Public

Speaking 1

Public Speaking
Communication Studies 113

Fall 2022

“Speech is civilization itself.”

Thomas Mann

Prof. Kevin Marinelli

kmarinelli@unc.edu
Lecture meeting time: M 1:25-2:40 p.m.
Lecture meeting place: Global Center, room 1015 (Nelson Mandela Auditorium)
Office hours: M 3-5 p.m. and by appointment

Recitation Instructor
Email
Recitation time
Office hours

Course Description

Course examines the fundamentals of public speaking in theory and practice. Students
will learn how to think rhetorically in public space as they produce speeches for a variety
of contexts and purposes, while also investigating the ethical responsibilities of
speakers and audiences in a democratic society.

Course Objectives

1. Speak and listen competently in public settings

2. Research complex, topical issues with academic rigor
3. Communicate challenging ideas effectively to diverse audiences
4. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate public messages
5. Engage issues of public controversy with ethical responsibility

Required Text: Public Speaking: Choices and Responsibility, William Keith and
Christian Lundberg, Cengage Publishers, 3rd Edition, 2019.

Recommended Text: The Essential Guide to Rhetoric, William Keith and Christian
Lundberg, Bedford St. Martin’s, 2007 (A good primer on rhetoric, and very cheap).

Recommended Source: Americanrhetoric.com (great website compiling American

oratory).

Additional readings may become available online.

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Accommodations and Religious Holidays

Please notify your recitation instructor at beginning of the semester should you need
any special accommodations or if any upcoming assignments conflict with a religious
holiday of yours.

Accessibility Resources
The College of Arts and Sciences provides a secure, proctored environment in which
exams can be taken. The center works with instructors to proctor exams for their
undergraduate students who are not registered with ARS and who do not need testing
accommodations as provided by ARS. In other words, the Center provides a proctored
testing environment for students who are unable to take an exam at the normally
scheduled time (with pre-arrangement by your instructor). For more information,
visit http://testingcenter.web.unc.edu/. (source: http://testingcenter.web.unc.edu/)

Academic Integrity
All students are expected to follow the guidelines of the UNC honor code. In particular,
students are expected to refrain from “lying, cheating, or stealing” in the academic
context. If you are unsure about which actions violate that honor code, please see me or
consult honor.unc.edu.

Late work
Late work will only be accepted under exceptional circumstances.

Attendance
Falling behind due to absences causes an undue burden on the class. Instructors
reserve the right to remove students with excessive absences if they find it necessary.

Participation
Beyond attendance, please come to every class prepared, curious and willing to
contribute to discussions and activities to help enrich the learning environment for the
entire class. Minimal participation warrants a C-level participation grade.

No right or privilege exists that permits a student to be absent from any class meetings,
except for these University Approved Absences:
1. Authorized University activities
2. Disability/religious observance/pregnancy, as required by law and approved
by Accessibility Resources and Service and/or the Equal Opportunity and
Compliance Office (EOC)
3. Significant health condition and/or personal/family emergency as approved by
the Office of the Dean of Students, Gender Violence Service Coordinators,
and/or the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (EOC).

Counseling and Psychological Services

CAPS is strongly committed to addressing the mental health needs of a diverse student
body through timely access to consultation and connection to clinically appropriate
services, whether for short or long-term needs. Go to their
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website: https://caps.unc.edu/ or visit their facilities on the third floor of the Campus
Health Services building for a walk-in evaluation to learn more. (source: Student Safety
and Wellness Proposal for EPC, Sep 2018).
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Email
Please write emails professionally and respectfully. You can expect to have emails
returned within 24 business hours. If we need to email you, please extend the same
courtesy.

Diversity and Inclusion

This course values the perspectives of individuals from all backgrounds reflecting the
diversity of our students. The institution broadly defines diversity to include race, gender
identity, national origin, ethnicity, religion, social class, age, sexual orientation, political
background, and physical and learning ability. We strive to make this classroom an
inclusive space for all students.

Title IX Resources
Acts of discrimination, harassment, interpersonal (relationship) violence, sexual
violence, sexual exploitation, stalking, and related retaliation are prohibited at UNC-
Chapel Hill. If you have experienced these types of conduct, you are encouraged to
report the incident and seek resources on campus or in the community. Please contact
the Director of Title IX Compliance/Title IX Coordinator (Adrienne
Allison, adrienne.allison@unc.edu), Report and Response Coordinators (Ew Quimbaya-
Winship, eqw@unc.edu; Rebecca Gibson, rmgibson@unc.edu; Kathryn
Winn kmwinn@unc.edu), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPs) (confidential)
in Campus Health Services at (919) 966-3658, or the Gender Violence Services
Coordinators (confidential) (Cassidy Johnson, cassidyjohnson@unc.edu; Holly Lovern,
holly.lovern@unc.edu) to discuss your specific needs. Additional resources
at safe.unc.edu.

Extra Credit
Students will have the opportunity to earn up to five extra credit points over the course
of the semester. See recitation instructor for further details.

Program for Public Discourse

For students especially passionate (or perhaps simply curious) about democracy and
public discourse, the Program for Public Discourse offers a variety of programming to
help foster robust discursive practices across campus. The Agora Fellows, for example,
meet throughout the year to engage issues of public disagreement in a friendly,
thoughtful, and safe environment. Please contact Professor Marinelli for more details.

Grading Distribution Grading Translations

Speech of Introduction 20 A 94-100
Informative Outline 25 A- 90-92.99
Informative Speech 50 B+ 87-89.99
Persuasive Outline I 25 B 83-86.99
Persuasive Speech I 80 B- 80-82.99
Persuasive Outline II 25 C+ 77-79.99
Persuasive Speech II 100 C 73-76.99
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Participation 50 C- 70-72.99
Final Exam 50 D 60-69.99
Total 425 F 59.99 and below
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Brief Assignment Descriptions

Speech of Introduction

Students will deliver an extemporaneous, introductory speech (2-3 minutes) sharing a

specific aspect of their life with the class. Potential topics include but are not limited to
one’s cultural heritage, chosen major, professional goals, or life ambition. The goal is to
foster a deeper, personal connection among the class, while also honing our public
speaking skills.

Informative Speech

Students will deliver an extemporaneous, informative speech (5-6 minutes) on a

complex and significant topic. Topics may be demonstrative or conceptual, drawn from
one’s major or the public sphere, etc. The goal of the speech is to facilitate a better
understanding of a challenging concept or process. The speech might also inform the
audience about an issue on which the speaker wants to persuade the class in an
upcoming speech.

Persuasive Speech I

Students will deliver an extemporaneous, persuasive speech (5-7 minutes) on a

complex and significant issue. The goal of the speech is to persuade the audience to
adopt a specific position concerning that issue. Speeches can cover questions of fact,
value, cause-effect relationships, and policy proposals. Topics may include public or
academic issues.

Persuasive Speech II

Students will deliver an extemporaneous, persuasive speech (6-8 minutes) concerning

a contemporary social/public issue. Possibilities include policy proposals, solutions to
problems, and calls to action (questions of fact or value will not be accepted). One might
even argue the opposite side of their previous speech. The goal of this speech is to
motivate one’s audience to support a specific position or take a specific action. The
speech must also incorporate at least one stylistic device discussed in class as a
rhetorical strategy.

Final Exam

Students will write an essay (1200-1500 words) analyzing a particular speech. The
speech can be contemporary or historical, local or global. The critique should draw on
course concepts, readings, and discussions to make a specific argument about the text.
Potential questions include the following: How did the rhetorical situation inform the
contours of the speech? Did the speaker succeed or fail to identify the available means
of persuasion in that situation? Was the speech ethically responsible? Were its
arguments logically valid and rhetorically compelling? Which discursive communities did
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the arguments evoke? How did the stylistic devices rhetorically enrich or undermine the
speech? Students are welcome to discuss additional approaches with their recitation
instructor.

Further guidelines for each assignment will appear over the course of the semester.

Tentative Course Schedule

Week Topic Assigned Reading

Week 1

August 15 Introduction to Public Speaking

Recitation Date Class Introductions, Code of Conduct Chapters 1-2

Week 2

August 22 Aristotelian Rhetoric Chapter 9

Recitation Date Speech of Introduction

Week 3

August 29 Preparing and Outlining a Speech Chapters, 5,

7
Recitation Date Workshop Speeches and Outlines

Week 4

September 5 Labor Day (no class) Chapter 11

Recitation Date Informative Speech, Group A

Week 5

September 12 Informative Strategies

Chapter 6
Recitation Date Informative Speech, Group B

Week 6

September 19 Persuasive Speaking: Informal Reasoning

Chapters 3, 12
Recitation Date Review Speeches, Constructing Arguments

Week 7
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September 26 Well-Being Day

Recitation Date Brainstorm Topics, Improvisation Chapter 4

Week 8

October 3 Persuasive Speaking: Means of Persuasion Chapter 12

Recitation Date Workshop Speeches and Outlines

Week 9 Topic Assigned Reading

October 10 Audience Analysis, Needs and Values

Recitation Date Persuasive Speech I, Group A

Week 10

October 17 University Day

Recitation Date Persuasive Speech I, Group B Chapter 13

Week 11

October 24 The Four Master Tropes Chapter 8

Recitation Date Activity on Style

Week 12

October 31 Presidential Rhetoric Lincoln,

Reagan
Recitation Date Workshop Speeches and Outlines

Week 13

November 7 Protest Rhetoric Martin Luther King

Jr
Recitation Date Persuasive Speech II, Group A

Week 14

November 14 TBD (students choice) TBD

Recitation Date Persuasive Speech II, Group B

Week 15

Nov 21 Thanksgiving Break

No Recitations

Week 16
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November 28 Final Exam Review, Workshop Competition Speeches

Recitation Date To be scheduled as needed

Nov 30 , 7:00 p.m. Speech Competition—Come out and support your

classmates!

Final Exam TBD

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus, including deadlines
and test dates. Such changes, if necessary, will be announced as early as possible.
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Program for Public Discourse Fall Lineup

1. Student Panel on Campus Free Expression: Tuesday Sept 13, 5:30 p.m., Fetzer
Hall, room 109

2. Abbey Speaker Series Panel on Viewpoint Diversity, Thursday, October 6, 5:30

p.m., Nelson Mandela Auditorium

3. A Conversation with Cal Cunningham and Thom Tillis, Thursday, November 10, 5:30
p.m.

Agora meetings happen throughout the year—all students welcome to join!