COM 220 Public Speaking

Instructor: Brady Carey Instructor: Chris Trevett

Email: Brady4@pdx.edu Email: dtrevett@pdx.edu

Office Hours: By Appointment Office Hours: By Appointment

Room: (TBA) Room: (TBA)

Instructional Materials:

Text:
1. Mastering Public Speaking. Grice and Skinner (PSU Custom Learning Management
System)
2. Course ID/REVEL - Pearson: See News Feed
● ACCESS CODE: included with text purchase or purchased online
3. Flash or jump drive
4. Recording Device (Provided by Student)

Web Instruction:

● Class will have two online components:

a. D2L for weekly overview, schedule, assignment submissions and grades

b. Pearson - REVEL for Ebook and Chapter Exams located at:
https://www.pearsonhighered.com/revel/

Course Description
Course focuses on research, writing, and delivery skills for oral presentation in a variety
of settings, including multicultural. Equal consideration given to speech preparation and
delivery with critical thinking, argument forms, and audience analysis emphasized.
Includes focus on technology as a presentational component. Issues of speech anxiety
addressed.

This course allows students to learn, practice and fine-tune their public speaking skills.
This course is appropriate for both inexperienced and experienced speakers. Students
will gain foundational understanding of public speaking, including: anxiety management,
constructive feedback, delivery techniques, audience analysis, topic selection, research
techniques, outlining and organization, ethical speaking, as well as time management
and technical limitations.

In addition to these skills students will also learn to actively listen to and critically
examine their own and others’ speeches while recognizing logical fallacies. The skills
developed in this course will be beneficial in daily conversations, future academic
pursuits, business settings, decision making, self-empowerment and many other areas
in which communication occurs.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Students assess their speechmaking situation

2. Students analyze various audiences
3. Students research, evaluate and utilize information based on various topics
4. Students organize and write their speeches
5. Students practice and discern different methods to deliver their presentation
6. Students analyze and provide feedback to professional and peer speeches
7. Students apply techniques to manage nervousness

Class Policies

Please do not take this course if you cannot meet the following requirements:

Attendance This is primarily a participation-based class and listening skills are a part of
communication. Your attendance in class is essential for both your success and
that of your classmates. If extenuating circumstances prevent your attendance,
please contact your instructor within 24 hours of missed class time. *Absences
from lab equivalent to more than two weeks of class will result in student
receiving no higher grade than a “C” for the course regardless of grade(s)
received on assignments/speeches. Each additional absence will result in one
grade deduction. 4 delivered speeches are required to pass this class with a C or
better. *Absences are not considered excused or not…. if you’re absent, you’re
absent.

Attendance on Speech days are like exam days. They are not optional. You will be assigned a
speech days speech day and you will be expected to speak on that day. If you miss your
speech day, there is no guarantee you will be able to make it up, therefore you
risk losing your full delivery points and may fail the class. Absolutely nothing is
to be on your desk while listening to speeches, with the exception of peer
evaluation forms.

Illness For the welfare of all, students that appear to be suffering from flu-like symptoms
may be asked to leave the classroom. Students should not come to class or be on
 campus if experiencing any flu-like symptoms. Contact your instructor
immediately so that an alternative means of instruction can be worked out during
this illness. If you miss too many days, you may have to withdraw from the
class. Stay in contact with your instructor so that you can make informed
decisions about your classes.

Tardiness Arriving to class on time helps create a positive, cohesive learning environment
and is respectful to others. Missing more than 30 minutes of a class is considered
an absence.

Instructor Students are asked to wait 15 minutes for instructor. If instructor does not arrive
Tardiness within 15 minutes of class time, students are free to leave.

Late work No assignment will be accepted late. Assignments are due at the beginning of
class or otherwise stated in the syllabus/schedule/weekly lesson on D2L. No
exceptions. If you cannot attend class, please email the assignment to your
instructor prior to the start of class and request confirmation of receipt.

Grade dispute If you do not agree with the grade that you receive on an assignment or speech,
please schedule an appointment with your instructor within one week to
discuss. Be prepared to present your dispute/argument in writing and you will be
expected to practice the skill of persuasion and evidence when refuting a grade.
Instructors will not discuss grades in class with any student.

Standard The language used in public discourse in the United States is English. Therefore,
English students are expected to observe and exhibit proper phonetic and grammatical
rules binding the required use of Standard English for all assignments.

Courtesy Courtesy is always expected. Respectful and active listening skills are as
important as professional speaking skills. You are expected to give speakers your
undivided attention. Food and beverages are acceptable so long as they do not
disrupt the class. Please respect the views of others in the class and help create
an open, trustful environment. Disagreement is expected however please
remember to disagree with the ideas rather than the person. Snickering,
whispering, or other derogatory/disrespectful behaviors will not be tolerated.
Please do not talk or work on other assignments/material during class/speeches.
Do not enter or leave the room during a speech, wait until the speaker is done
and you hear applause.

Technology Cell phones must be on “silent” during class. No Ipods or other entertainment
devices will be allowed during class (no earphones, no texting, etc.).
 Children It’s understandable that childcare issues may arise. Children are permitted in
class occasionally when absolutely necessary. Please bring supplies appropriate
for your child to keep him or her occupied during class.

Missed Speeches:
1. Students who do not deliver their speeches on their chosen speech day will
receive a zero, unless s/he contacts the instructor before the speech is due.
2. Make-up speeches resulting from an unavoidable emergency (e.g. accident,
death in the family, court order, severe illness), require written documentation
from a legitimate authority.
 REQUIRED: Your outline must be submitted BEFORE each speech to
receive consideration for make-up (no later than 1 hour before class).
3. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late on their speaking day will have
10% deducted from their speech score.

Class Conduct-RESPECT!
 Class begins promptly on the hour and will end at the scheduled time. Plan to
stay for the entire class period and do not pack up your belongings early.
 Do not eat in class.
 If you arrive late and a student speech is in progress, please wait outside the
classroom until the speech is completed. If you must leave early, please wait
until the student speech is completed.
 Please turn off all cell phones and computers.
 Please listen attentively to other speakers.
 Unethical audience behavior on your part could result in a 10% - 20% point
reduction off of your speech grade

Student Support Services

Please see course system for a list of student support services.

Department & University Policies

1. Academic Honesty requires that credit must be given any time you use words
and ideas other than your own. Proper citation is necessary; APA is preferred for
this course. In the 2009-2010 Portland State University Bulletin it states, “The
Code of Student Conduct and Responsibility, which applies to all students,
prohibits all forms of academic cheating, fraud, and dishonesty. These acts
include, but are not limited to: plagiarism, buying and selling of course
assignments and research papers, performing academic assignments (including
 tests and examinations) for other persons, unauthorized disclosure and receipt
of academic information, and other practices commonly understood to be
academically dishonest” (p. 27). Acts of academic dishonesty in this course may
result in failure for the assignment and/or possible suspension from the
university for up to two years.

2. Incomplete Grades will only be given to students when certain criteria are met
and the student’s circumstance warrants it. The instructor does not have an
obligation to award an incomplete. To be eligible for an incomplete, the student
must show satisfactory progress. Satisfactory progress includes, but is not
limited to, a grade of C or better, completion of most coursework (approx. 75%)
and a displayed commitment to the policies set forth in the course syllabus. The
student and the instructor are required to complete a contract in which both
parties agree to the essential work to be done. The student is required to also
complete a justification statement. The contract and justification statement
must be filed with the department. According to the 2009-2010 Portland State
University Bulletin, “The deadline for completion of an Incomplete can be no
longer than one year. The instructor may set a shorter deadline which shall be
binding” (p. 45).

3. Coursework completed for this class that is not retrieved by the student, will be
available for the first three weeks of the following term. After this time, student
coursework will be disposed; however, the grades will be held on record for two
years.

4. Disabilities Services: Americans with Disability Act – If you have a documented

disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability
Services Office for coordination of your academic accommodations. Students
who have documented disabilities are required to be vetted through the Office
of Disability Services. Students can also view the Disability resource center online
at http://www.pdx.edu/drc/

5. Campus Safety - Reporting Violence:

 Call 911 if you need immediate help.
 If you experience sexual harassment, sexual violence and/or other
forms of prohibited discrimination, PSU has many resources
available to help you. Please go to our D2L course Homepage for
many of these.
 PSU faculty are mandatory reporters of these types of violence. If
you do not want to officially report what has happen, you do not
need to speak with us. There are many other people and
 resources at PSU, and in Portland, to assist you and provide you
with the help you need.

 Campus Safety: Please review the university’s policy and procudures

regarding campus safety at https://www.pdx.edu/cpso/emergency-public-
safety-resource-guide

Assignments
Speeches: Exact speech requirements will be discussed in your class
Speech order to be determined by students and instructor and will be
posted on the calendar in Course Compass.

Brown Bag This assignment is designed to give you practice speaking in front of a group. You
10 points will bring in and present three objects to the class: one that represents your past,
one that represents your current life, and one that represents your future.
Articulation and thoughtfulness will be the graded components. You will be
delivering vocal feedback to your peers for this speech. This will be a 2-4 minute
speech.

Informative In this assignment, you will give an informative presentation on an issue that is
100 points relevant to your audience. You must make your point understood through clear
organization and highlight the crucial information of the topic. A proper outline is
a graded component. You will need three scholarly sources with APA style
citations. Visual aids are required. You will record this speech for evaluation.
This will be a 4-6 minute speech.

Persuasive In this speech, you will attempt to persuade and shape your audience’s opinions,
100 points behaviors, attitudes, etc. on a relevant topic. This assignment will be research-
oriented. Five scholarly sources must be used with APA style citations. Opposing
viewpoints must be acknowledged and expressed. A proper outline, credible
research with proper citations, and relatable/appropriate visual aids are graded
components. You will record this speech. This will be a 5-7 minute speech.

Commem. Celebration/Commemoration/Inspiration Presentation

100 points Special occasion speeches can be serious or light-hearted. The main purpose of this
speech is to entertain, celebrate, commemorate or inspire. An outline is required.
You will record this speech for evaluation. This will be a 3-5 minute speech.
Other Assignments: (exact requirements and expectations to be discussed in class)
All submitted assignments should be free of spelling, syntax, and grammatical errors.
Papers must be typed (unless noted otherwise), stapled, double spaced (excluding
outlines), using a 12 point Times New Roman font, with 1 inch margins all around.
Citations must be done in American Psychological Association (APA) style.

Outlines All outlines will need to clearly and understandably organize your speech using
proper academic outline format. Follow instructions.

Self- In this assignment, you will address your speech performance by way of reflecting
Evaluations on your delivery and goals for the speech. Self-evaluations are due two days after
speech is delivered (NO EXCEPTIONS).

Peer To improve critical listening skills and assist in your fellow students’ learning
Evaluations processes, you are required to give 3 written evaluations after selected speeches.

Chapter To assess your understanding of the textbook, you will be required to take weekly
Exams: exams online. All exams must be completed by Friday of Week 9 by
11:59pm.

Grading
This course will use a weighted system to determine the final grade.

Assignments Points

Speeches (70%)
1. Brown Bag Speech (5%) 10
2. Informative Speech (25%) 100
3. Persuasive Speech (35%) 100
4. Commemorative Speech (35%) 100

Reflections (20%)
1. Informative 15
2. Persuasive 15

Exams (10%) Chapters: 2-5, 7-9, 12, 15- Grade will be based on average score of all
18. exams.
Grading Scale

A = 94-100
A- = 90-93
B = 87-89
B = 84-86
B- = 80-83
C+ = 77-79
C = 74-76
C- = 70-73
D+ = 67-69
D = 64-66
D- = 60-63
F = <59

Schedule

Week Activities
1 Tuesday:

● Overview of Syllabus/ D2L /REVEL (Pearson)

● Homework:
1. Readings: REVEL (Pearson) Chapters 1-4

Thursday:

● Lecture:
● Communication Theory
● Speechmaking Process
● Ethics
● Listening
● Video

● Assignment: Brown Bag Speech

● Quizzes: Chapters 2
2 Tuesday:
● Brown Bag Speeches

● Homework:
1. Readings: REVEL (Pearson) Chapters 5, 7-8

Thursday:

● Brown Bag Speeches

● Quizzes: Chapters 5, 7 & 8

3 Tuesday:

● Brown Bag Speeches (If needed)

● Lecture:
1. Crafting a Speech
2. Speech Evaluation Rubric
3. The Informative Speech & Speech Video Analysis
4. Improv Exercises

● Assignment: Informative Speech

● Homework:
1. Readings: REVEL (Pearson) Chapters 9-12

Thursday:

● Workshop & Speaking Drills

● Homework:
1. Readings: REVEL (Pearson) Chapter 15

● Quizzes: Chapters 9, 12,15

4 Tuesday:

● Presentations: The Informative Speech

● Assignment: Informative Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation

● Homework:
1. Readings: REVEL (Pearson) Chapters 13 & 14

Thursday:

● Presentations: The Informative Speech

● Assignment: Informative Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation

5 Tuesday:

● Presentations: The Informative Speech

● Assignment: Informative Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation

Thursday:

● Presentations: The Informative Speech

● Assignment: Informative Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation

6 Tuesday:

● Lecture:
1. The Persuasive Lecture
2. Speech Video Analysis

● Assignment: The Persuasive Speech

● Homework:
1. Readings: REVEL (Pearson) Chapters 16 & 17
 Thursday:

● Lecture:
1. The Entertainment Lecture
2. Persuasive Workshop / Motivated Sequence

● Assignment: Commemorative Speech

● Quizzes: Chapters 16-17

7 Tuesday:

● Presentations: The Persuasive Speech

● Assignment: Persuasive Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation

Thursday:

● Presentations: The Persuasive Speech

● Assignment: Persuasive Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation
8 Tuesday:

● Presentations: The Persuasive Speech

● Assignment: Persuasive Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation

● Homework:
1. Readings: REVEL (Pearson) Chapters 18

Thursday:

● Presentations: The Persuasive Speech

● Assignment: Persuasive Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation

● Exam 18
 9 Tuesday:

● Presentations: The Persuasive Speech (If Needed)

● Assignment: Persuasive Reflections – Due within two days
after presentation (If Needed)

● Lecture: The Commemorative Speech

● Assignment: The Commemorative Speech

Thursday:

● Presentations: The Commemorative Speech

Friday: All Chapter Exams Due by 11:59pm

10 Tuesday:

● Presentations: The Commemorative Speech

Thursday:

● Presentations: The Commemorative Speech

10 Tips for Successful Public Speaking

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you
care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here's how you
can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:

1. Know the room. Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early,
walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual
aids.
2. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It's easier to
speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
3. Know your material. If you're not familiar with your material or are
uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and
revise it if necessary.
4. Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises.
 5. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud,
clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be
successful.
6. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting,
stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don't want you to fail.
7. Don't apologize. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems
you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience's
attention to something they hadn't noticed. Keep silent.
8. Concentrate on the message -- not the medium. Focus your attention away from
your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience.
Your nervousness will dissipate.
9. Turn nervousness into positive energy. Harness your nervous energy and
transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
10. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective
speaking.

Speech Rubric (How you will be graded on your Speeches

Non-Existent/Needs
Criteria Proficient Competent Improvement Needed
Work
2 points 0 points
4 points 3 points
Introduction: Opening The Opening statement The Opening statement
The Opening statement The Opening Statement
Statement was somewhat was ineffective and did
was powerful and was good and
sufficient and generally not captivate the
captivated the audience interested the audience
interested the audience audience
4 points 2 points 0 points
3 points
Introduction: Central
The CI was an The CI was an There was no clear
Idea The CI was a good
excellent summary of adequate summary of
summary of the speech Central Idea.
the speech the speech
Introduction: 4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
Supporting Points
 The SP’s were The SP’s were The SP’s were The SP’s were not
effectively stated and generally stated and somewhat stated and stated and there was no
mapped out the speech mapped out the speech gave a generally clear map of speech
mapped out the speech
4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
Introduction:
Established Personal The Speaker The Speaker basically The Speaker somewhat The Speaker did not
Credibility effectively establish establish their establish their establish their
their credibility credibility credibility credibility
4 points 2 points
3 points 0 points
Introduction:
Motivated the The Speaker The Speaker somewhat
The Speaker generally The Speaker did not
Audience effectively motivated or indirectly motivated
motivated the audience motivated the audience
the audience the audience
0.5 points
2 points 1 point 0 points
Topic: Audience & The topic was
The topic was clearly The topic was The topic was not
Speaker somewhat appropriate
appropriate for the appropriate for the appropriate for the
for the Audience &
Audience & Speaker Audience & Speaker Audience & Speaker
Speaker
6 points
2 points 0 points
8 points
The Speaker basically
Topic: Time Limits The Speaker went over The Speaker did not
The Speaker achieved achieved their time
or under their time achieved their time
their time limits limits (A little over or a limits
limits
little less)
2 points
1 point 0.5 points 0 points
The purpose of the
Purpose: Clarity The purpose of the The purpose of the The purpose of the
speech was very clear speech was not clear to
speech was clear to the speech was somewhat
and specific to the the audience
audience clear to the audience
audience
4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
Purpose: Achieved The purpose of the The purpose of the The purpose of the The purpose of the
speech was speech was generally speech was somewhat
speech was not achieved
successfully achieved achieved achieved
3 points 2 points 0 points
4 points
Organization: Intro,
The speech had a The speech had a The speech did not have
Body, Conclusion The speech had a
generally defined I-B- somewhat defined I-B-
clearly defined I-B-C a defined I-B-C
C C
4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
Organization:
Transitions and The Speaker did not use
The Speaker mastered The Speaker had good The Speaker somewhat
Signposts transitions
the use of transitions use of transitions used transitions
4 points 3 points 2 points
0 points
Organization: Main
Main points were Main points were Main points were
Points Main points were not
exceptionally clear to generally clear to the somewhat clear to the
clear to the audience
the audience audience audience
 4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
Supporting Material: The Speaker did not
The Speaker stated The Speaker stated The Speaker stated
Credibility state and/or display any
and/or displayed all and/or displayed most and/or displayed some
sources correctly sources correctly sources correctly sources correctly
4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
Supporting Material:
Information was The information was The information was The information was The information was not
Varied and Interesting very interesting to the interesting to the somewhat interesting interesting to the
audience audience to the audience audience
4 points 0 points
3 points 2 points
Visual Aids: Design Excellent design - VA’s did not support
Decent design – added General design – added
added significant
appropriate support some support the speech
support to speech
4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
The Speaker The Speaker The Speaker The Speaker did not
Visual Aids: Control
maintained control of maintained control of maintained control of
maintained control of
VA’s throughout the VA’s throughout most VA’s throughout some
VA’s throughout speech
entire speech of the speech of the speech
4 points
3 points 2 points 0 points
Speaker made
Delivery: Eye Contact Speaker made eye Speaker made some Speaker made little or
consistent and
contact throughout eye contact throughout no eye contact
sustained eye contact
most of speech speech throughout speech
throughout speech
2 points
4 points 3 points
0 points
Delivery: Voice &
Voice was monotone
Tone Voice was consistently Voice was generally
or sub-level, Voice was inaudible
sustained and leveled sustained and leveled
sometimes inaudible
2 points
3 points 0 points
4 points
Delivery: Gestures & Gestures were
Gestures were Gestures were
Posture Gestures were somewhat controlled
generally controlled ineffective and
controlled and effective and/or distracted from distracted from message
and effective
message
2 points
0 points
4 points 3 points
Speech had a
Delivery: Flow Speech did not have a
Speech had a Speech had a generally somewhat smooth smooth pace; there were
consistent smooth pace smooth pace pace; there were some many awkward pauses
awkward pauses
3 points 0 points
4 points 2 points
The Speaker The Speaker had no
Delivery: Energy The Speaker The Speaker had some
maintained decent energy throughout
maintained high energy energy throughout
energy throughout
throughout speech speech speech
speech
Conclusion: 4 points 3 points 2 points 0 points
 Summarized Main
Points Main points of the Main points of the Main points of the Main points of the
speech were clearly speech were generally speech were somewhat speech were not restated
and specifically restated restated; no direct
restated reference to main
points
2 points 0 points
4 points 3 points
Conclusion: Closing The Closing statement The Closing statement
The Closing statement The Closing Statement was ineffective and did
Statement was somewhat
was powerful and was good and not captivate the
sufficient and generally
captivated the audience interested the audience
interested the audience audience
2 points
3 points 0 points

4 points The Speaker

The Speaker mostly
occasionally
considered the The Speaker somewhat
considered the
The Speaker was very audience with the and/or did not
audience with the
conscious of their elements of the considered the audience
elements of the
presentation skills, and speechmaking process with the elements of the
speechmaking process
Audience relating and responding and mostly monitored speechmaking process
and occasionally
Centered/Adapted to to the audience and engaged the and did not monitored
monitored and engaged
Listeners & Ethics: audience and engaged the
the audience
Sources, Viewpoints & & audience
Purpose & &
The Speaker was very &
conscious of their The Speaker was The Speaker was
presentation skills, and generally conscious of The Speaker was not
somewhat conscious of
relating and responding their presentation conscious of their
their presentation
to the audience skills, and relating and presentation skills, and
skills, and relating and
responding to the relating and responding
responding to the
audience to the audience
audience
0 points
4 points 3 points 2 points

Outline is in not in
Outline is in excellent Outline is in good Outline is in somewhat
Outline organizational format
organizational format organizational format organizational format
with work cited at the
with work cited at the with work cited at the with work cited at the
bottom in correct
bottom in correct bottom in correct bottom in correct
citation format (MLA /
citation format (MLA / citation format (MLA / citation format (MLA /
APA) or no outline
APA). APA). APA).
submitted.
Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Overall Score
99 or more 74 or more 49 or more 0 or more