About the Course
A report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows that employers want job candidates with strong communication skills. Similarly, educational success also requires the ability to articulate your thoughts clearly. In this class, we will study the principles of public speaking and critically examine our own and others' speeches through interactive practice.
Learning Objectives
The overriding goal of this course is to demystify the process of writing, practicing, and performing a clear and engaging speech. In so doing, I hope this course can help each student improve the quality of their speeches and confidence with which they present them.
More specifically, upon successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
· design and deliver basic presentations concisely;
· design and deliver informative presentations clearly;
· design and deliver complex arguments persuasively;
· speak confidently with appropriate rate, projection, movement, and vocal variety; and
· evaluate and critique speeches insightfully.
Course Prerequisites
If you wish to complete the three speech assignments, you must have access to video recording equipment (e.g., digital camera, cell phone, flip camera, webcam, or video camera) and the ability to share this digital content via YouTube, Vimeo, or Aparat.
Since there is no certificate, the uploading of speeches is entirely optional. Students who choose to not post video will not be denied any access to the course content.
Assessments and Activities
In designing this course, I wanted to provide a wide range of activities and assignments for the wide range of student interest and needs. Some students may want only to watch the video lectures and take the quizzes; others may invest more fully and post sample videos and participate actively in discussion forums. Here are some of the course assignments and activities:
Video lectures: Most of the course content is delivered through a number of video lectures. Each video runs 8-12 minutes and teaches a specific public speaking ability or concept.
Discussion forums: This class thrives on discussion. There are a number of discussion forums that emerge from the lectures and sample speeches. You will have the ability to articulate your views on public speaking as well as learn from your peers.
Quizzes: Many video lectures have short quizzes embedded that reinforce basic knowledge of certain concepts and argument structures.
Speech Analysis and Modeling: One of the best ways to refine your own speech ability is through a close study of others' speeches. We will have a number of opportunities to examine and discuss sample speeches and speakers.
Peer Assessment Assignments: There are four optional speech assignments: an impromptu, informative, and persuasive speech. Students can elect to record and post videos of their speeches.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Course overview and key terms
Week 2: Preparing impromptu speeches
Week 3: Delivering impromptu speeches
Week 4: Informative speech basics
Week 5: Preparing informative speeches
Week 6: Delivering informative speeches
Week 7: Persuasive speech basics
Week 8: Preparing persuasive speeches
Week 9: Delivering persuasive speeches
Week 10: Course Conclusion
A more complete breakdown of the class schedule can be found here.
Discussion Forums
Discussion forums in EdX are a great resource. They allow you to discuss the course with other students. Here, you may ask questions regarding the material or assignments, or respond to other students in need of help. Please be courteous when posting. The University of Washington's Department of Professional and Continuing Education has created a set of guidelines for courteous and effective online posting, available at http://www.pce.uw.edu/resources/online/netiquette.html.
FAQ
How long will the course take to complete?
The course will require approximately 3-5 hours of your time per week in total effort.
Is there a statement of completion or certificate issued for this course?
No, there is not a credential awarded for this course. In week one, I provide a video explanation of why.
About the Instructor
Dr. Matt McGarrity is a Senior Lecturer in the Communication Department at the University of Washington. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in public speaking, argumentation, classical rhetoric, rhetorical criticism, and communication pedagogy. He founded and continues to direct the University of Washington Speaking Center, which offers speech coaching to students. He has published academic articles and teaching materials on communication education and public speaking and has won multiple top paper awards for public speaking research at academic conferences. He has won a number of teaching awards, including UW’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the National Speakers’ Association’s Outstanding Professor Award.