.C J 204--Public Speaking and Communication -- Course Overview

Background

In 1958 the UWEC Department of Speech established a separate public speaking course for majors and minors, Although the new course would use the same textbook as Speech 202, Fundamentals of Speech, it would introduce students to the discipline and the department, covering the traditions of the discipline and helping to establish a sense of community among Speech majors and minors.

In 1988, soon after the departmental gradepoint requirement of 2.5 was enacted, Communication 204 was revised so that students would be required to research and prepare speeches relevant to their area of interest within the field of communication. They would not only receive an introduction to the discipline, but also to the research tools and methods, and to key issues in the field. They would learn from their own research, from the speeches of others, and the ensuing discussions.

Overview of Graded Activities
Speech Assignments
Item	Possible Points	Time Limits	Minimum Sources	Required Format	Description
Speech of Introduction	10	3-5 minutes		Standard
First Informative Speech		5-7 minutes	Five	MMS-Inform
First Informative Outline				MMS-Inform
Legend Speech	48	7-9 minutes	Five	MMS-Inform	Inform audience about an influential C/J legend and the lessons or values embodied by that legend.
Legend Speech Outline	12.			MMS-Inform
Expository Speech	60.	8-10 minutes	Six	MMS-Inform	Inform your audience about an important issue or concern relevant to C/J.
Expository Speech Outline	15			MMS-Inform
Persuasive Speech	75	10-12 minutes	Seven	MMS-Persuade	Convince your audience to change attitudes or beliefs (or to take action) about an issue or concern relevant to C/J
Persuasive Speech Outline	20			MMS-Persuade
Group Presentation
Group Presentation Outline
Other Graded Activities
First Examination	100	Each examination will include multiple-choice, fill-in, and essay questions based upon assigned readings, lectures, and discussions. The Final Examination will be cumulative.
Second Examination	100
Participation (& Attendance)	150	Your participation--listening, discussing, rating, asking questions-- and support of your classmates is important to the success of this class.
Impromptus, Quizzes, Bonuses	???

Basic Information

On Preparing, Presenting, and Evaluating Speeches

The purpose of this course is to develop your skills in designing and delivering speeches to inform and speeches to persuade. You are to learn from four sources: your text, your instructor, your own speeches, and your classmates. You are expected to listen to the speeches of your classmates and identify what is effective and what might be improved.

When preparing your speeches you should design them for your classmates. Your speeches to inform should provide your classmates with information which is new, important, and relevant to them; your persuasive speeches should be designed to persuade them.

Five of your classmates will be selected to evaluate each of your speeches; you, of course, will be invited to evaluate the speeches of some of your classmates. Thus, your classmates will determine whether they your speech was informative and whether the information was made clear, interesting, important, and useful to them. Student ratings will be turned in to me; I will review them, clip off the raters' names, and give them to the speaker along with my own evaluation.

Raters should evaluate carefully and should provide constructive strengths and suggest improvements Student raters who complete rating sheets conscientiously and who provide constructive comments will be rewarded for their participation.

Participation and Attendance

You are expected to give and listen to speeches. As a listener, you are to analyze what was done well in each speech and determine what might be improved. You will frequently be asked complete written evaluations of speeches, and will be invited to share your insights orally with the speaker and the rest of the class. Thus, you can learn up to 100 points for effective Participation.

Attendance is required and recorded. While you cannot earn an "A" in participation simply by being in class every time it meets, you cannot and will not earn an "A" in Participation if you have more than one "unexcused" absence. Students with instructor-excused absences may request additional assignments to "make up" the participation points they would have earned if they could have attended
_____________________________
*Scheduling interviews or appointments during class time will not constitute an excused absences. You are responsible for material covered in class whether you attend or not.

"Make-up" Policies

Make-up examinations will be offered only in case of a documented serious illness or emergency. Make-up examinations will be either entirely or primarily essay format and will take longer to complete, since it takes you longer to write out answers than to select them.

Make-up speeches. In the real world speakers are seldom offered the opportunity to reschedule speeches; if you miss your opportunity to speak, it is gone. Speakers who simply do not show up are "written off." as inconsiderate, insensitive slobs.

Of course, circumstances do arise in the real world which prevent speakers from meeting their commitments. Whenever possible, ethical speakers arrange their own replacements. If difficult circumstances arrive for you, please try to "swap" dates with another student and notify me of the change so that I can amend the speaking and evaluation schedules accordingly. If you "swap" with another student, it is not considered a "Make-Up Speech." Students who miss class due to documented personal illness or emergency will be permitted to present their "Make-Up" speeches when and if time is available.

Quizzes

You are expected to keep up with reading assignments listed in the "Class Calendar" section of this syllabus. There may be quizzes to reward those who regularly read the assignments; there will certainly be quizzes if it appears that some students need these opportunities to motivate them.




Catalogue Description
Prerequisite: Grade of C or above, or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 110. No credit if taken after CJ 202. Principles of public speaking and the role of communication in society, with emphases on ethics, rights, and responsibilities. Preparation, presentation, and evaluation of student speeches on contemporary communication issues and problems.