Summer 2016/Pasadena

CO500

Nason

CO500: COMMUNICATION (2 Units: 80 hours). 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.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Course objectives are that students would grow (1) in their understanding of Christian communication; (2) in their understanding of the differences between written and oral communication; (3) in their understanding of the sources of speech anxiety and how to move beyond it; (4) in their ability to prepare and deliver spoken messages clearly and relevantly to a contemporary audience; and (5) in their ability to assess both their own speaking and that of others.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets daily for two-hour sessions as a two-week intensive, for a total of 20 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.There will be opportunity for individual conferences with the instructor outside of regular class time to evaluate the videotapes. 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: 375 pp. required.

O’Hair, Dan, Hannah Rubenstein, & Rob Stewart. A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking. 5th ed., Bedford/St Martin’s, 2015. ISBN: 978-1457670404, Pub. Price $45.75 (the 4th ed., published in 2012, ISBN: 978-1457601842, is also acceptable) [261 pp. assigned].

Schultze, Quentin J. An Essential Guide to Public Speaking: Serving Your Audience with Faith, Skill, and Virtue. Baker Academic, 2006. ISBN: 978-0801031519, Pub. Price $14.99 [112 pp.].

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.

1. 375 pp. of required reading, with brief reading reports (15%) [24 hours].

2. A Statement of Christian Experience (ungraded). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4]. [2 hours].

3. A Speech to Inform (15%), with an outline submitted. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [6 hours].

4. A Speech to Persuade (15%), with an outline submitted. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [6 hours].

5. A Biblical Message (ungraded), with an outline submitted. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4.] [6 hours].

6. Self-assessments will be submitted for the Speech to Inform and the Speech to Persuade. Each self-assessment will count 15% of the final grade. (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5]. [4 hours].

7. In addition, students will prepare an independent study project in communication. (15%) to be reported on in a two-page paper. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5]. [12 hours].

8. Regular class attendance, preparation for class, and participation in discussions and classroom activities are required. Those in-class activities will count 10% of the final grade. All assignments must be completed to receive a passing grade. Any absences must be excused and will require some additional work. (10%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the P2 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the MIN 2 requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.