Spring 2011/Pasadena
CO500
L. Lamb
CO500: COMMUNICATION (Two Units). Lisa Lamb.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce students to a
Christian theory and practice of the art of communication, and to help them
develop their individual skills and gifts as communicators. While we will
focus on various forms of spoken address, attention will also be given to
interpersonal communication skills.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Communication is a crucial dimension of
leadership, and those who seek to serve and lead the church must develop the
skills to communicate effectively, with integrity, creativity, and
excellence.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete the course will have
demonstrated that they have
- developed a biblical framework for communicating with integrity and
competence;
- identified personal strengths and weaknesses in their own communication
style;
- grown in their ability to organize ideas and craft language well toward the
purposes of informing, persuading, and inspiring audiences, taking into account
the unique context of the audience;
- developed skill in integrating creative elements and slide-ware into
presentations;
- improved their physical presence and vocal performance through practice,
peer feedback, and observing recordings of their speeches.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for two-hour sessions for ten weeks.
Lectures will be brief, with most of class time spent in the practice of
communication, whether in small groups or in speaker-audience settings. Class
attendance is mandatory, and missing more than two class sessions will likely
result in failure of the course.
REQUIRED READING:
- Schultze, Quentin J. An Essential Guide to Public Speaking:
Serving Your Audience with Faith, Skill, and Virtue. Baker Academic, 2006.
107 pages. ISBN 978-0-8010-3151.
- Heath, Chip and Dan Heath. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and
Others Die. New York: Random House, 2007. 239 pages. ISBN
978-1-4000-6428-1.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Each student will give 4 prepared speeches that are
eight to ten minutes in length (15 points each), and will give one impromptu
speech (4 points). Each student will evaluate his or her own communication
style in self-evaluations of two of his or her prepared speeches, showing
evidence of watching a recording of it (5 points each). Students will do the
reading and will write a three-page paper reflecting critically on the reading
assigned (16 points). Punctuality, attendance, and participation in various
communication exercises will count for 10 points, though penalties will also be
assessed for persistent lateness/absence.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Preaching and
Communication (MIN 2). The practicum may be taken for credit more than once,
though students are encouraged not to enroll in more than one section during
any given quarter.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (January 2011)