Public Speaking

The course helps students develop effective verbal and nonverbal skills for public speaking.  Students learn how to deliver informative, persuasive, and inspirational speeches.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT WILL BE COMPETENT IN:

• Organizing a speech with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Writing an introduction for a speech which captures the attention of the audience, includes a thesis statement, and gives an overview for the speech.
• Writing a thesis statement with clarity, comprehensiveness, and completeness.
• Composing a conclusion which summarizes the speech and ends the speech with impact.
• Locating appropriate research material for a speech using an on-line library.
• Selecting an appropriate organizational pattern for a speech:  problem/solution, topical, spatial, or chronological.
• Using effective nonverbal skills such as eye contact, postures, gestures, and movement.
• Demonstrating how to use visual aids effectively.
• Developing and delivering an informative and a persuasive speech.
• Delivering an informative speech which is intellectually stimulating, relevant, creative, and memorable.
• Selecting and utilizing effective illustrations for a speech.
• Choosing language for the speech that includes clarity, precision, specificity, and vividness.
• Speaking fluently, energetically, and communicatively.
• Delivering impromptu and prepared speeches.
• Listing and describing methods of audience analysis:  demographics, gender, socio-economic status, education, etc.