Public Speaking Beginner Course

Hey, Y'all! 
Thank you so much for your interest in this debate class. Over the next 8 weeks, students will learn the foundations of public speaking. At the bottom of this section, you will fill find a class syllabus that will showcase how the course will be structured and what we will do during our 8 weeks. 

I am so excited to work with students on developing their critical thinking, public speaking, and confidence through the activity of public speaking. I have been training students for 13 years and I can't wait to see how students grow throughout our time together. I am a college professor whose full-time job is teaching and training in the art of argumentation and debate. I have been training students from middle school through college ages and I've been all over the world offering up my debate expertise. The following is a breakdown of what will happen in the course:

1. What will be taught? 
- We will cover a variety of topics from: 
-Audience analysis 
- Understanding the organization and structure of writing speeches
-Lot of mini exercises to work on public speaking beside the bigger speeches students will do. 
-Handling Communication apprehension 
- Presenting Informative and Persuasive Speech 
- We will do one debate as a class 
-  The students will be thought: 
     Logos, Ethos, and Pathos.
     Claim, Data, Warrant. 
- We will have MANY speaking activities throughout the 8 weeks

2. What topic will we cover? 
- Each student will get an age-appropriate topic.
- Students will be allowed to pick any topic they want to give their speeches on. 

3. How is this class structured? 
See the syllabus at the bottom of this page. 

4. How will I teach this class? 
- This class will use PowerPoint, videos, lectures, activities, drills, etc. This will be a highly engaging and interactive class throughout the entire 8 weeks. 

5. What is my teaching style? 
- I have been teaching in college for 10 years and I have been in debate for over 13 so I have learned through experience how to keep public speaking engaging and empowering for students. I love being positive and upbeat while also offering helpful and meaningful constructive criticism. 

6. How much will learners interact with each other? 
-This will be a highly interactive class and will have students engaging with each other and myself often. Students will have to ask each other questions along with also giving speeches and having to respond to what their fellow students are saying in their speeches. 


Course Syllabus: 
(note this could change depending on what our classes needs and all changes will be addressed in class) 

Week 1: 
Things we will cover: 
Class introduction
Public speaking in a democratic society 
Speaking with Confidence 
Diverse audience activity 
Introduction Speeches 


Week 2: 
What we will cover: 
Diverse audience activity 
Speaking drills! 
Special Occasion Speech assigned 

Week 3: 
Speeches Due: 
Special Occasion Speech

What we will cover:
Language activity 
How to improve your delivery 

Week 4
How to make an informative speech 
Pick the speech topic 

Week 5
What is Due: 
Informative Speeches 

What we will cover: 
Persuasive speaking in a democratic society 
Logical Fallacies
Assign Persuasive Speeches 

Week 6 
What is Due: 
Persuasive Speeches 

What we cover: 
Learning to debate in a democratic society 
We will pick debate partners and the debate topic.
Debate drills 

Week 7 
What is due:
 Debates 

Week 8
Impromptu speaking activity 
Saying Goodbye