Fall 2010

FSW – Phoenix

CO500

Parker

 

CO500:  COMMUNICATION. Gayle Parker

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to build and enlarge upon a student’s communication skills.  Attention will be given to speaking situations frequently encountered in ministry: speeches to persuade and to inform, self-introductions, sharing of Christian experience, and biblical messages.  Emphasis will be placed on the creation of original material for delivery, writing for the ear instead of for the eye.  Questions about voice, gesture, nonverbal communication, and speech anxiety will be considered.  Speeches will be video taped.

 

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY:  Oral presentation is important in the communication of the gospel.  The spoken witness has always been a primary means of communicating the faith and continues to be a powerful tool for planting and nurturing faith in Christ.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  Course objectives are that students would grow: (a) In their understanding of

human communication in a Christian context; (b) In their understanding of the differences between written and oral communication; (c) In their understanding of the sources of speech anxiety and how to move beyond it; (d) In their ability to prepare and deliver spoken messages clearly and relevantly to a contemporary audience; and (e) In their ability to assess both their own speaking and that of others.

 

COURSE FORMAT:  The class will meet on Tuesdays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 for ten weeks.  Lecture, discussion, and oral presentations will provide the content of the time.  Time outside of class will be devoted to reading, speech preparation, and written critiques.

 

REQUIRED READING:

• O’Hair, Dan, Rubenstein, Hannah, Stewart, Rob.  A Pocket Guide To Public Speaking.  Bedford/St. Martin’s (December 30, 2003). [288 pp.] ISBN: 0312400780, $17.99.
• Schultze, Quentin J., An Essential Guide To Public Speaking:  Serving Your Audience With Faith, Skill, and Virtue.  Baker Academic (to be published August 2006). [112 pp.] ISBN: 0801031516, $14.99.

 

ASSIGNMENTS: 

1. Self-assessment paper on individual communication style. Attention should be given to the “Sum-total” model of communication and its application. 5-7 pages in length. (10%).   
2. 3-page review of Schultze’s book.   (10%).    
3. Five speeches of the following genre:  (dates assigned)

              a.  Story from your experience 3-5 minutes (5%)
              b. Oral interpretation/children’s story, 5-7 minutes (10%).
              c. Informative, 5-7 minutes in length (25%).
              d. Persuasive, 8-10 minutes in length (25%).
              e. Impromptu (5%)
 4.   Participation. (10%)  

The student participation score will be based on contributions to class discussions.  In addition to that, instructor will take into consideration attendance, attitude, and conviviality (demonstrated respect for classmates and the professor.)  Students will complete all reading assignments and other exercises as assigned by the instructor.

 

PREREQUISITES: None

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv.: MIN 2; MA: Part of the Communication Requirement; MACL: Elective.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: None

 

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification.