Public Speaking Course (AS-108)

Overview
	Level 1, 2, 3, Master's and PhD level
	2 hour per week for 5 weeks
	If you attend 80% of this course, it will appear on your Higher Education Achievement Report.

This certificated course is designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to speak in public. Over five weeks, students will learn how they can best exploit their natural attributes to become competent public speakers for any occasion and on any topic. This course teaches you to speak in public without the use of supporting aids such as PowerPoint or other supporting audio and visual aids. (Students can take the Presentation skills course, which complements this one, to learn how to best deliver with the use of supporting aids). The sessions will be completely practical so that you immediately put into practice the theories of effective public speaking.

SYLLABUS

This course will take place online, and is made up of the following two-hour sessions.

SESSION ONE: Speeches to Introduce

In this session, students will investigate the features of good public speaking, practice ways to gain confidence in speaking, and better understand the process of preparation (organisation) including audience awareness.

SESSION TWO: ‘How to’ speeches

In this session, students will investigate ways to overcome presentation anxiety, present information coherently, appraise peer presentations based on recognition of what makes a good speech, and apply feedback given by others to their own practice.

SESSION THREE: Speeches to inform

In this session, students will learn to present information coherently, practice giving information acknowledging sources and continue to apply feedback given by others to their own practice.

SESSION FOUR: Speeches to persuade

In this session, students will demonstrate their developing ability to present a persuasive argument and show some sensitivity in interpersonal communication. The will also learn the importance of structured arguments and how to execute effective oral arguments using logical, emotional, and credibility-based appeals.

SESSION FIVE: Special Occasion Speeches

In this final session, students will learn an awareness of the importance of oral communication and the uses of vocal variety in spoken language, and demonstrate an understanding of the differences between formal and informal situations.