Saint Paul’s College: Department of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences
Speech
Course Information: Instructor:
English 130-1 Dr. Comprone
Fall semester 2009
Class Time: Office:
T R 9:30-10:45 RH 136
Classroom: Office Hours:
RH R/LAB M W F 12-1 PM RH 136 T R 2:15-4:15 PM
Office Phone: Credit Hours:
contact by email only 3
Email: raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com
Website: www.comprone.info
Pre-requisite: Students enrolled in this course must be upper level English majors who are interested in becoming familiar with the achievements of contemporary writers.
Endorsement Competencies for Education Majors:
Knowledge of speaking and listening skills.
The ability to provide experiences in communication arts, such as journalism, dramatics, debate, forensics, radio, television, films, and other media.
Required Texts:
TBA
Selection of Texts:
Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007.
In this course, we will be reading from a selection of famous speeches throughout the semester.
You may also purchase Say It Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches (ISBN: 1-56584-924-80) as a supplemental text. The majority of the famous speeches we will cover in class will come from this text.
Course Description:
This course is designed for students to develop skills in effective oral communication.
Course Rationale:
The purpose of this course is to prepare students to become eloquent, persuasive public speakers.
Course Goals, Objectives, and Corresponding Program Outcomes:
1 Students will complete one five minute persuasive speech and one five minute informative speech
2 Students will also study the art of public speaking and complete a midterm exam and final exam
3 Students will learn the history of rhetoric as well as study speeches by African American orators and famous American orators
4 Students will overcome any fears they might have about public speaking
Expectations for Student Behavior as Related to Course Objectives and Their Corresponding Program Outcomes:
Please arrange for meeting with me during office hours. Students must behave appropriately by: 1) avoiding talking when the professor is speaking, 2) being punctual (students will lose points for tardiness and excessive absences), 3) ALWAYS bringing their textbooks to class, 4) actively participating in class, 5) not plagiarizing, 6) avoiding the use of foul language and abusive behavior, 8) adhere to the dress code, 9) do not use any slang or inappropriate language in your speeches, and 10) being polite to other students.
The attendance policy is as follows:
Students missing more than 6 times (EXCUSED or UNEXCUSED) must WITHDRAW or receive a
failing grade of F.
This policy will be strictly enforced.
Students with 2 or less absences will receive an additional 10% for their final grade. Excused absences will not be factored into this calculation, e.g. a student who has three excused absences and no unexcused absences will not receive an additional 10% added to his or her final grade.
Students cannot obtain excuses for absences after the semester is over.
Class Format, Process, and Methods of Instruction:
Students can only receive incompletes upon permission by the instructor (an incomplete can only be filed for during the semester) and only if they are experiencing financial difficulties or a grave personal matter (I must be notified in person by the student or by a relative before the end of the semester). Excuses will only be accepted from the Provost's office. I will only accept assignments in person (do not slip any assignments under my office door--I am not responsible if any of these assignments should end up missing). It is the student's responsibility to make up any missing work and to check on his or her grade during the semester. Absolutely no excuses for absences can be issued after the semester is completed (if you do not show me the excuse during the semester--you have to show me the excuse in person, do not put it under my door--I will not give you an excuse--this applies to athletes as well). Athletes must personally give me a copy of their game schedule and indicate to me the days they will be absent. They must also make up any work and or missed instruction the day after their absence. ABSOLUTELY no grade changes are possible after the semester. Please check with me before the end of the semester to see if you have any outstanding work to complete.
Persuasive Speech 20%
Informative Speech 20%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%
Participation, classwork, and attendance 20%
Grading Scale
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
59% and below F
Course Outline and Assignment Due Dates:
TBA
Tentative List of Assigned Readings and Assignments:
We will analyze the speeches of many famous African Americans in class. You must bring a notebook to class and complete assignments on these different orators in the African American tradition. I will collect your notebooks periodically, and you will receive grades for your classwork. We will also have debates about these orators and their contribution to the African American community and to America at large.
Booker T. Washington, Speech to the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition, 1895
Atlanta Exposition Address
Marcus Garvey, Explanation of the Objects of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, 1921
Mary McLeod Bethune, What does American Democracy Mean to Me?", 1939
Walter White, Speech at NAACP Annual Convention, 1947
Dick Gregory
Fannie Lou Hamer
Stokely Carmichael
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shirley Chisholm
Barbara Jordan
Jesse Jackson
Clarence Thomas
Barack Obama
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Cornel West Part Two
To Be A Leftist 2 3
For your persuasive speech, you will have to debate about a particular topic. Expect students and your instructor to ask you questions about your persuasive speech. You must give a rebuttal to any opposing arguments, and you should be prepared to answer any objections your audience may have.
List of potential persuasive speech topics:
Speed Limits on Highways Should Be 75
The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered to 18
Big Oil Controls the World
The FISA Bill Should Not Have Passed
Nuclear Weapons Should Be Banned Worldwide
America Builds Too Many Prisons
Weight Loss is Possible
Exercise is Important
Fast Food Is Harmful
Poverty Is A Vicious Cycle
The American Media Stereotypes Islam
Religion Should Not Play A Role in Politics
Illegal Immigrants Should Be Sent Back to Their Country
Should Obama have denounced his former pastor?
Is Barack Black Enough?
Guns Should Be Illegal
Barack Obama Represents a Change
America is Ready for a Mixed Race Candidate
Global warming is real
Global warming is a hoax
The U.S. Economy is Collapsing
Why the Death Penalty is Murder
Abortion Is a Crime
Abortion should be a woman's choice
Affirmative Action Should No Longer Exist
Welfare Programs Are a Waste of Taxpayers' Money
America should withdraw its troops from Iraq Immediately
Raising Taxes Could Help Build a Better America
Lowering Taxes Would Make America Prosper
College Education Should Be Free
America Should Withdraw Its Troops from Afghanistan
Eliminating Global Poverty Should be America's Responsibility
Same-sex marriages should be legalized
Hackers Should Receive Severe Prison Sentences
Athletes Should be Allowed to Use Drugs to Enhance Their Performance
All Americans Should Recycle
Every High School Student Should Learn at Least One Foreign Language
Nuclear Power is Unnecessary
Americans Must Invest in Alternative Energy
Politicians Should Not Receive Donations
The American Economy is Collapsing
The Draft Should Be Reinstated
No One Should Be Drafted by the U.S. Government
A College Degree is Not Enough to Succeed in the Workplace
There Will Be Another Terrorist Attack in America
America Should Attack Iran
These are just tentative topics. If you have a topic in mind, please receive approval from your instructor.
You also must complete an informative speech.
Here is a list of suggested topics:
What is a hurricane?
What is a tsunami?
What is an earthquake?
Describe how to play football and the various positions of football players.
Describe how to play baseball and the various positions of baseball players.
Describe how to play basketball and the various positions of basketball players.
Describe any sport and how to play it.
Describe an activity or a hobby and provide detailed information.
Describe your favorite recipe.
Describe how to be a successful person
Describe the American political system
Describe the judicial system in America
Explain how wind is produced in the earth's atmosphere.
You may choose another topic. These speeches must also be five minutes in length, and you must be prepared to answer any questions from your audience.
* You must keep a notebook and write all notes and in class assignments down in the notebook. I will collect the notebook periodically during the semester. For every speech, you must prepare an outline and turn it in after you have completed the speech. You also must be prepared for questions. Any speech under five minutes will be a letter grade lower.
In class assignments:
Write about the differences between a speech and an ordinary conversation (one to two pages).
What makes a speech effective and persuasive?
What experiences have you had speaking in public? Do you have stage fright?
What is ethnocentrism? How should you avoid it?
Part One
Speaking in Public
Ethics and Public Speaking
Listening
Giving your First Speech
Part Two
Speech Preparation: Getting Started
Selecting a Topic and Purpose
Analyzing the Audience
Gathering Materials
Supporting your ideas
Part III Speech Preparation: Organizing and Outlining
In addition, we will read and analyze important speeches from famous African American orators this semester. You will have to choose one of these speeches to write on for the essay portion of the midterm exam. The midterm exam will have multiple choice questions based on the first three sections of The Art of Public Speaking and an essay section (you may bring a copy of the speech you are analyzing to class). It is expected that you will have completed at least one speech by the midterm.
Midterm Exam
Part IV Presenting the Speech
Part V Varieties of Public Speaking
We will have covered the speeches of more African American orators as well as the text of famous speeches throughout world history. You will have to write an essay on one of these speeches for the essay component of your final exam. Multiple choice questions will be generated based on Part IV and Part V of The Art of Public Speaking.
FINAL EXAM
Recommended Internet Sites: www.comprone.info for updates on assignments, syllabi, poetry club submissions (extra credit)
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