Fundamentals of Speech
Course Description
This course will cover all major aspects of speech communication, including the communication
cycle, verbal and non-verbal communication, major categories of public speech, interpersonal
communication tools, and listening skills. Students will obtain and apply domain-specific
vocabulary, evaluate a variety of speech examples, utilize writing and organizational skills, and
deliver a variety of context-specific public speeches. Applications to college and career situations
will be used to provide relevance for all students.
Course Big Ideas
- What is the value of communication skills in the modern world?
Course Essential Questions
- How can one improve verbal and non-verbal communication skills?
- How can communication skills be applied to real-world settings?
- How can purpose and occasion influence public speaking?
Course Competencies
- Perspective Analysis
- Synthesis
- Appropriate Use of language in context
- Appropriate use of non-verbal communication elements
Course Assessments
- Project-Based Learning Opportunities
- Delivery of speeches
- Outline writing
- Reflective writing
- In-class peer discussions
Course Units
- Unit 1: Introduction to Communication Processes
- Unit 2: Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Skills
- Unit 3: Informative Speaking
- Unit 4: Persuasive Speech
- Unit 5: Entertainment/Special Occasion Speech
- Unit 6: Real World Applications
Unit 1: Introduction to Communication Processes
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA ELA Core Standards
- CC.1.5.11-12.A: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on grade-level topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively
- CC.1.5.11-12.B: Evaluate how the speaker's perspective, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric affect the credibility of an argument through the author's stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone.
- CC.1.5.11-12.E: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
Know
Understanding/Key Learning
Do
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 2: Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Skills
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
Standards
PA ELA Core Standards
- CC.1.5.11-12.B: Evaluate how the speaker's perspective, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric affect the credibility of an argument through the author's stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone.
- CC.1.5.11-12.E: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
- CC.1.5.11-12.G: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when speaking based on grade 11-12 level and content.
Know
- The delivery of verbal communication: elements of paralanguage
- The delivery of non-verbal communication: physical stances, gestures, facial expressions, spatial choices
- The process of organizing and planning verbal and non-verbal communication to deliver a person-to-group communication
- How to prepare and practice for a specific person-to-group communication task
Understanding/Key Learning
Do
- Practice delivery elements through a children's book presentation
- Outline an About Me Speech (Person-to-Group)
- Practice and Deliver an About Me Speech (Person-to-Group)
- Document intrapersonal reflection on introductory speech experience
- Practice active listening to generate peer feedback
- Document and provide effective feedback to peers
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
- How can I develop an effective verbal communication style?
- How can I refine my non-verbal communication skills?
- How can an outline help me to plan my speeches?
- What are the best practice strategies for person-to-group speeches?
- How can I use physical and mental tools to improve active listening?
- How can active listening benefit both the speaker and receiver?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Unit 3: Informative Speaking
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA ELA Core Standards
- CC.1.5.11-12.C: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g. visually, quantitative, orally) to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
- CC.1.5.11-12.D: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective; organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
- CC.1.5.11-12.E: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
- CC.1.5.11-12.F: Make strategic use of digital media in presentations to add interest and enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence.
- CC.1.5.11-12.G: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when speaking based on grade 11-12 level and content.
- CC.1.4.9-1 O.A: Write informative/ explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately.
ISTE
- 1.3b: Students evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility, and relevance of information, media, data or other resources.
- 1.6d: Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
Know
Understanding/Key Learning
Do
- Evaluate informative speech examples (mentor texts) to identify the hallmarks of this speech type (content and style choices)
- Participate in practice activities (impromptu speech acts) to build confidence and fluency in delivery
- Research an informative speech topic by evaluating sources and collecting key content (CRAAP test)
- Outline an informative speech • Deliver an informative speech
- Reflect on informative speech experience
- Document and provide effective feedback to peers
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
- How can mentor speeches help us to improve our speech acts?
- What should I look for when evaluating an informative speech?
- How can structured research methods create strong speeches?
- How can clear organizational techniques create strong informative speeches?
- How can I establish a formal tone that complements my purpose to inform as a speaker?
- How can I receive and implement peer feedback to improve my informative skills?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 4: Persuasive Speech
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA ELA Core Standards
- CC.1.5.11-12.C: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g. visually, quantitative, orally) to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
- CC.1.5.11-12.D: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective; organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
- CC.1.5.11-12.E: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
- CC.1.5.11-12.F: Make strategic use of digital media in presentations to add interest and enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence.
- CC.1.5.11-12.G: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when speaking based on grade 11-12 level and content.
- CC.1.4.9-1 O.G: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics.
- CC.1.4.9-10.I: Distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims; develop claim(s) fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns.
- CC.1.4.9-1 O.J: Create organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence; Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims; provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.
ISTE
- 1.3.d: Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories, and pursuing answers and solutions.
Know
- How the persuasive purpose impacts content: rhetorical strategies and persuasive appeals
- Persuasive appeals that are used in media to influence consumers: bandwagon, fear, humor, etc.
- Organization technique for persuasive messages: Monroe's Motivated Sequence
- How to match delivery and body language to the speaker's message
Understanding/Key Learning
- Evaluation of persuasive appeals allows an audience to make educated choices about information presented to them.
- Considering the purpose of a speech is essential when planning content, context, and delivery.
- Using a structured organization technique ensures clarity of message.
- Content and delivery choices of a speaker impact the clarity and value of the message.
Do
- Evaluate persuasive speech examples (mentor texts) to identify the hallmarks of this speech type (content and style choices)
- Compare persuasive messaging examples to identify specific appeals used; evaluate the effectiveness of appeals
- Identify a relevant topic for a persuasive speech; match persuasive appeals to topic and purpose
- Outline a persuasive speech using Monroe's Motivated Sequence
- Deliver a persuasive speech
- Reflect on persuasive speech experience
- Document and provide effective feedback to peers
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
- What should I look for when evaluating a persuasive speech?
- How can persuasion influence my audience to agree with my perspective?
- How can clear organizational techniques create strong persuasive speeches?
- How can I establish a formal tone that complements my purpose of persuasion as a speaker?
- How can I receive and implement peer feedback to improve my persuasion skills?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 5: Entertainment/Special Occasion Speech
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA ELA Core Standards
- CC.1.5.11-12.C: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g. visually, quantitative, orally) to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
- CC.1.5.11-12.D: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective; organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
- CC.1.5.11-12.E: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
- CC.1.5.11-12.G: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when speaking based on grade 11-12 level and content.
Know
Understanding/Key Learning
Do
- Evaluate special occasion speech examples (mentor texts) to identify the hallmarks of this speech type (content and style choices)
- Participate in practice activities (impromptu speech acts) to build confidence and fluency in delivery
- Collaborate with peers to create a special occasion speech analysis to present to the class
- Select a relevant special occasion speech topic
- Outline a special occasion speech
- Deliver a special occasion speech
- Reflect on special occasion speech experience
- Document and provide effective feedback to peers
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
- How does the format and purpose of an event influence an occasion speech?
- What should I look for when evaluating special occasion speeches?
- How does the occasion context impact the audience's expectations of a special occasion speech?
- How can clear organizational techniques create strong special occasion speeches?
- How can I establish the appropriate tone that complements the occasion of my speech?
- How can I receive and Implement peer feedback to improve my speaking skills for specific occasions?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 6: Real World Applications
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA ELA Core Standards
- CC.1.5.11-12.C: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g. visually, quantitative, orally) to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
- CC.1.5.11-12.E: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
- CC.1.5.11-12.G: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when speaking based on grade 11-12 level and content.