Public Speaking - COM110/2 Spring 2026
Course
Course Contents:
The communication process, listening, impromptu speeches; freeing the voice and body, listening, outlining; personal experience speech; organizational patterns, beginning and ending speeches; delivering another person’s speech from an outline; informative speech; persuasive speaking, appeals, Maslow‘s hierarchy of needs; audience analysis, reasoning with evidence and argument, Monroe pattern for persuasion; effective communication in groups.
Here is the course outline:
1. Session 1 - Introduction
Feb 2
We will go through course expectations and briefly introduce ourselves. We will do some exercises in "immediacy" and vocal projection. |
2. Session 2
Feb 9
We will explore the communication process in an interactive way. Class members will give speeches introducing each other, prepared in class. Personal experience speeches are assigned for next week. |
3. Session 3 - Personal Experience
Feb 16
We will share and respond to personal experience speeches. |
4. Session 4 NO SESSION ON FEB 23
Mar 2
We will explore organizational patterns that work for giving informative speeches. Impromptu speeches will be made in small groups to illustrate these. |
5. Session 5
Mar 2
We will explore techniques for making introductions and conclusions. The first test will be given in class. |
6. Session 6
Mar 9
We will present informative speeches to each other, teaching each other about something that we didn't already know. |
7. Session 7
Mar 16
We will prepare for demonstration speeches in class, examining how to use presentational aids. |
8. Session 8
Mar 23
Ted talks are presented and analysed in class. |
9. Session 9
Apr 13
We will present demonstration speeches in class, teaching how to do or make something; or showing how something works using presentational aids |
10. Session 10 - Persuasion
Apr 20
We will explore persuasion, examining how it works and looking closely at the Monroe Motivated sequence organization pattern for persuasive speeches. |
11. Persuasion continued (logic)
Apr 27
Persuasion continued. Role-playing on roles one can play in group discussion. Test on chapters 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 (chapters on presentational aids, delivery, and the two chapters on persuasion) |
12. Persuasive speeches presented
May 4
At least half of the class will present their persuasive speech. |
13. Persuasive speeches presented.
May 11
Persuasive speeches presented by second half of class |
14. Session 14
May 11
Session is reserved for possible makeup speeches, if needed. |