GLEN RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Curriculum Guide

 

 

 

 

Course Title:                           Public Speaking

 

Subject:                                   English

 

Grade Level:                           9-12

 

Department/School:                English/High School

 

Duration:                                Half-year

 

Number of Credits:                 2.5

 

Prerequisite:                           None

 

Elective or Required:             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author:  Mark Townsend

 

Date Submitted:  June 2001

 

 


PUBLIC SPEAKING

 

 

The emphasis in this course is on skills that will enhance a student’s public speaking ability.  Through using a range of activities and assignments, students will learn techniques of effective presentation.

 


 

Philosophy of the Glen Ridge Language Arts Literary Program

 

We believe that language and literacy are central to all human experience.  New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards for Language Arts Literacy define Language Arts as “the abilities that enable one to think logically and creatively; express ideas; understand and participate meaningfully in spoken, written, and nonverbal communications; formulate and answer questions; and search for, organize, evaluate, and apply information.”  We recognize that together teachers and students constitute a learning community, which necessitates an extensive repertoire of teaching strategies to address individual needs and learning styles.  Through a challenging sequential academic curriculum, the Glen Ridge Language Arts Literary Program provides all students with varied and integrated experiences in writing, reading, speaking, listening, viewing, and research.  While encouraging respect for cultural, gender and generational perspectives and developing the ability to articulate one’s opinions, the Language Arts Literacy Program promotes the acquisition and application of knowledge across the curriculum.  To meet the challenges of the new millennium, the Program aims to empower students as lifelong learners, to heighten the spirit of inquiry, and to foster effective communication within an increasingly diverse society.

 

Goals of the Glen Ridge Language Arts Literary Program

 

Provided with an environment that encourages creativity as well as expression of unique feelings and thoughts, students will

 

§         become competent critical readers who learn to analyze, evaluate, reflect upon and respond to the ideas of others.

§         approach reading with an appreciation for a variety of literary styles, genres and contexts.

§         implement the writing process (including: pre-writing drafting, revising, proofreading and publishing).

§         write in clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes.

§         apply appropriate conventions of spelling, grammar, punctuation and language usage.

§         speak for a variety of real purposes and audiences.

§         listen interactively in diverse situations to information from a variety of sources.

§         view, understand and construct meaning from non-textual sources.

§         gather, evaluate, synthesize and cite data from a variety of technological sources and print materials.

§         share, display and/or publish individual and collaborative products.

 

New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards

 

All skills of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards for Language Arts Literary are met and referenced throughout the content of this curriculum.  Students are prepared for the state Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment and the High School Proficiency Assessment.


 

Objectives Grades 7 – 12

 

These objectives meet and exceed New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards for Language Arts Literary (NJCCS) for grades 7 – 12.

 

Reading – NJCCS 3.4

 

§         Recognize forms, elements, and styles of poetry, short story, drama, and non-fiction

§         Define characteristics of major schools of literature, literary periods, and theories of literary criticism

§         Understand the relationship between contemporary writing and past literary traditions

§         Analyze how the works of a given period reflect historical events, social conditions, and philosophical perspectives

§         Understanding literary devices and their effects

§         Identify common aspects of human experience

§         Inferring cultural values and influences

§         Recognize bias in writing

§         Understand connotation and denotation

§         Recognize literature as a vehicle for social commentary

§         Recognize common elements in works by an individual author

§         Analyze text for the purpose, ideas, style, and patterns of organization of the author

§         Value literature as an imaginative representation of human experience

§         Understanding the range of literary forms and content that elicit aesthetic response

 

Speaking – NJCCS 3.1

 

§         Present dramatic interpretations of a variety of literature

§         Understand elements of and participate in formal debate

§         Apply the appropriate techniques of formal speaking such as projection, enunciation, tone, body language, and eye contact

§         Effectively using supplemental materials to enhance presentations

§         Using clear, concise, organized language in various speaking situations

§         Recognize, respond to and adjust to audience verbal and nonverbal cues

§         Employ effective discussion skills

§         Receive and use constructive feedback to improve speaking ability

§         Read with expression

§         Conduct and participate in interviews in real life situations

 

Writing – NJCCS 3.3

 

§         Writing with clarity and focus

§         Paragraph development

§         Understand the importance of audience and adjust writing accordingly

§         Writing to persuade, inform, instruct, entertain, and defend a point of view

§         Write for real audiences and purposes, such as job applications, business letters, college applications and memoranda

§         Plan and organize an essay

  1. Develop a thesis statement
  2. Develop a central idea
  3. Support a point by citing evidence and giving examples
  4. Use transitional words and phrases
  5. Concluding paragraph appropriate to purpose

§         Narrative writing in different styles such as journals and creative pieces

§         Imitation of various styles and paraphrasing

§         Conventions of writing such as punctuation in direct quotations and titles

§         Development and application of vocabulary in various contexts

§         Development and applications of editing and revising skills

§         Write a research paper that synthesizes and cites data

 

Research – NJCCS 3.3 and 3.5

 

§         Master the MLA research format

§         Evaluate research materials for credibility

§         Gather data from multiple sources using note taking, paraphrasing, and summarizing

§         Synthesize pertinent data using the writing process to create a formal research paper

§         Use research as a means of independent enrichment

§         Present research findings in a variety of formats (including: oral presentations, multimedia presentations, and artistic interpretations)

 

Listening – NJCCS 3.2

 

§         Recognize the act and importance of listening

§         Collaborate by sharing ideas

§         Demonstrate attentive listening to provide appropriate feedback to ideas in diverse types of presentations

§         Evaluate the credibility of speakers, media techniques, and messages

§         Listening to take notes

 

Viewing – NJCCS 3.5

 

§         Compare and contrast media sources, such as book and film versions of a story

§         Articulate the connections between visual and verbal messages

§         Integrate multiple forms of print and electronic media into a finished project

§         Evaluate print and electronic media for credibility

§         Consult various print and electronic media to solve problems

§         Explore the connections between fine and visual arts and literary interpretations

 

Grammar – NJCCS 3.3 and 3.4

 

§         Reinforce the correct use of the parts of speech

§         Develop an understanding of subject/verb agreement

§         Reinforce the understanding of correct capitalization

§         Develop an understanding of diagramming sentences

§         Develop an understanding of sentences and their basic parts

§         Develop an understanding of prepositional, appositive, and verbal phrases and the ability to identify and use them correctly

§         Develop an ability to identify the clauses in simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences

§         Understand verb tenses and voice

§         Develop an ability to recognize usage problems


 

Course Outline – Public Speaking

 

 

I.                   Communication Appreciation

 

Speakers will gain experience speaking in front of large groups and begin to reduce the apprehension they feel when called upon to speak.

 

A.     Reasons for Nervousness

B.     The Value of Fear

C.     How to Control your Nervousness when Speaking

D.     Using Visual Aids in a Speech

E.      Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      Introduction of a Friend

2.      Personal Collage

3.      Personal Interview

4.      Object Speech

 

II.                Techniques of Delivery

 

This unit will allow students an opportunity to practice the skills of effective speech presentation and to remedy common errors in delivery through enjoyable games and activities.

 

A.     Charisma

B.     Gestures: Using Your Hands

C.     Facial Expressions

D.     Eye Contact

E.      Voice

F.      Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      The Stare Down

2.      Making Eye Contact with the Entire Audience

3.      The “Um” Game

4.      The Truth/Lie Game

5.      Videotaped Speeches

6.      Practice Diary

 

III.             Listening Skills

 

Students will analyze their ability to listen critically to other speakers and practice the skills that allow them to improve their listening ability.

 

A.     Barriers to Effective Listening

B.     Improving Listening Skills

C.     Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      Telephone Game

2.      Word Repetition Exercises

3.      Student Analysis of Listening Skills

4.      Heckling Speech

 

IV.              Topic Selection, Organization, and Research

 

To provide opportunities for practice of the principles of speech organization and research methods.

 

A.     Topic Selection

B.     Organizing a Speech

1.      Introduction

2.      Body

3.      Conclusion

C.     Using Research in Speech

D.     Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      Attention-Getting Contest

2.      Organizational Maze

3.      Practice Visual Map

4.      Library Scavenger Hunt

5.      Current Event Speech

 

V.                 Different Modes of Speaking

 

To provide experience for students in speaking situations by using the impromptu, manuscript, and memorized modes of delivery.

 

A.     The Impromptu Style of Speaking

B.     The Manuscript Style of Speaking

C.     The Memorized Mode of Speaking

D.     Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      Job Interview

2.      The Serial Speech

3.      The Two-Speaking-At-Once Contest

4.      The Pet Peeve Speech

5.      The Sales Speech

6.      The Desperate Plea

7.      Soapbox Derby

8.      Famous Speech

 

VI.              Speaking With Different Purposes

 

To allow an opportunity to practice the skills of persuasive, informative, and entertaining speeches.

 

A.     Persuasive Speaking

B.     Informative Speaking

C.     Speaking to Entertain

D.     Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      Informative Speech

2.      After Dinner Speech

3.      Persuasive Speech

 

VII.           Oral Interpretation of Literature

 

Speakers will gain experience and practice in the skills of storytelling and oral interpretation of literature and will learn to be more expressive both physically and vocally.

 

A.     The Basics

B.     Finding a Piece of Literature

C.     Factors in Choosing an Interpretative Piece

D.     Factors that Determine Literary Merit

E.      Hints for Writing Effective Introductions

F.      Steps in Analysis of Literature

G.     Marking the Manuscript

H.     Delivery

I.        The Vocal Aspect of Delivery

J.       The Physical Aspect of Delivery

K.    Performing Multiple Characters

L.      Differences  Between Interpretation and Acting

M.   The Actual Performance

N.    Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      Anecdote Exchange

2.      Most Embarrassing Moment Speech

3.      Children’s Story

4.      Original Children’s Story

5.      Charades

6.      Reverse Charades

7.      Lip Sychronization

8.      Group Poetry Performance

 

VIII.        Applied Activities

 

To promote cooperation among group members and to demonstrate how speakers must often collaborate in order to be successful.

 

A.     Legal Debate

B.     Parliamentary Debate

C.     Classroom Activities/Assignments

1.      Talk Show

2.      Marketing Presentation

 

IX.              Course Materials

 

1.      Speechcraft: An Introduction to Public Speaking, Brent C. Oberg

2.      Famous speeches

 

X.                 Evaluation

 

Student evaluation in this course will include:

 

1.      Tests and quizzes

2.      Class Participation

3.      Projects and reports

4.      Homework

5.      Indep