Honors Public Speaking
Price
TBA
Duration
2 Quarters; 1 Semester
Table of Contents
COURSE OBJECTIVE
The Honors Public Speaking course objective is to acquaint you with the groundwork, background, and processes of public speaking. You will also gain an understanding of the best approaches to giving speeches and how to tailor these approaches to best reach your listeners.
COURSE FORMAT
The class meets 90 minutes twice a week (M/W or T/Th) for 20 weeks. Like all other courses in our curriculum, Honors Public Speaking consists of two components: asynchronous and synchronous learning.
We use the Communications 101: Public Speaking course for the asynchronous flipped classroom portion of the course. This makes up 30% of your overall grade.
Your academy instructor will facilitate the virtual in-person synchronous portion of the course. This makes up 50% of your overall grade.
Asynchronous Learning
The Communications 101: Public Speaking course on Study.com was created by a panel of expert instructors who break down concepts with bite-sized, animated video lessons organized into topical chapters that improve comprehension and retention, making learning fun and engaging. Each video is approximately 5-10 minutes long and comes with a quick quiz to help you measure your "first exposure learning" during the pre-work phase before the actual class. At the end of each chapter, you will complete a chapter test to see if you're ready to move on or have some material to review.
You should expect to spend 50-70 minutes per week on these homework assignments. The academy intentionally schedules no classes on Fridays to provide dedicated time for homework assignments and out-of-class projects.
Synchronous Learning
Our academy instructor, who will also serve as your Gamemaster, will facilitate the live, virtual classroom sessions, which will supplement and build upon the Communications 101: Public Speaking course. Additionally, they will answer any questions you may have about the asynchronous material.
Our in-person sessions are designed to make learning fun and interactive! Here's what you can expect:
Interactive discussions: We will delve deeper into key concepts from the asynchronous material and address any common misconceptions.
Game-based activities: Earn points and badges, and climb the leaderboard as you embark on edventures through grammar and !
Simulations: Step into the shoes of the President and other political leaders to experiment with key concepts in the political system such as passing a federal law, balancing federal and county budgets, environmental crises, international conflicts, foreign policy, terrorism, and more.
Exams
There will be a comprehensive mid-term exam over all content covered during the first quarter and a comprehensive final exam over all content covered during the second quarter. Both of these exams are weighted equally, and the combined average will make up 20% of your course grade.
COURSE TOPICS
Chapters: 14; Lessons: 106
INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD
Each chapter features an interactive discussion board powered by Discussion Hero, a gamified platform developed by Northwestern University. Students choose between "hero" and "villain" roles and avatars, earning points for their contributions. This fosters a sense of competition and engagement, making discussions even more rewarding.
Benefits of Participating in Discussions:
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Go beyond memorization and passive learning by analyzing information, evaluating different perspectives, and forming your own conclusions.
Enhance communication skills: Practice clear communication, learn to articulate your ideas effectively, and develop respectful listening and rebuttal skills.
Fosters a collaborative learning environment: Learn from each other, share knowledge, and collaborate on problem-solving, creating a dynamic and enriching learning community.
Deepen your understanding of the content: Actively engaging with the course material through discussion solidifies and expands your understanding beyond lectures and readings.
Provides diverse perspectives: Discussions expose you to different viewpoints and interpretations, encouraging critical thinking and broadening your understanding of the subject matter.
Offers opportunities for self-reflection: Examining your own thoughts and arguments in response to prompts and engaging with others' perspectives helps solidify your learning and identify areas for further exploration.
Apply knowledge to real-world scenarios: Apply course concepts to real-world situations through discussions, enhancing the material's relevance.
Build a digital learning portfolio: Discussions serve as a reference for your learning journey, allowing you to revisit key concepts and track your progress.
Develop digital literacy: Discussions provide a platform to practice online communication etiquette, including respectful disagreement, constructive argumentation, and responsible information sharing.
To actively engage in meaningful learning and reap the benefits mentioned above, participation in each chapter's discussion board is expected and will contribute to your overall grade. Your instructor will provide a clear rubric within Discussion Hero outlining the expectations for participation and how your contributions will be evaluated. This ensures consistent and transparent assessment while allowing you to showcase your understanding and critical thinking skills throughout the course.
VIRTUAL SIMULATIONS
The Public Speaking simulation gives students a platform to practice key public speaking skills outside of class.
In over 11 rounds, students will ideate, compose, and record various types of presentations while practicing to deliver a speech at a major event. The simulation asks students to deliver impromptu, persuasive, and informative presentations. They practice appropriate body language. They will analyze third-party speeches, learn to build audience profiles, and review their peers’ work.
Some of the key concepts students will learn from these simulations, preparing them for college and careers:
Identify personal speech habits to increase confidence
Dissect the speech communication process
Model the ethics of public speaking
Apply elements of speech writing
Develop effective oral delivery techniques
Develop strategies to control apprehension and anxiety
Develop critical listening and evaluative skills
Conduct peer and self-reviews
Respond to questions about public speaking and communication
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS
Speeches are intended to assess your application, analysis, and critical thinking skills in relation to the concepts you learn in the course. Three speeches are required for this course and count toward your final grade in the course.
Apply the public speaking knowledge and skills you've gained in Communication 101: Public Speaking with these video assignments. You'll be challenged to research, outline and deliver the following speech types:
Informative speech
Persuasive speech
Special occasion speech
COURSE OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Evaluate the historical tradition of public speaking and different types of speeches
Analyze informal and formal methods for conducting audience analysis
Examine the general and specific purpose of a speech as well as techniques for generating main ideas and developing a thesis
Compare primary and secondary research; evaluate types of supporting material and source credibility
Assess criteria for selecting main and supporting ideas; research organizational patterns for informative and persuasive speeches
Analyze the uses of preparation and speaking outlines as well as components of a speech's introduction, transition(s), and conclusion
Compare written and oral language styles as well as impromptu, extemporaneous, manuscript and memorized speeches
Discuss strategies for developing effective, informative, and persuasive speeches as well as special occasion speeches designed to entertain.
Explain the components of rhetorical proof and the differences between inductive, deductive, causal, and analogical reasoning
Appraise methods for evaluating oneself as a speaker as well as guidelines for evaluating other public speakers
Create, prepare, and deliver an effective oral presentation
PREREQUISITES
There are no prerequisites for this course.
COLLEGE / DUAL CREDIT
Communications 101: Public Speaking has been evaluated and recommended by ACE for 3 semester hours and may be transferred to over 2,000 colleges and universities. If you're seeking college credit, after completing this course, you can take the online proctored exam at any time for an additional fee.
Your Instructor
TBD
