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Introduction to Public Speaking
Course Objective
To develop the discussion, speaking and presentation skills that are necessary to excel throughout an academic career
Curricular Components
News Articles, Instructor-Designed Lectures, Weekly Quizzes, Speaking Activities Presentations of Various Types
Class Routine
10min Warm-Up
10min Structured discussion
30min Lecture
30min Speaking Activity or Student Speeches
10min Cool Down Activity
Subject-Specific Knowledge
Public Speaking Concepts & Tools of Rhetoric
Skills Development
Socratic Discussion, Quick Thinking and Formal Presentation Skills
About The Course
Public Speaking is a course designed to help students with all aspects of communication, primarily verbal but non-verbal as well. Students will learn how to answer questions confidently, engage in fruitful discussion and present well-prepared speeches. Ultimately, the goal of the course is for students to become more confident and eloquent speakers so that they are able to achieve success no matter the situation.
About The Instructor
Chelsey Dietrich
Ms. Chelsey Dietrich is a certified teacher with nearly fifteen years of education-industry experience in the US and China. She has taught small groups and tutored individuals in subjects ranging from elementary school English, middle school humanities, IBDP core subjects and test preparation (MAP, SSAT, SAT). Mrs. Dietrich holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota and a MA.Ed. in Education from Columbia University. She is a USA certified teacher in the subject of English.
Lesson Components & Structure
This course is designed to provide instruction on a range of important public speaking concepts and skills. The course is designed to expose students to a variety of speech types, and develop cross-cutting skills that can be applied to both informal and formal situations.
Each 1.5hr lesson will be anchored in a specific skill or concept related to the speech type being studied. Each class will follow roughly the same structure from week to week. Lessons will begin with a short ten minute ‘warm up’ designed to teach impromptu speaking that is clear and confident. Next, students will engage in a formal discussion of the week’s speech concept or tool set. These are designed to teach important discussion skills that can be utilized in the classroom. Next, there will be an approximately 30min lecture on a specific topic to be covered in the class, whether conceptual, skills-based or content-specific. This will be followed by thirty minutes of formal speaking practice, either in the form or an activity or formal student presentations. To end, students will engage in a ten minute round of speaking drills or a structured “forum of feedback” where students can reflect on their successes and challenges. .
Each week, students will come to class with a short prepared speech of some form. They will receive in-depth written feedback on the assignment and have the chance to reflect, reevaluate, and refine their written pieces for presentation.
Course Outline
This public speaking course is designed in a way that builds progressively more advanced skills and allows students a diverse array of speaking opportunities through which to practice their skills. The first semester of the course will focus on Story Telling and Persuasive Speaking.
Lesson1: Introduction to Public Speaking & the Course
Lesson2: Types of Communication & Tools of Rhetoric
Lesson3: Introduction to Storytelling
Lesson4: Story Structure
Lesson5: The Hook
Lesson6: Show, Don’t Tell
Lesson7: Morals of the Story
Lesson8: Student Speeches
Lesson9: Introduction to Persuasive Speaking
Lesson10: Speech Structure
Lesson11: Establishing Importance
Lesson12: Rhetorical Devices
Lesson13: Taking Action
Lesson14: Student Speeches: Persuasive
Lesson15: Semester Recap & Review
Course Materials
All of the materials for this course are carefully curated by the instructor. Students will be provided with a PDF version of all course documents in advance of the class so that they can be printed and annotated. Additionally, any supplemental materials covered, including videos, will be posted to the course LMS so that students have ongoing access. Lastly, student speeches will be recorded for reflection purposes.
Deliverables
Students will be expected to complete a number of short assignments over the course of the semester, approximately one per week. Additionally, they will plan and deliver two major speeches during the semester. Families should expect roughly one hour of homework following each lesson.
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