Homeschool Public Speaking Course Offered for Fall 2011

Some of you have expressed interest in taking the classes that I wish to offer this fall.  For this reason I thought I would spell out in more detail what will be entailed in each.  The following regards the public speaking course.  I am still looking for more young people to participate in the classes.  So please do let me know as soon as you can if you have any interest.  As well, please feel free to contact me about any further questions you may have.  Email:  [email protected]      Phone:  419-289-2552

Objectives: 
   1.  To understand the basis for coherent communication and the Christian’s duty to hone skills of public discourse.
   2.  To gain confidence in public discourse and conquer speech apprehension; 
   3.  To understand the impact of purpose, occasion, and audience on spoken discourse;
   4.  To develop basic concepts in speech which include adequate volume, pitch, variety and varied rate, gestures, body movement, and eye contact;
   5.  To use standard grammar usage and mature diction which includes a clarity of enunciation and expression;
   6.  To choose suitable topics and organize them in a logical manner;
   7.  To develop familiarity with activities such as impromptu speaking and argumentation;
   8.  To organize, develop, and support a chosen topic within a specific time limit;
   9.  To gain effective listening skills.

Content:  In this class each student will be required to…
   1.  Participate in class lecture and discussion, which will cover the above material;
   2.  Listen to and discuss famous speeches (Patrick Henry, Give me Liberty or Give me death.  Martin Luther King Jr., “I have a dream”);*
   3.  Deliver 5-7  speeches and participate in a public debate;  Students must also turn in manuscripts for each assigned speech.
   4.  Conduct critiques of peer’s speeches

Speeches to be delivered:
   1.  Personal introduction:  A warm up exercise where you will introduce a fellow class member to the rest of the class.  The exercise will help students become acquainted and begin to develop a comfort when speaking in front of audiences. (20-30 seconds)

   2.  Skits:  A warm up exercise where you will act out a scene.  The exercise will help to develop a comfort when standing before audiences.  Students will also begin to critique their peers’ presentations. (45-60 seconds)

   3.  *Personal experience:  This more advanced warm up exercise seeks to develop your story telling skills.  You will be required to recount a personal experience.  In this assignment you must integrate vivid language, description, gesture, posture, enthusiasm, diction, as discussed in class.

   4.  *Impromptu speech:  another warm-up exercise where you will be given a topic at class time and required to speak to or about it.  This exercise will develop a students ability to organize thoughts quickly and deal with the pressure of a “think on your feet” moment.

   5.  Informative speech:  In this first major assignment you will choose a topic of an informative nature (i.e. a “how to speech”).  You will be required to put into practice the topics covered in class, particularly the distinctive elements of an informative speech.

   6.  Persuasive speech:  In this first major assignment you will choose a topic which you will try to persuade the audience (i.e. a “you must speech”).  You will be required to put into practice the topics covered in class, particularly the distinctive elements of an persuasive speech.

   7.  Opinion (or pet peeve) speech:  In this speech you will have the opportunity to rant on any personal pet peeve.  You will be required to use language of a more forceful nature, while all the while demonstrating a courteous tone.  In this exercise you will seek to develop the idea of speaking the truth boldly, yet in a loving spirit.

   8.  Debate:  This final speech will be a debate which will be open to the community.  The event will have three parts.  First, after receiving your topic, you must thoroughly research it and compose your argument.  Second, you must present your speech on the designated night before the assembly.  Finally, you must question and counter the person presenting the opposing position. 

Evaluation:  Students will be evaluated according to…
   1.  Participation in classroom discussion.
   2.  Their individual speeches;
   3.  Their peer critiques

*Note of Qualification: The inclusion of these items are dependent upon class size and amount of time available for classes.  

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