Course Description

 

Grades 9-12

 

Speech

 

Philosophy Statement:   God is the Supreme Communicator and has spoken to His people in many ways.  In His goodness, He has given us gifts and abilities to read, write, listen, and speak.  These language arts skills are the foundation and gateway to all learning.  Understanding and developing these gifts is essential in language arts instruction.  Through the study of language arts students will develop written and oral skills that are necessary in becoming life-long learners of God and His word, which in turn will enable them to be salt and light to the world.

 

Course Objective:  This course will survey the various types/aspects of communication (i.e., listening, verbal, nonverbal, intra-personal, interpersonal, small group, public, mass, and intercultural), with an emphasis on developing public speaking skills.  Students will learn the basic elements of the communication process and the role each of these elements plays in communication effectiveness.  Students will also develop their skills in speech preparation and performance competency as they prepare a variety of speeches and present them before a live audience. 

 

Textbook:       Person to Person:  An Introduction to Speech Communication

                        National Textbook Company

                        Copyright 1990

 

Materials:

• DeVito, Joseph A.  The Elements of Public Speaking.  New York: Longman, 2000
• Various power-point presentations for lectures
• Video recorder
• Overhead projector
• Handouts

 

Time Allotment:  44 minutes per day, 5 days per week

 

Course Content:

• Principles and Processes of Communication

• Elements and Types of Communication:  Listening, Verbal, Nonverbal, Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Small Group, Public, Mass, and Intercultural
• Debate
• Literature Interpretation
• Speech to Inform
• Speech to Demonstrate
• Speech to Persuade

 

Areas to be evaluated:

• Speeches/Performances
• Open-note quizzes
• Unit Quizzes
• Written Outlines
• Position papers
• Worksheets
• Attitude/Behavior

 

Additional activities:

• Group quizzes
• Listener evaluators
• Self-evaluations
• Group discussions
• Team debates