Course Catalogue

Module Code and Title:        PRD201 Public Speaking

Programme:                          BA in Mass Communication

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor:                       Vanlallawmkimi

General objective: This module aims to equip students with public speaking skills essential to the practice of mass communication. The module will prepare them not only to become more confident in public speaking, but will also teach them how to evaluate speeches made by others. The module requires students to apply their understanding of communication principles to a variety of speaking setting so that they can address internal and external challenges of public speaking. Students will have numerous opportunities to draft and deliver various speeches to audiences and get reviews of their performances.

Learning outcomes – On completion of this module, students will be able to:

  1. Develop purpose and topics for speeches.
  2. Devise methods of observing audience to adapt to specific audiences.
  3. Investigate and incorporate support for their ideas through narratives, examples, definitions and testimony, facts and statistics.
  4. Create attention grabbing introductions.
  5. Construct memorable conclusions.
  6. Differentiate scripting for speeches vs. written communications.
  7. Deliver impromptu, extemporaneous, manuscript and memorized speeches.
  8. Present effective gestures and body language.
  9. Pinpoint situational factors that could influence delivery.
  10. Critique speeches made by others such as public figures.

Learning and Teaching Approach:

Approach

Hours per week

Total credit hours

Lectures & discussions

1

15

Tutorials and speech practice/presentations

3

45

Independent study

4

60

Total

120

Assessment Approach:

A. Individual Short speeches: Portion of Final Mark: 40%

Students will present 8 short speeches of 2-4 minutes during the duration of the term which may include, but are not limited to: speech of introduction, acceptance speech, tribute, speech of nomination, public testimony, toast, oral report and panel discussion. Speeches will be a mix of extemporaneous, impromptu, manuscript and memorized formats and will be recorded for students to complete a self-evaluation on. Audience members will also complete a peer evaluation of the short speeches. Each speech will be worth 5% of their final points.

2%       Organization of speech

2%       Content of Speech

1%       Eye Contact, Pitch, Volume

B. Small Group Critiques of political debates: Portion of Final Mark: 10%

Students will be in groups of 2-3 and will be provided with a video of a political debate or speech to watch. The students will be required to conduct research on the candidates, their party and the political system of their country. The analysis should have content of the speech, production techniques, candidates’ language, use of oppositional research, emotional language and body language. Each student will create a 200-250 word reflection paper examining their portions of work, outlining, and group dynamics for 3% of their final points. The analysis of the debates should be submitted in a written form of 250-300 words by each group for 2% of their final points. The analysis will then be presented orally in the class by each group for 5% of their final points. The duration of the presentation should to 10-15 minutes.

1%       Outline of presentation

1%       Content of presentation

2%       Preparedness and delivery of speech

1%       Ability to stay within time limit

2%       Quality of reflection of work

1%       Grammar and mechanics in reflection paper

1%       Content of the analysis

1%       Grammar and mechanics in analysis

C. Individual Critique of speeches by public figures of Bhutan. Portion of Final Mark: 10%

Students will be provided with a speech by a public figure from Bhutan to critique. While critiquing students should take into consideration content of the speech (introduction, body and conclusion) audience adaptation and delivery (pitch, tone, body language). Each student will create a 250-300 words reflection paper examining process of critiquing the speech and their final analysis of the speech for 5%. The analysis will then be presented orally in the class by each student for 5% of their final points. The duration of the presentation should be 8-10 minutes including excerpts of the speech being critiqued.

1%       Outline of presentation

2%       Content of presentation

2%       Preparedness and delivery of speech

1%       Ability to stay within time limit

3%       Quality of reflection of work

1%       Grammar and mechanics

D. Individual Informative Speech: Portion of Final Mark: 20%

Students will be expected to pick a topic to present to the tutor for approval. This topic will be drafted into a complete sentence outline and the student should meet the tutor by appointment to go over any problems within the outline. The outline is worth 5% of the points. Students will give the informative speech using a manuscript for 6-8 minutes to the class for 10% of the points. The final 5% will be given when students complete the self-evaluation with comments within a week of delivering their speech. Audience members will complete peer evaluations during the speeches.

5%       Comprehensiveness of complete sentence outline

5%       Thoroughness of self-evaluation

3%       Structure of speech

3%       Content and accuracy of topic

2%       Quality of sources

2%       Eye Contact, Posture, Volume, Audience Acknowledgement

E. Individual Persuasive Speech: Portion of Final Mark: 20%

Students will pick a topic to present to the tutor for approval. Students will draft the speech into a complete manuscript and meet the tutor by appointment to go over any problems in the manuscript. The manuscript is worth 5% of the points. Students will give the persuasive speech from memory for 4-6 minutes for 10% of the points. The final 5% will be given when students complete the self-evaluation with comments within a week of delivering their speech. Audience members will complete peer evaluations during the speeches.

5%       Manuscript quality

2%       Ability to stay within time limit

3%       Memorization of speech

5%       Ability to engage audience

5%       Self Evaluation analysis

Areas of assignments

Quantity

Weighting

A.    Short speeches

8

40%

B.    Critique of political debates

1

10%

C.   Critique of speech by public figures

1

10%

D.   Informative speech

1

20%

E.    Persuasive speech

1

20%

Total Continuous Assessment (CA)

 

100%

Pre-requisites: None

Subject matter:

  1. Unit I: Overview of the basics of public speaking
    • Introduction: The evolving art of public speaking
    • Building confidence
    • Ethical speaking and listening
  2. Unit II: Developing and researching speeches
    • Developing purpose and topic
    • Adapting to an audience
    • Researching a topic and relating to the audience: ways to keep attention
      • Personal experience
      • Multiple perspectives and sources
      • Gathering research
      • Conducting interviews
    • Supporting and quantifying the pieces: be an expert
      • Narratives
      • Examples
      • Definitions
      • Testimony
      • Facts and Statistics
    • Organizing and outlining speeches: structure a speech for an audience
      • Parts of a speech
      • Organizing the body of a speech
      • Connecting ideas with transitions
      • Putting ideas together
      • Complete sentence outline
    • Beginning and Ending a speech: differentiate a speech from others to make it memorable
      • Developing an introduction
      • Developing a conclusion
  1. Unit III: Presenting oneself and ideas effectively
    • Using language effectively and watching the audience for cues
      • Language and culture
      • Language and gender
      • Spoken versus written language
      • Audience centred language
      • Guidelines for using language in a speech
    • Integrating presentation media: supporting one’s voice and gestures through props
      • Why use presentation media
      • Traditional visual and audio media
      • Computer technology
      • Tips for using presentation media
    • Delivering a speech: features, functions of, strategies for different kinds of delivery
      • Impromptu
      • Extemporaneous
      • Manuscript
      • Memorized
    • Understanding factors that influence delivery
      • Culture and diversity
      • Gender
      • Fluency and dialect
      • Physical Impairments
    • Managing one’s voice during the speech: keys to keeping an audience on track
      • Volume: Speaking Loudly
      • Varying rate, pitch and volume
      • Avoiding vocalized pauses
      • Articulation and Pronunciation
    • Managing one’s body during a speech: helping the audience follow the points, not get distracted
      • Dress for the occasion
      • Facing an audience and making eye contact
      • Facial expressions
      • Posture
      • Moving with purpose
    • Managing the audience: keeping a good relationship with the listeners
      • Speaking space
      • Involving audience
      • Respecting audience time
      • Accommodating audience members with impairments
      • Responding calmly to rude/hostile members
    • Preparing an outline
    • Practicing delivery of a speech
  2. Unit IV: Speaking situations: characteristics of each, relevant strategies
    • Informative
    • Persuasive
    • Understanding argument
    • Special occasions and group speaking
    • Small group; Evaluate small group presentations
  3. Unit V: Critiquing political speech
    • Background of the speaker
    • Content of the speech
    • Production techniques
    • Candidates’ language
    • Use of oppositional research
    • Emotional language
    • Body language

Reading List: (A course-pack of the shorter reading materials will be made available to students)

  1. Essential Reading
  2. Additional Reading
    • Baldoni, J. (2003). Great communication secrets of great leaders. New York: McGraw-Hill Education - Europe.
    • Blumstein, R. (2000).Everything you need to know about public speaking. New York: Rosen Pub. Group.

Date:  May 14, 2018
Royal Thimphu College