COM 01 — Public Speaking
Summer
Tuesdays
7:00—8:50 pm
Date(s)
Jun 23—Jul 21
5 weeks
Drop By
Jul 6
1 Units
Fees
$235
Limit
30
Closed
Feeling uneasy about an upcoming toast at a wedding or a business presentation? Many of us wish we could speak more clearly and confidently at such occasions. Informed by scholarly research, this course provides a hands-on, practical introduction to the theory, basic principles, and methods of effective public speaking. Using a variety of relevant contexts (for example, job interviews, sales presentations, and business meetings), we will focus on the three major aspects of speechmaking: organization, delivery, and oratorical style. The course will consist of a combination of lectures, discussions, group activities, video analysis, and speechmaking. Each student will develop, deliver, and then evaluate formal (informative and persuasive) and informal (question-and-answer and impromptu) speeches. Students will also learn speech apprehension management techniques, the effective use of visual aids, and tips and tricks for powerful online presentations.
Matt Abrahams, Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Matt Abrahams is an educator and a coach who has published research articles on cognitive planning, persuasion, and interpersonal communication. He is the author of Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, and he is a co-founder and principal at Bold Echo Communications Solutions. He received an MA in communication from UC Davis.Textbooks for this course:
(Required) Matt Abrahams, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident, Calm, and Competent Presenting, 2nd Ed (ISBN 978-1-4652-3738-5)