Fall 2009/Pasadena
CO500
Reynolds

CO500: COMMUNICATION (Two Units). J. Lynn Reynolds.


DESCRIPTION: The course is designed to provide students with a biblical foundation, a theoretical framework, and some practical applications for discovering and developing their individual gifts as communicators. Specifically, this course is based on the study of communication theology and theory, as applied to a variety of social interactions and public speaking situations for ministry.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: God's servants should aspire to communicate the gospel with the highest level of competencies. The coursework for this course is designed to give students opportunities to use their gifts and to refine their communication skills in the areas of effective speaking, teaching, and ministering within the multiple settings of the church and community.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Course objectives are that students improve

  1. in their ability to identify and define a God-centered approach to public speaking;

  2. in an understanding of the biblical basis for the communication process;

  3. in their ability to identify various public address styles necessary for effective communication leadership;

  4. in their ability to deliver thoroughly researched and creatively organized speeches;

  5. in their ability to explain articulately the historical, psychological, theoretical, and social aspects of oral communication and public address.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for two-hour sessions for ten weeks. There will be opportunities for individual conferences with the instructor to assess development. This course expects every student to demonstrate marked improvement through (1) an understanding of the communication process, (2) training in its basic principles, and (3) practice in the intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and speaker-audience situations. Students' presentations will be videotaped. 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 in case there are dropped registrants.

REQUIRED READING:
O'Hair, Dan, Hannah Rubenstein, and Rob Stewart. Pocket Guide to Public Speaking. 2nd ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007.

Schultze, Quentin J. An Essential Guide to Public Speaking: Serving Your Audience with Faith, Skill, and Virtue. Baker Academic, 2006.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Each student will evaluate their own communication style in a self-assessment paper (10%). Each student will give 4 or more speeches that are five to ten minutes in length (60%), and each student will participate in speaking development in the area of impromptu speaking (5%). Students will have one exam over lectures and the reading material (15%). All reading and exercises along with class discussion will complete the requirements (10%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN 2).

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (7/09)