Oral Communication in High School - CORE

[Pages:83]Grand Valley State University

ScholarWorks@GVSU

Masters Theses

Graduate Research and Creative Practice

Winter 1995

Oral Communication in High School

Ruth Alice Vander Weide

Grand Valley State University

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Vander Weide, Ruth Alice, "Oral Communication in High School" (1995). Masters Theses. 251.

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ORAL COMMUNICATION IN

HIGH SCHOOL

Ruth Alice Vender Weide Winter, 1995

MASTERS PROJECT Submitted to the graduate faculty at

Grand Valley State University in partial fulfillm ent of the Masters of Education

A bstract Ruth Alice Vander Weide Dr. Dorothy Armstrong, Grand Valley State University, advisor

While high school students have received formal instruction in reading and writing, few have received much formal instruction in speaking and listening skills; this paper supports the call for required courses in oral communication. In recent years, the need for instruction in oral communication has been emphasized in numerous reports on the direction of education, although it has been underemphasized in many of our schools. This paper presents research on the need for and benefits of oral communication. The pilot case study included 29 faculty members, 92 students at a small (500 students) urban high school in Michigan, and 21 area high schools to determine perceived oral communication skills and levels of speaking apprehension, course benefits, teacher preparation, and oral communication curriculum of other schools.

Acknowledgem ents

I thank Dr. Dorothy Armstrong and Dr. Loretta Konecki, teachers and advisors, who guided me in this project and throughout my graduate studies at Grand Valley State University. Their assistance has been much appreciated and has made my educational experience truly rewarding.

I also thank the the faculty of the school in which the study was conducted. I especially thank Ruth Kemp and John Baker, and all of the participants involved in the study. And I thank Paul Higgins who assisted in determining numbers and percentages.

Finally, I especially thank Cornell and Mary Vander Weide, my parents and best friends, who support me, encourage me, and inspire me to always do my best.

Oral Communication

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Project Proposal

6

Problem Statement

6

Importance and Rational of the Study

6

Background of the Study

7

Statement of Purpose

8

Chapter Two: Literature Review

1 2

Need for Oral Communication Skills

1 2

Lack of Communication Skills Needed for

Basic Education

1 4

Study of Young Adults

1 5

Oral Skills Needed in the Job Force

1 6

Oral Skills Needed in Society

1 7

Oral Skills Needed in the Future

1 8

Specific Categories of Students Needing Skills

1 9

General Education Students

1 9

Vocational Education Students

21

At-Risk Students

2 2

Female and Minority Students

23

Gifted and Talented Students

24

Oral Communication

Current Status of Communication Education

26

Educational Trends In High School Communication Courses

29

Studies of Course Impact

3 0

State of Michigan Objectives

3 3

Summary of Literature

34

Chapter Three: Project Report

3 6

Statement of Purpose

36

Project Components

3 7

H y p o th e s is

3 7

Research Questions

3 8

Definition of Terms

3 9

Research Question One

41

S u b je c ts

41

Procedure

41

Findings and Analysis

42

Rsearch Question Two

44

S u b je c ts

45

Procedure

4 6

Findings and Analysis

4 7

Research Question Three S u b je c ts Procedure Findings and Analysis

Research Question Four - a S u b je c ts Procedure Findings and Analysis

Research Question Four - b S u b je c ts Procedure Findings and Analysis

Research Question Four - c S u b je c ts Procedure Findings andAnalysis

Lim itations Project Plans For Dissemination

The Faculty The School Board

Oral Communication

50 50 50 50 52 52 52 52 54 54 54 55 55 56 56 56 57 59 5 9 60

Oral Communication

Employers

60

Parents

61

Students

61

Speech Educators

62

Project Conclusions

62

References

66

Appendix A - Speech Journal

71

Appendix B - Speech Journal - Follow Up Survey

72

Appendix C- Students Writing Assignment

73

Appendix D - Course Evaluation Form

74

Appendix E - Faculty Survey

75

Appendix F - Faculty Survey Results

77

Appendix G - Survey of Area SchoolDistricts

79

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