Syllabus for

COM 302—Advanced Public Speaking

3 Credit Hours
Spring 2005
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Instruction in the theory and practice of public speaking skills in a broad range of situations.
Emphasis is on formulation and presentation skills and public speaking as a vehicle for the
discovery and artful presentation of truth, the promotion of responsible personal development, and
for the encouragement of constructive social action. Each speech needs to reflect Christian
principles and present ethical ways to enhance audience participation and acceptance.
Prerequisite: COM 101.

II. COURSE GOALS

This course is designed to assist the student in his or her quest to do the following:

A. become more professional as a participant in a broad range of public speaking situations.

B. develop skill in analyzing a public speaking situation while participating in it.

C. choose the most effective public speaking strategy in relation to the specific audience being
considered.

D. develop practical skills in planning, managing, and interpreting public presentations in both
secular and Christian settings.

III. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSE

After successfully completing the course, the student should be able to do the following:

A. Develop skills in the researching and composition of speeches suitable to a broad range of
public speaking situations.

E. Develop flexibility in suing different modes of delivery as well as knowledgeably answering

questions posed by the audience.

B. Employ effective reasoning and evidence to inform and persuade listeners in an ethical way.

C. Analyze audiences and be able to adapt speeches for maximum impact to that particular
group.

D. Confidently speak in impromptu situations in an organized, informative manner.

E. Utilize technology to effectively design and deliver professional visual aids in a variety of
common speech situations.

F. Critically analyze oral presentations and give verbal critiques.

Last revision: Fall 2004

IV. TEXTBOOKS
 Required Textbook
Hamilton, C. (2003). Essentials of public speaking. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing.

V. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

A. University Policies and Procedures

1. Attendance at each class or laboratory is mandatory at Oral Roberts University.
2. Double cuts will be assessed for absences immediately preceding or following
holidays.
3. Excessive absences can reduce a student’s grade or deny credit for the course.
4. Students taking a late exam because of an unauthorized absence will be charged a late
exam fee.
5. Students and faculty at Oral Roberts University adhere to all laws addressing the
ethical use of others’ materials, whether it is in the form of print, video, multimedia, or
computer software.
6. Final exams cannot be given before their scheduled times. Students need to check the
final exam schedule before planning return flights or other events at the end of the
semester.

B. Department Policies and Procedures

1. Attendance—At Oral Roberts University, students are expected to attend all classes.
Understanding that there are sometimes unavoidable circumstances that prevent perfect
attendance, each student is allowed to miss class the number of times per week a class
meets. This allowance is for illness, personal business, and personal emergency.
Students may consider this personal days or sick leave. If a student has absences in
excess of this number, the earned grade for the course will be reduced one letter grade
for each hour’s absence above those allowed. A student missing class due to illness
must take an unexcused absence. Extended illnesses are handled on an individual basis
and require a doctor’s excuse.
2. Administratively Excused Absences—Students who must miss class for University
sponsored activities must follow these procedures:
a. inform the professor before the event.
b. arrange to complete missed work within one week.
c. not commit to class performances (oral reports, speeches, television tapings,
group presentations, etc.) on a date the student will be gone. Makeup work is not
permitted if the student voluntarily commits to a performance on the date of an
administratively excused absence.
d. present an excuse, signed by the Dean of Arts and Sciences, the day the student
returns.
3. Tardies—Tardies are an inconvenience to the other class members and the professor,
and they prevent the late student from obtaining maximum value from the class.
Therefore, tardies are calculated in the attendance provision for this course. Three
tardies equal one absence and are included in the absences when determining the course
grade. It is to the student’s advantage to make sure that the professor is informed
immediately following the close of the class that the student was tardy and not absent.
It is not the professor’s responsibility to stop the class to mark the student late; the
student is the one responsible to convey that information following that class. Students
should not expect to be credible the following class session concerning a late arrival on
a previous day.
4. Late Work—The student is responsible for obtaining class assignments and material
 covered during an absence. All work must be completed as scheduled. An absence is
not an excuse for turning in late work or for being unprepared with assignments for the
class following the absence. If late work is accepted, a substantial penalty will be
assessed.
5. Literacy—The Communication Arts Department does not accept for credit any written
assignment that contains more than an average of three grammatical and/or
typographical errors per page.

C. Course Policies and Procedures

Evaluation Procedures
Final grade will be calculated as follows:

1. Speeches:
Narrative Speech 5%
Informative Speech 10%
Persuasive Speech 15%
Problem-Solving 15%
Special Occasion Speech 10%

2. Exams:
Midterm: 15%
Final 15%

3. Other:
3 Outside Evaluation Reports 5%
Impromtus/Homework/
Oral critiques, etc. 10%

TOTAL 100%

VI. COURSE CALENDAR

Week Date Topic Assignment

1 January 5 Course Introduction
January 7 Public Speaking, Ethics and You Chapter 1
2 January 10 Getting Started: Your First Speech Chapter 2
January 12 Building Speaker Confidence Chapter 3
January 14 Cont.
3 January 17 Listening: What Speakers Should Know Chapter 4
January 19 Cont.
January 21 Speech 1 – Narrative
4 January 24 Speech 1 – Narrative
January 26 Speech 1 – Narrative
January 28 Analyzing Your Audience Chapter 5
5 January 31 Informative Speaking Chapter 13
February 2 Selecting & Researching Your Topic Chapter 6
Supporting Your Ideas Chapter 7
February 4 Organizing Your Speech Chapter 8
Outlines and Speaking Notes Chapter 9
6 February 7 MIDTERM
(Chapters 1-7 & 13)
February 9 Preparing Effective Visual Aids Chapter 10
February 11 Cont.
7 February 14 Delivering Your Speech Chapter 11
February 16 Cont.
February 18 Cont.
8 February 21 Speech 2 – Informative
February 23 Speech 2 – Informative
February 25 Speech 2 – Informative
9 February 28 Speech 2 – Informative
March 2 Persuasive Speaking Chapter 14
March 4 Cont.
10 March 7 Methods of Persuasion Chapter 15
March 9 Team Presentations
March 11 Cont.
March 14 - 18 SPRING BREAK
11 March 21 Speech 3 – Persuasive
March 23 Speech 3 – Persuasive
March 25 SPRING REVIVAL
12 March 28 Speech 3 – Persuasive
March 30 Speech 3 – Persuasive
April 1 Speech 3 – Persuasive
13 April 4 Perfecting Language Style Chapter 12
Special Occasion Speeches Chapter 16
April 6 Cont.
April 8 Group Work Day
14 April 11 Speech 4 – Problem-Solving
April 13 Speech 4 – Problem-Solving
April 15 Speech 4 – Problem-Solving
15 April 18 Speech 5 – Special Occasion
April 20 Speech 5 – Special Occasion
April 22 Speech 5 – Special Occasion
16 FINAL - Chps 8 -12, 14-16, & Apx C)
 Course Inventory for ORU’s Student Learning Outcomes

COM 302—Advanced Public Speaking

Spring 2005

This course contributes to the ORU student learning outcomes as indicated below:
Significant Contribution – Addresses the outcome directly and includes targeted assessment.
Moderate Contribution – Addresses the outcome directly or indirectly and includes some assessment.
Minimal Contribution – Addresses the outcome indirectly and includes little or no assessment.
No Contribution – Does not address the outcome.

The Student Learning Glossary at http://ir.oru.edu/doc/glossary.pdf defines each outcome and each of the
proficiencies/capacities.

Significant Moderate Minimal No

OUTCOMES & Proficiencies/Capacities
Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution

1 Outcome #1 – Spiritually Alive

Proficiencies/Capacities
1A Biblical knowledge X
1B Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit X
1C Evangelistic capability X
1D Ethical behavior X

2 Outcome #2 – Intellectually Alert

Proficiencies/Capacities
2A Critical thinking X
2B Information literacy X
2C Global & historical perspectives X
2D Aesthetic appreciation X
2E Intellectual creativity X

3 Outcome #3 – Physically Disciplined

Proficiencies/Capacities
3A Healthy lifestyle X
3B Physically disciplined lifestyle X

4 Outcome #4 – Socially Adept

Proficiencies/Capacities
4A Communication skills X
4B Interpersonal skills X
4C Appreciation of cultural & linguistic differences X
4D Responsible citizenship X
4E Leadership capacity X