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

  1. developed a biblical framework for communicating with integrity and competence;

  2. identified personal strengths and weaknesses in their own communication style;

  3. 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;

  4. developed skill in integrating creative elements and slide-ware into presentations;

  5. 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)