COM 2003                                                  Dr. Dalton Eddleman

RHETORIC                                                    OFFICE:  HYDE 322

eddleman@lambuth.edu                                 Phone: 425-3345

 

Student Course-Objectives:

 


     To understand the elements of communication as the sending and receiving of messages for the purpose of creating shared meaning through the positive use of verbal and nonverbal cues, while accommodating diverse communication styles, abilities and cultural differences;


     To enhance critical listening skills, including the understanding of how nonverbal cures affect listening;


     To enhance critical thinking skills in the sending and receiving of messages, in both written and oral standard English;


     To enhance speech preparation skills (creative thinking, topic selection and analysis, gathering resource materials, composing and organizing content, using audio-visual aids, and adapting to specific audiences and occasions) for such basic speech types as informative, persuasive and ceremonial;


     To enhance verbal and nonverbal speech delivery skills, including poise and stance, movement/gestures and facial/eye contact, diction and paralinguistic expressiveness; and


     To gain an overview of the origin and development of rhetoric as the basis of communication theory and criticism.

 

 

Text:  No textbook will be required for this course this semester; the instructor will provide printed materials as needed.

 

 

Instructional Strategies:

 


     Lecture and discussion


     Practical application in speechmaking

 


 

Evaluation Measures and Percentages of Final Grade:

 

          Minor Speeches (1 to 2 minutes) (+ or – grade)


     Complaint about some issue in education


     Description of object with multiple gestures


     Description/explanation of an idea/concept


     Opinion on some social/political issue

 

Major Speeches (5 to 7 minutes) 


     Visual Aid Demonstration (10%) 


     Personal Experience (an event, experience, person, etc. that influenced your life (10%)


     Informational (20%)


     Persuasive (20%)

 

Examinations        


     Objective test on the communicative process (20%)


     Essay test on the origin and development of rhetoric (20%)

 

Grading System: A+ = 10 points; A = 9; A- = 8; B+ = 7; B = 6; B- =5;

C+ = 4; C = 3; C- = 2; D = 1; F = 0.  Letter grades will be converted to numbers for averaging and back to letters for reporting to registrar's office.   

 

Class Attendance:

 

          “. . . students are required to attend all classes . . . (and) are accountable for every class meeting. . .” LU Catalog.  Also note that announced speeches are considered the same as announced examinations.  No assignment will be accepted late without written and approved excuse.

 

###