Professor: Kathleen A. DeHaan, Ph.D.
Office: 22B Glebe #204
Office Hours: TTH 10 a.m. - 12 noon, and always by appointment
Office Phone: 953-4839
Email: dehaank@cofc.edu

NB: My office is accessed by going around the outside of 22 Glebe to the back of the building, up the back stairs and to the end of the outside balcony/hall. Do not try to find me by going into 22A or 22B - go around back! The Communication Office is now in 5 College, as is my mailbox.

"We do not know the world immediately; rather, we compose our knowledge by composing language. How we can act depends on what we know, hence on the language with which we make sense of the world. Serious experimenting in composing with words is experimenting in knowing in new ways, perhaps better ways."
Kenneth Dowst

This course offers a comprehensive look at speech writing via model speeches and practical application. We will examine and utilize rhetorical theories which support speech writing. The course is designed so that students will be writing speeches for themselves, each other, and outside individuals and organizations.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Write successful speeches for yourself and/or others by achieving the selected goals and identifying with the audience for the desired effect.

2. Understand the speech writing process and apply the appropriate speech writing elements, including but not limited to: thorough audience analysis, clear organizational strategy, appropriate language use, strong supporting materials, and comprehensive use of rhetorical proofs.

3. Create a portfolio of speeches you can use to market yourself as a speechwriter.

4.  Have a little fun.

TEACHING METHODOLOGY:

We will spend the first quarter of the semester in a lecture/discussion format of the assigned readings. Students are expected to be prepared for each class and to participate fully in the discussion of the material. We will be evaluating written and videotaped speeches throughout the semester, as they are pertinent to the assigned topics. Finally, students will be writing speeches to be read in class (note: this is not a public speaking class, so delivery will not be of great issue). These speeches will usually be read by someone other than the writer. There will be substantial amounts of outside research required. However, I have tried to balance this by correspondingly reducing the amount of assigned readings.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Since speeches are usually meant to be delivered to an audience, and because this is an active, "performance" class, we need feedback in the form of warm bodies! This is the only way we can foster the learning process. Also it will be impossible to make up missed speeches. Additionally, I hope to have guest speaker(s) depending upon availability. Therefore, students are expected to attend class. If you know you are going to miss, please contact me in advance. If an emergency arises and you need to be absent, please contact the Undergraduate Dean and me as well. I reserve the right to lower a student's grade by a full letter grade if more than three absences occur.

REQUIRED READING:

Harte, Thomas B., Keefe Carolyn, and Derryberry, Bob R. The Complete Book of Speechwriting.
Edina: Burgess, 1999 (4^th edition).

Reading Packet at SAS-E Ink - Wentworth Street

Additional materials distributed throughout the semester.

OPTIONAL READING:

Perlman, Alan M. Writing Great Speeches. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1998.
Noonan, Peggy. Simply Speaking. New York: Regan Books, 1998.
Noonan, Peggy. What I Saw At The Revolution: A Political Life in the Reagan Era. New York: Ivy Books, 1990. (this book can be picked up at the student's convenience - library, used bookstore, or other outlet.)

ASSIGNMENTS / EVALUATION POLICY:
 

• Introduction ---
• Informative Speech: 15%
• Campaign Speech: 15%
• Motivational/Persuasive Speech: 15%
• Policy Speech: 20%
• Epideictic/Ceremonial Speech: 15%
• Speech Evaluations: 10%
• Attendance and Participation: 10%


All topics are to be approved by the instructor prior to writing!

Speeches are due on the date assigned; late speeches are not acceptable.

Students are expected to be familiar with College of Charleston Student Handbook policies and procedures. Any speech I suspect of having been plagiarized (in any amount) will be turned over to the College Honors Board.

Your written speeches will include the following:
 

• a typed analysis of the speaker and the speaker's goals
• a typed audience analysis
• text of the speech: typed and double-spaced
• message strategy notes for Policy and Epideictic speeches only: these are notes on the right hand column of the speech text in which you provide a running commentary about your strategies in the speech; why you chose certain organizational strategies; where and how you related to the audience; identification of thesis statement, connectives, intro and conclusion; explanation of word choice; supporting materials; and when appropriate, noting persuasive devices, and appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos.

You are to attend, listen to via audiotape or view via videotape one speeche during the semester. Your typed evaluation of the speech will include the following:

1. General details ó time, place, date, speaker bio, audience, etc.,
2. An outline of the speech,
3. Use of language, style, proofs, etc.
4. Whether or not you believe the speaker appealed to his/her audience appropriately and thoroughly (why or why not),
5. Your determination of the speakerís goals and strategies,
6. An overall assessment of the success or failure of the speech
7. Finally, you are to provide brief suggestions as to how the speaker might have improved upon the speech.

SPEECH DESCRIPTIONS

The Informative Speech.

• Speaker : you. We will redistribute for rewrites. Include all of your research notes.
• Writer: another classmate
• Time: five minutes.
• Audience: your class
• Evaluation: clear purpose statement, coherent organizational strategy, thorough audience adaptation, good intro and conclusion, and achieving desired goal. I will also evaluate based upon language use and supporting materials.

Topics: (topical, process, history) ó discussion to follow

It cannot be persuasive or evocative. You are not campaigning or advocating. (Understanding that just about all good communication is inherently persuasive and evocative...)

Clear the topic with me.

The Motivational/Persuasive Speech:

• Speaker: another classmate
• Audience: to be determined
• Time: five to seven minutes
• Writer: you and speaker
• Evaluation: all of the above, plus: how effectively you accomplish your motivational or persuasive objectives as well as comprehensive application of rhetorical proofs. Specifically isolate these objectives in your message strategy column.

Clear topic and purpose statement with me first.

The Campaign Speech:

• Speaker: a real politician you select.
• Writers: you and a classmate.
• Time: five to seven minutes.
• Audience: your class
• Evaluation: as above and: ability to persuade your audience, good use of elements of language and style.

Note: this is a team speech. So you will need to cooperate, research, and write together. We will talk more about team writing later.... ( I don't advocate both parties doing the actual writing. Your speech must have one voice - that of the speaker.) Turn in all research as well as a brief paragraph about "team" writing. You may use candidate web sites - but be certain you are not using their speechesÖ.

Clear political candidate with me first.

The Policy Speech:

• Speaker: another classmate
• Audience: to be determined
• Time: ten ó twelve minutes
• Writers: you and another classmate
• Evaluation: all of the above while specifically developing your argument and evidentiary appeals; successfully expressing your speaker's position as well as achieving your agreed upon goals.

The Epideictic/Ceremonial Speech:

• Speaker: to be decided
• Audience: to be determined
• Time: Ten minutes
• Writer: you
• Evaluation: all of above and: fluency of message, style, supporting materials, structure, and overall "effect."

Type and topic to be approved with me prior to writing.