COSK2220-A2 Public Speaking and Persuasion



COSK2220-A2 Public Speaking and Persuasion  

Robert Morris College, Fall, 2004

Wednesday, Pittsburgh Center, Room 406, 06:00 - 10:00 pm 

Michael D. Rectenwald, M.A. English, Ph.D., Literary and Cultural Studies

Office Hours: By appointment only

Email: mdr2@cs.cmu.edu

My Website:

Phone: office: 412-268-5922

Required Texts and Materials

Anson, Chris M. and Robert A. Schwegler. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers, 4/e New York: Longman, 2005 ISBN 0-321-23303-4 (Required)

Zarefsky,  David. Public Speaking: Strategies for Success, 4/e. Allyn & Bacon, 2005.   0-205-41487-7. (Required)

Essays, etc.: Additional readings will be assigned at the instructor’s discretion, and will be provided either on-line or as photocopies. These additional readings will be required, unless otherwise noted.

CO 230 Communications Skills V Entrance Portfolio Requirements for Preliminary Assessment

Student will prepare for evaluation his or her portfolio consisting of

·        Two oral presentations videotaped in CO 120, 121, 220, or 221; at work, or on special occasions

·        Three edited essays written as part of the course assignments in Communication Skills I-IV, essay samples should include a researched essay using MLA or APA format, an argument or persuasive essay, and an informative or personal essay

·        Five to ten journal entries from courses I-IV edited and selected by the student in which he or she reflects upon what and how he or she learns (i.e.; demonstrates some metacognitive awareness)

·        Reading log that documents students’ range of reading; it lists, in full bibliographic citation, at least one scholarly or relevant trade book, scholarly article, magazine article, newspaper article, and electronic source

·        Other documentation of students’ communication skills as student chooses (limit five items).

Hardware/Software Requirements

All students are required to use a word-processing package when preparing papers.  To this end, all papers must be typed, double-spaced, and adhere to the APA standard for formatting. 

Course Description

COSK 2220 COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS III underscores the integrated nature of the communications skills program and the importance of communications skills for a successful life and career.  While refining research and writing skills, students develop computer-assisted presentational materials to enhance the delivery of speeches.  Among the communications topics explored are personal and professional relationships, ethical and legal issues, the impact of changing technology, audience analysis, and diversity in the workplace.  This course emphasizes the development of a professional style of oral communication.

Course Objectives

In this course, students develop the ability to:

·        Apply and evaluate research strategies, especially those involving electronic resources; and select, incorporate, and document information derived from various electronic and print sources (using APA format in written work)

·        Identify and evaluate, through an analysis of texts and presentations, a communicator's purposes, assumptions, and attitudes, as well as the strengths of arguments and the relevance and appropriateness of evidence in relation to audience, purpose, and situation

·        Exhibit rhetorical skill in presentations and in writing--namely in achieving clarity, effectiveness, appropriateness, and relevance--especially regarding the statement of main ideas, organization of and relationship among ideas, use of supporting details and appropriate vocabulary, identification and analysis of audiences, and the use of motivational appeals and non-verbal behaviors

·        Offer and receive criticism of presentational skills in a collaborative, supportive, and professional manner; and indicate the application of these skills in question-and-answer strategies and on written forms following student presentations

·        Analyze, evaluate, and make a presentation on one or more of the many versions or dialects of English, especially in terms of differences in age, sex, occupation, power; state the importance and relevance of such knowledge for career success; and exhibit in oral and written presentations a command of the grammatical and mechanical conventions of standard American English

·        Understand how persuasion/argumentation is a process characterized by negotiation, give-and-take, feedback and response, contingency, and fluctuating situations

·        Understand how technology affects communication, and develop and deliver presentations using graphic information

·        Understand and apply the relationship of communications skills and leadership

·        Communicate with confidence while developing a personal style of communication

Accommodation for Test-taking or Note-taking

If there are students in the class who need special test-taking or note-taking accommodation, they should discuss their needs with the instructor.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required for all classes, except in cases of a family emergency.  Absences for any other reason, including employment, are unacceptable.  Students will have five percentage points deducted from their final grade for each class they miss.

Late Work and Paper Policy: Formal essays are due on the assigned date, no exceptions.   There are never extensions offered for late assignments.  I do not accept emailed attachments of the major paper assignments. Unless otherwise indicated on the syllabus, I must receive hard copies of formal papers.

Plagiarism Policy: See the Communications Skills Program “Statement on Academic Integrity” for procedures and penalties. We view plagiarism as a serious breach of academic ethics with serious consequences. Cutting and pasting or slightly revising the text from online or other sources without ascription of proper credit constitutes plagiarism. I am not a police officer and do not want to be one, but I can usually recognize plagiarized material, as it usually differs somewhat significantly in style and/or content from the student’s other, especially in-class, writing.

Assignments and Grading

Short Written Discussion Assignments

Each week you will be given a writing assignment that is to be typed-out, grammatically correct, and posted on-line by 9 AM the day of class.  These assignments will typically involve an analysis of the texts we read for class discussion. To receive credit, you must submit assignments on time.

Three Oral Presentations

Students will make three oral presentations during the semester.  The presentations are to be a minimum of four minutes long. 

Contribution Paper/Presentation

For the final written assignment, the student must make a contribution to an academic discussion. The academic discussion is, in the final analysis, contingent upon the approval of the instructor. The final paper must be an academic contribution and not a topical “opinion” paper. That is, the paper depends on research, solid documentation and argumentation, and contributes to an established discourse. In order to contribute to a discourse, the student must first be very familiar with it. Therefore, the paper must draw on at least six credible sources.  The main argument/contours of the paper are then presented orally, in class. Presentations are graded separately. The papers must five to six pages in length minimum, and strictly adhere to the formal guidelines provided for them by the instructor.

Grading:

Oral presentations (Communication Problem)           25%

Academic Essay in APA format                    30%

Formal presentation with visuals                   15%

Short Written Assignments (1-2 paragraphs each)   30%

Total                                                     100%

Note: To earn a grade of C or higher in any CO 1-V course, a student must first earn a C or higher in writing. That is to say, any student who earns an N in the writing strand in a CO I-V course will receive an N in that course.

Course Outline and Assignments: Readings for class discussion must be read in advance of the week for which they appear below. In addition to the readings listed below, the instructor will assign essays for class and on-line discussion, on a regular basis. These additional essays are also required reading.

 

*Weekly schedules are subject to change, depending on class progress and other factors. The syllabus will be updated and available on-line.

Week 1: Introduction

• Introduction to class (students and Instructor)

• Discussion of syllabus and classroom assignments

• Discussion of reading segments

• Discussion of online assignments

Assignments:

• (online) Short Written Discussion: In a paragraph or two, introduce yourself, noting your interests and goals for this course. Also, cite your experience with online classes, and mention any concerns you have with the course or the use of the technology.

• (on ground) Read Part I (chapters 1-3) of Zarefsky

• Read Charles Taylor, "The Politics of Recognition" (esp. parts I, II and IV: in webliography)

Week 2: The Essay

• Discuss Taylor

• Hand-out and read in class: "The Essay."

• Discuss basic essay structure and requirements lecture in class

• Toulmin model of argumentation-- (in-class handout)

• Discuss Toulmin

• Discussion of oral presentation requirements

• Guidelines for presentation #1 distributed:  Communication Problems

Assignments online (for week two)

• Charles Taylor, "The Politics of Recognition,"  (esp. parts I, II and IV)

o On-line discussion: Write a one page summary of Taylor's argument (in week 2 thread)

• Read Schlesinger essay Assignment Online:

o Short Written Discussion: Summarize the thesis of Schlesinger essay and state your position with reference to it (post in week 3 thread).

Assignments on ground (for week two)

• Read Part II (chapters 4-6)  in Zarefsky textbook

• First Oral Presentations Next Class!

Week 3  Organizing the Speech: Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitions

• Pair up in peer review/speaker teams

• Discussion of oral presentation requirements/peer critiques

• First Oral Presentations

• Discuss Schlesinger

Assignments online

• Email peer critiques of speech to peer

• Read: Marion Namenwirth, "Science Seen Through a Feminist Prism" from Feminist Approaches to Science, Ruth Bleier, ed. (New York: Pergamon Press, 1986): 18-41.

o Online: One page summary of Namenwirth's argument (post in week 4 thread).

Assignments on ground:

• Read Part III (chapters 7-9) in Zarefsky

• Have hard copy of peer critique for instructor in class Week 4

Week 4:

• Discuss Namenwirth

• Guidelines for presentation #2 distributed:  Informative Speech  (Speech to be presented in Week 6)

Assignments online:

• Read "Science As Power," by Stanley Aronowitz

o Online: Write a one page summary of Aronowitz (post in week 5 thread)

Assignments on ground

• Read Public Speaking Part IV (chapters 10-12) 

• Work on outlines for second speech

Week 5

• Lecture on applying Basic Essay Techniques to giving speeches (Introduction, Body, Conclusion, etc.)

Assignments online:

• Read Bloor, David, in Knowledge and Social Imagery (Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1991): 3-23.

o Online: Write a one-page summary of Bloor (post in week 6 thread)

Assignments on ground:

• Prepare for second presentation

• Read Part V (chapters 13-15) in Zarefsky.

Week 6

• Second presentations

• Discuss Bloor.

• Final Paper Assignment Handout: Discuss

o Paper

o Presentation

Assignments online:

• Read Gross, Paul R. and Norman Levitt,  from Higher Superstition: The Academic Left and its Quarrels with Science (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994): 234-257. One page summary of Gross and Levitt's argument.

o Post short (one-page) opinion paper on Gross and Levitt (post in week 7 thread)

Week 7

• Discuss Gross and Levitt

• Research: library and online library sources: evaluation criteria.

• Brainstorming and Drafting

Assignments on ground:

• Finish Final Papers

• Prepare for Final Presentations

Week 8

• Final Presentations given.

• Final Papers Due.

 

Final Notes and Comments

Discussion courses depend for their success on the attendance and participation of the students. This is the case for discussion classes in general. To this end, it is imperative that you understand and appreciate the necessity of commitment to the course.  Attendance of every class meeting is mandatory.

This is a university-level course. I expect a commitment to excellence in research and presentation. I place a premium on academic rigor and a high caliber of scholarship and research, for both oral and written presentations.

Please be aware that I conduct a lot of communications via email. You need to check your RMU email on a daily basis. I send all email to your Robert Morris address. If you need it to go to another address, I suggest you set up mail forwarding.

 

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