bulletin 2005-2006)

 

STATEMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL POLICY:

 

University policies governing drop dates, penalties, plagiarism, and academic integrity, as detailed in the university bulletin, student handbook(s), and/or undergraduate time schedule, will be observed.

I.  COURSE DESCRIPTION

UC 120 is a course that focuses specifically on the development of speaking and listening skills.  Students will be able to speak and listen effectively in a variety of contexts.  Students will be able to analyze and evaluate the principles, processes, and functions and modes of oral communication in a variety of contexts.  Students will demonstrate the ability to formulate speech purpose, utilize evidence, and assemble and effectively present an oral message.  Students will describe, analyze and develop critical listening skills.  Students will develop strategies for communication in interpersonal, small group and public communication settings.  

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is based upon three overriding principles:

  • We live and function in a world based on communication.
  • Communication is the process of sharing ideas, feelings, and information.
  • Improvement in communication results from conscious study and the motivation to improve.

The main purpose of the course is to help you enhance your competencies in oral communication, including both interpersonal and intrapersonal communication. Enhancement of your communication competencies can be realized through the development of critical thinking as well as skill in sending and receiving factual, expressive, persuasive, and problem solving materials within small and large group settings.

Following the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the principles of communication.
  • Identify the basic components of communication and their functions.
  • Explain the speaker's and listener's ethical responsibilities.
  • Describe intrapersonal and interpersonal insights and skills utilized in communication.
  • Compare factual and expressive means of communication as they relate to speaking and listening activities.
  • Explain how nonverbal communication enhance and inhibit communication.
  • Describe the process of listening.
  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate speech purpose, utilize evidence, and assemble ideas into logical design.
  • Demonstrate the ability to effectively present a message vocally, visually, and verbally.
  • Demonstrate the ability to listen and respond to the social and informational messages of others.

III. REQUIREMENTS

  • Read the text conscientiously so that you may gain insight into the principles of communication.
  • Attend class regularly and take copious notes.  
  • Attendance will be taken daily. You can miss three class sessions without penalty.  IF YOU MISS MORE THAN THREE CLASS SESSIONS, YOU WILL BE PENALIZED 10 POINTS FOR EACH ADDITIONAL CLASS YOU MISS (e.g., if you miss a total of four classes, you will be penalized 10 points, if you miss a total of five classes, you will be penalized 20 points, and so on).  Special exceptions may be made for students with prolonged illness or extenuating circumstances.  If you are going to miss a class at any time during the semester, call beforehand to let me know.
  • Do all assignments at the time scheduled. It is a good policy to always be prompt and prepared. The size of the class and the schedule make it virtually impossible to do specific activities at times other than those assigned. If you do not complete an assignment on the day that it was due, your grade will be lowered by two letters (e.g. an A presentation given one class period late would receive a grade of C).
  • Reserve time for practice. Reserve time for practice. This is so important I decided to say it twice.
  • Read newspapers and magazines. Listen to the radio and television programs dealing with current problems. Broaden your horizons.
  • No cellular phones or pagers are allowed in class. If you have a cell phone or pager that goes off during a classmate's speech, you will be penalized 20 points.
  • Speech assignments will have a time requirement and you will be timed. Speeches that are too short or too long will be penalized.
  • Capital University is constantly working to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum.  The general education committee has requested the use of student presentations from UC 120 for this purpose.  These presentations will be used to train the faculty in evaluation of public speaking and to assess the effectiveness of the General Education program.  Your participation in this process will not affect your grade and is greatly appreciated.  If you do not wish to participate in this assessment process please call the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Leaning at x6327 and leave your name and student ID and your presentation will not be used.  Thank you for your help.
  • All work submitted (oral presentations, written work, examinations, etc.) must be the student's own. Cheating in any form (see below) will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action.

What is Academic Integrity (Capital University Student Handbook)

"Academic Integrity" is the expectation that all Capital students are to be honest in their academic endeavors, and that the work one submits for academic evaluation must be his/her own, unless an instructor expressly permits certain types of collaboration. Instructors are expected to make this Academic Integrity Policy known, in writing, at the beginning of a course.

A non-exhaustive list of behaviors which constitute academic misconduct and subject one to sanction(s) includes:

Cheating -- deceiving/misrepresenting information submitted on a paper/test/project

e.g., -- using materials/notes not permitted by the instructor during an examination

-- collaborating on a test/project when not authorized to do so by the instructor

-- receiving, giving or stealing parts of, or an entire test which has not yet been administered

-- substitution of one student for another during an examination

Plagiarism -- submitting work that is not expressly one's own as one's own

e.g., -- quoting verbatim or paraphrasing excessively another person's words (published or unpublished) without acknowledgment of the source

-- including facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials that are not common knowledge without acknowledgment of the source

-- submitting another's term paper, essay test answer, computer program, or project as one's own

Fabrication -- using "invented" information or falsifying research, data, or other findings with the intent to deceive

e.g., -- citing information not taken from the source indicated; failure to document a secondary source material

-- listing sources in a bibliography not directly used in the academic exercise

-- submitting lab reports or clinical data which contain fictitious/falsified information; concealing/distorting the true nature, origin, or function of such data

IV. EVALUATION OF STUDENT PROGRESS

  • Each assigned activity will be graded on the basis of your ability to demonstrate insight and skills as they relate to the activity.
  • Three examinations will be administered to measure your comprehension of the principles of communication. DO NOT BE ABSENT DURING EXAMS.
  • You will be required to conduct a critique of one of your speeches.  The specifics of the assignment will be detailed later.
  • Daily participation in the discussion of text materials will be noted, and classroom activities, oral presentations, and written analyses will be rated.

Assignment Values

 

Self Introduction

50 points

Oral Reading

100 points

Informative Speech

180 points

Self Analysis

20 points

Exam I

100 points

Exam II

100 points

Persuasive Speech

200 points

Final Exam

100 points

Grading Scale

 

 

782-850 ..... A

765-781 ..... A-

748-764 ..... B+

697-747 ..... B

680-698 ..... B- 

663-679 ..... C+

612-662 ..... C

595-611 ..... C-

578-594 ..... D+

510-577 ..... D

000-509 .... F

Note: Those who have an A or an A- overall will be excused from the final.

V. THE TEXT

 The text for this class can be found on Capital University's Blackboard system.

VI. PERSONAL NOTE TO EACH STUDENT

UC 120 offers an outstanding opportunity for personal development. Take advantage of this opportunity to develop the potential that you possess. Develop confidence in your ability to communicate orally. Do not hesitate to seek help, attention, or guidance.  Also, I post all of the overheads that we will be using in class this semester.  You can find that information at my home page.  Click on Course Information.  Then click on UC 120 Notes.

VII. SCHEDULE OF WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

The following pages contain the semester schedule. The activities represent a variety of experiences that will enable you to adjust to representative oral communication situations. There will be ample time for class discussion of communication principles. You are urged to follow the syllabus regularly and to note in particular the specific dates upon which activities and reports are due.

The stated schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances

Aug 29

Orientation to the course

 

Aug 31

Lecture: Define communication
Activity:  Introduce a classmate

http://speech-anxiety.healthyplace2.com/
Read Chapter 1

Sep 2

Lecture: Speech Anxiety
Activity:  Introduce a classmate

 

Sep 7

Lecture: Perception

 

Sep 9

Self Introduction Workshop, points of evaluation

Read Chapter 3

Sep 12

Self Introduction

 

Sep 14

Self Introduction

 

Sep 16

Self Introduction

Read Chapter 9

Sep 19

Lecture:  The self, relationships, listening

 

Sep 21

Lecture:  Listening

 

Sep 23

Lecture: Interviewing

Read Chapter 2

Sep 26

Lecture: Vocal Delivery

 

Sep 28

Lecture: Nonverbal Delivery

 

Sep 30

Lecture: Prepare for Oral Readings

 

Oct 3

Oral Readings 

Read Chapter 6

Oct 5

Oral Readings

 

Oct 7

Oral Readings

 

Oct 10

Examination

 

Oct 12

Lecture: Introduction and Conclusion

Read Chapter 5

Oct 14

Lecture: Questions and Gathering Evidence

 

Oct 17

Lecture: Modes of Delivery, Patterns of Organization

 

Oct 19

Lecture: Using Visual Aids, Outlining

Read Chapter 8

Oct 24

Informative Speech Workshop

 

Oct 26

Informative Speech Workshop

 

Oct 28

Informative Speech

Videotaped (Report due 11/11)

Oct 31

Informative Speech

Videotaped (Report due 11/14)

Nov 2

Informative Speech

Videotaped (Report due 11/16) 

Nov 4

Informative Speech

Videotaped (Report due 11/18) 

Nov 7

Informative Speech

Videotaped (Report due 11/21) 

Nov 9

Lecture:  Overview to persuasion

Read Chapter 7

Nov 11

Lecture:  Ethos

 

Nov 14

Lecture:  Pathos

 

Nov 16

Lecture:  Logos and using Reasoning to Persuade

http://www.powerfulpresentations.net/

Nov 18

Examination

 

Nov 21

Modern Means of Persuasion, Using presentation software

Read Chapter 4

Nov 28

Persuasive Speech Workshop

http://www.powerpointanswers.com/

Nov 30

Persuasive Speech 

 

Dec 2

Persuasive Speech 

 

Dec 5

Persuasive Speech 

 

Dec 7

Persuasive Speech 

 

Dec 9

Persuasive Speech 

 

Final Examination: December 14, 2005, 8:00-10:00 AM