Summer 2012/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive
CO500
Nason
CO500: COMMUNICATION (Two Units). Doug Nason.
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to develop communication skills,
especially in the preparation and delivery of spoken messages. 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. The course will use videotape recording. Enrollment is limited to
ten students.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Course objectives are that students would grow
- in their understanding of Christian communication;
- in their understanding of the differences between written and oral
communication;
- in their understanding of the sources of speech anxiety and how to move
beyond it;
- in their ability to prepare and deliver spoken messages clearly and
relevantly to a contemporary audience; and
- in their ability to assess both their own speaking and that of
others.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for two-hour sessions for two weeks.
There will be opportunity for individual conferences with the instructor
outside of regular class time to evaluate the video recordings. 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 which develop due to dropped registrations.
REQUIRED READING:
- O'Hair, Dan, Hannah Rubenstein, and Rob Stewart. A Pocket Guide
to Public Speaking. 3rd ed. Bedford/St Martin's, 2010. ISBN: 9780312554040.
Pub.price: $24.95.
- Schultze, Quentin J. An Essential Guide to Public Speaking: Serving Your
Audience with Faith, Skill, and Virtue. Baker Academic, 2006. ISBN:
9780801031519. Pub.price: $14.99.
- Additional brief readings may be assigned primarily as a basis for class
discussion.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Four brief oral presentations will be prepared and
delivered, each approximately five to ten minutes in length. Outlines will be
submitted for three of those messages and self-assessments for two of them. In
addition, students will prepare an independent study project in communication.
Regular class attendance, preparation for class, and participation in
discussions are required. Any absences must be excused and will require some
additional work.
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,
but no more than one preaching or communication practicum may be taken in any
two-week period.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (April 2012)