Fundamentals of Communication

  • Topic:
  • Current or contemporary issue concerning a specific state or Federal policy, regulation, law, or Federal court decision.
  • Students will select topic for attached curated topic list during an in-class topic lottery.
  • No two students in the same class may have the same topic.
  • Persuasive Communication Challenge:
  • All listed topics are controversial in nature.
    • Each topic represents a public policy issue that is or has recently been the subject of discussion concerning potential changes to the policy.
    • In many cases plans have been released proposing specific changes to specific public policies contained on the list.
    • In some cases, the topic listed is a specific change proposal.
  • Student must make a “claim” or take a “position” concerning potential changes to the selected policy topic.
  • Student must then provide a reasoning blueprint containing three reasons for your claim or position.
  • Each reason must be backed up with factual evidence that proves your claim or position.
  • Example:
    • Topic: “6.2% Solution” Social Security reform proposal
    • Claim (your position): should be adopted
  • Reasoning Blueprint (reasons for your position):
    1) restore to long-term and sustainable solvency
    2) younger workers will receive higher benefits
    3) reduce reliance on government
  • Content:
  • Introduction:
    • Must contain all five standard parts–attention-getter, topic reveal, orientation, credibility statement, preview statement.
      • Attention-getter must be one of the five recommended devices.
    • Orientation section must receive special emphasis for audience to understand issue.
  • Body must contain:
    • A minimum of Three (3) main points
      • Each main point must have a minimum of two (2) pieces of factual evidence in the form of Examples, Statistics, and Expert Testimony.
    • Each piece of factual evidence must have a minimum of two (2) pieces of support material in the form of Explanations and Details.
  • Conclusion must contain:
    • Signal, Summary (recap of thesis and all main points,) Clincher
    • Clincher must be one of the three recommended devices.
  • Pattern of Organization:
  • Presentation must show clear organization: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
    • Body should be in Topical (order of importance) pattern of organization.

Question of Fact Persuasive Speech Assignment (Non-LCs)
Requirements- page 2:

  • Research:
    • Sources of information must be verbally cited within body of speech.
  • These sources must also be submitted in an MLA-style Works Cited page.
    • Research Requirements- Minimum of Three Different (3) Authoritative Sources.
  • Content/ Research Key to Success:
  • Find major well-developed, well-researched authoritative articles on your selected topic that back your position.
    • These articles should provide the primary content for your speech.
  • These articles’ content should then be supplemented with material from other authoritative articles.
  • Suggested primary content sources:
    • Commentary articles and Case Studies from the following “Think Tank” websites:
      • Heritage Foundation (heritage.org)
      • Cato Institute (cato.org)
      • American Enterprise Institute (aei.org)
      • Hoover Institution (hoover.org)
      • Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (manhattan-institute.org)
      • Brookings Institution (brookings.edu)
  • Speech Manuscript:
    • Complete full sentence manuscript/ outline must be turned in at time of presentation.
  • Must be TYPED and include
  • 1) Header section with Student Name, Topic and Central Idea
  • 2) A complete manuscript/ outline of the full text of speech (Introduction, Body, and Conclusion)
  • 3) Works Cited page in MLA format
  • Delivery:
    • Presentation should be delivered EXTEMPORANEOUSLY from speaking notes.
    • Reading your manuscript outline with frequent lookups is considered manuscript delivery—NOT extemporaneous delivery!
    • To qualify as extemporaneous for this speech– you must have eye contact with audience across all parts of presentation for at least 75% of total speaking time.
    • NOTE: Considerable grade points are tied to your delivery.

PowerPoint Presentation:

  • Maximum of eight (8) slides (three: introduction, three: body, two: conclusion)
    • Each slide should contain ONLY key phrases in support of your main points and sub-points.
    • DO NOT copy and paste entire text of speech into PowerPoint!
  • Points will be deducted for violating text guidelines.
  • Slide shows created in Google Docs:
  • Must be converted to PowerPoint.
  • Must be converted prior to presentation class period.
  • PowerPoint must be presented as part of speech presentation to qualify for points.
  • Bring PowerPoint on a flash drive—emailing takes too long to find/sign-in/ load etc.
  • Presentation Dates:
    • M/W/F Classes:
      • Wed. Nov. 4th, Fri. Nov. 6th, Mon. Nov. 9th, and Wed. Nov. 11th.
      • Specific presentation date for each student will be assigned by instructor and distributed in a separate document.
    • Mon. Only Class: Mon. Nov. 9th
  • Point Values:
    • Speech presentation: 150 pts. (max.)
    • Manuscript outline/Works Cited page: 25 pts. (max.)
    • PowerPoint Presentation: 25 pts. (max.)
    • Speeches not presented on presentation date can be made-up only under the specific circumstances outlined in course syllabus.

Persuasive Speech Structure & Content Outline:
“Public Policy”

Student Name:
Topic:

Central Idea:

Introduction:
I. Attention-Getter:

  • Must use one of the following devices:
    – Quotation related to topic.
    – Rhetorical Questions–Series (three or more)
    – Startling information (usually statistics)
    – Short story related to topic.
    – Curiosity-arousing statements related to topic.
    II. Topic Reveal:
    III. Orientation/Background:
    – Definition of topic (if necessary.)
    – Brief history of topic.
  • Listener relevance link. IV. Credibility Statement paragraph: “Based on my research…”
    V. Preview Statement: (Thesis plus specific listing of all main points.)
    Body*:
    I. Main Point #1 Topic Sentence
    A. Subtopic #1 evidence sentence (example, statistic, or expert opinion)
    1. Subpoint #1 sentence: First explanation/detail of Subtopic #1
    2. Subpoint #2 sentence: Second explanation/detail of Subtopic #1
    B. Subtopic #2 evidence sentence (example, statistic, or expert opinion)
    1. Subpoint #1 sentence: First explanation/detail of Subtopic #2
    2. Subpoint #2 sentence: Second explanation/detail of Subtopic #2
    (Transition:)
    II. Main Point #2 Topic Sentence.
    A. Subtopic #1 evidence sentence (example, statistic, or expert opinion)
    1. Subpoint #1 sentence: First explanation/detail of Subtopic #1
    2. Subpoint #2 sentence: Second explanation/detail of Subtopic #1
    B. Subtopic #2 evidence sentence (example, statistic, or expert opinion)
    1. Subpoint #1 sentence: First explanation/detail of Subtopic #2
    2. Subpoint #2 sentence: Second explanation/detail of Subtopic #2
    (Transition:)

III. Main Point #3 Topic Sentence.
A. Subtopic #1 evidence sentence (example, statistic, or expert opinion)
1. Subpoint #1 sentence: First explanation/detail of Subtopic #1
2. Subpoint #2 sentence: Second explanation/detail of Subtopic #1
B. Subtopic #2 evidence sentence (example, statistic, or expert opinion)
1. Subpoint #1 sentence: First explanation/detail of Subtopic #2
2. Subpoint #2 sentence: Second explanation/detail of Subtopic #2
Conclusion:
I. Signal End phrase or sentence.
II. Summary (Thesis plus specific listing of all main points.)

III. Clincher (Reinforce Central Idea)

  • Must use one of the following devices:
    – Quotation
    – Dramatic statement
    – Refer to key piece of information in introduction

*Notes on Body: – Examples, statistics and expert testimony are all major types of supporting evidence and may be used interchangeably as and when appropriate.

  • Number of pieces of evidence beyond two may be necessary to cover the Main Point appropriately.
  • Number of explanations and details beyond two may be necessary to explain the piece of evidence appropriately.

COMM 2025 Fundamentals of Communication
Persuasive Presentation-Question of Fact

Criteria: Max. Pts Pts. Scored
1.) Time: Met Time Requirements- 5 to 6 minutes 10 0
Running Time:

2) Introduction: 25 0
A) Started speech with one of the five recommended attention-getting devices.
B) Revealed topic
C) Orientation contained 1) definition or brief history of public policy law, regulation or proposal under discussion and 2) listener relevance link specifically demonstrating the importance or impact of public policy on audience.
D) Established credibility through use of the term “research.”
E) Preview statement: Thesis (Topic & Claim) plus specific listing of ALL main points of the body of presentation.

3) Body- Construction/Content-Evidence: 35 0
A) Presented a minimum of three Main Points.
B. Each main point was a fact-based reason why audience should agree with speaker’s position on public policy law, regulation or proposal.
C. Each main point reason was proven through the use of a minimum of two pieces of hard evidence (example, statistics, testimony) subtopics.
D. Each piece of hard evidence (subtopic) was reinforced and made clearly understandable through the use of a minimum of two explanation/details sub-points.

4) Conclusion: 15 0
A) Summary: Thesis (Topic & Claim) plus specific listing of ALL main points of the body of presentation.
B) Made a closing statement (clincher) which reinforced Central Idea using one of the three recommended devices.

5) Research/ Credibility: 15 0
A. Established credibility of evidence by verbally citing authoritative sources throughout speech.
B) Verbally cited a minimum of three different authoritative sources.

6) Delivery: Extemporaneous presentation from notes –maintaining eye contact with audience for extend periods across entire speech presentation for at least 75% of speech’s total duration. 50 0

TOTAL SPEECH POINTS SCORED: 150 0

Speech Manuscript Outline including Works Cited page: 25 0

PowerPoint Presentation: 25 0

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