Spring 2009/Pasadena
CO503
Gordon
CO503: ADVANCED COMMUNICATION (Two Units). Carolyn L. Gordon.
DESCRIPTION: This advanced course is designed to help seminarians develop
professional communication skills, especially in the preparation and delivery
of spoken messages. Students will develop skills in lecturing, debating and
rhetorical discourse and in media/technology usage. Special attention will be
given to the use of audio and visual technology in public presentations.
Enrollment is limited to ten students.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Course objectives are that students would grow
- in their understanding of Christian communication;
- in their understanding of the differences between lecturing and common
public oratory;
- in their understanding of how media and technology usage can enhance oral
presentations;
- in their ability to prepare and deliver spoken messages clearly and
relevantly to a contemporary audience; and
- in their ability to debate issues and handle public rhetorical discourses
in a Christian manner.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The spoken witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ has
always been a primary means of communicating the faith. It continues to be a
powerful tool for planting and nurturing faith in Christ.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet once a week for two-hour sessions. There
will be opportunity for individual conferences with the instructor outside of
regular class time to evaluate the video-taped presentations. PLEASE NOTE:
Class attendance is mandatory. If the class is over-subscribed, the first two
persons on the waiting list should attend the first class session in case there
are openings due to dropped registrations.
REQUIRED READING:
- Brown, Sally. Lecturing: A Practical Guide. Rutledge Falmer,
2002.
- Fortner, Robert S. Communication, Media, and Identity: A Christian
Theory of Communication. The Communication, Culture and Religion Series.
Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Whalen, Joel. The Professional Communication Toolkit. Sage
Publications, 2006.
ASSIGNMENTS: Three oral presentations will be prepared and delivered:
- One lecture (15 minutes)
- One rhetorical discourse on a contemporary issue impacting Christianity
and/or the church (10 minutes).
- Participation in a creative communication assignment (10 minutes) (60%).
- Outlines and self-assessments will be presented for each of the
presentations (20%). Regular class attendance, preparation for class,
completion of reading assignments, and participation in discussions are
required (20%). Any absences must be excused and may require some additional
work.
PREREQUISITES: CO500.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: The sequence of CO500 and CO503 together meet the
Communication requirement (COMM) in MA programs.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (1/09)