COURSE

PREFIX
COURSE
TITLE

SPH

COURSE
NUMBER
Oral Communication Skills

THEORY
CREDIT HOURS
LAB
CREDIT HOURS

CLASS SCHEDULE

TR

LOCATION

Main

103

TOTAL
CREDIT HOURS
CONTACT
HOURS

TIMES

11:30am-12:45am

2.5

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces the basic concepts of interpersonal communication and the oral
communication skills necessary to interact with co-workers and customers, and to work
effectively in teams. Topics include overcoming barriers to effective communication, effective
listening, applying the principles of persuasion, utilizing basic dynamics of group discussion,
conflict resolution, and positive communication patterns in the business setting. Upon
completion, students should be able to demonstrate interpersonal communication skills, apply
basic principles of group discussion, develop a business-like personality, and effectively
present themselves before co-workers and the public.

PREREQUISITE(S)
None; however, students are encouraged to have completed a course in English at some point
(either high school or college) prior to enrolling.

TEXTBOOK(S) AND OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES

Communicate! (13th ed.) by Verderber, Verderber, and Sellnow (2010)

TEXTBOOK(S) AND OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES

Module 1:

CH1: Communication Perspectives

o The Communication Process
Participants
Messages
Context
Channels
Interference
Feedback
Model
Settings
o Communication Principles
Communication Has Purpose
Communication Is Continuous
Communication Messages Vary In Conscious Though
Communication Is Relational
Communication Is Guided By Culture
Communication Has Ethical Implications
Communication Is Learned
o Increasing Our Communication Competence
Develop Communication Skills Improvement Goals

CH2: Perception Of Self And Others

o The Perception Process
Attention And Selection
Organization Of Stimuli
Interpretation Of Stimuli
o Perception Of Self: Self-Concept And Self-Esteem
Forming And Maintaining A Self-Concept
o Developing And Maintaining Self-Esteem
The Influence Of Gender And Culture On Self-Perceptions
Changing Self-Perceptions
Accuracy And Distortion Of Self-Perceptions
The Effects Of Self-Perception On Communication
o Presenting Self To Others
Self-Monitoring
Social Construction Of Self
o Perception Of Others
Observing Others
Using Stereotypes
Emotional State
Perceiving Others Messages
Improving The Accuracy Of Social Perceptions

Module 2:

CH3: Communicating Verbally

o The Nature And Purposes Of Language
Purposes Of Language
The Relationship Between Language And Meaning
Cultural And Gender Influences On Language Use
o Improving Language Skills
Use Clear Language
Use Language That Makes Your Messages Memorable
Use Linguistic Sensitivity

CH4: Communicating Nonverbally

o Characteristics Of Nonverbal Communication
o Types Of Nonverbal Communication
Use Of Body: Kinesics
Use Of Voice: Vocalics
Use Of Space: Proxemics
Use Of Time: Chronemics
Self-Presentation Cues
o Guidelines For Improving Nonverbal Communication
Sending Nonverbal Messages
Interpreting Nonverbal Messages

Module 3:

CH5: Listening And Responding

o What Is Listening?
o Types Of Listening
Appreciative Listening
Discriminative Listening
Comprehensive Listening
Empathetic Listening
Critical Listening
o Steps In The Listening Process
Attending
Understanding
Remembering
Evaluating
Responding
o Conversation And Analysis

CH6: Communicating Across Cultures

o Culture And Communication
Intercultural Communication
Dominant Cultures And Co-Cultures
Cultural Identity
o Identifying Cultural Norms And Values
IndividualismCollectivism
Uncertainty Avoidance
Power Distance
Masculinity-Femininity
o Barriers To Effective Intercultural Communication
Anxiety
Assuming Similarity Or Difference
Ethnocentrism
Stereotypes And Prejudice
Incompatible Communication Codes
Incompatible Norms And Values
o Intercultural Communication Competence
Adopt Correct Attitudes
Acquire Knowledge About Other Cultures
Develop Culture-Specific Skills

Module 4:

CH7: Interpersonal Relationships

o Types Of Relationships
Acquaintances
Friends
Close Friends Or Intimates
o Disclosure And Feedback In Relationship Life Cycles
The Open Pane
The Secret Pane
The Blind Pane
The Unknown Pane
o Communicating In The Stages Of Relationships
Beginning Relationships
Developing Relationships
Maintaining Relationships
Deteriorating And Dissolving Relationships
o Dialectics In Interpersonal Relationships
Relational Dialectics
Managing Dialectical Tensions
o Conversation And Analysis

CH8: Interpersonal Communication

o Comforting Messages
Skills For Comforting
Gender And Cultural Considerations In Comforting
o Managing Privacy And Disclosure In Comforting
Effects On Intimacy
Expectations Of Reciprocity
Information Co-Ownership
Guidelines And Communication Strategies For Disclosure
Communication Strategies For Managing Privacy
o Negotiating Different Needs, Wants, And Preferences In Relationships
Communicating Personal Needs, Wants, And Preferences: Passive,
Aggressive, And Assertive Behavior
Cultural Variations In Passive, Aggressive, And Assertive Behavior
o Managing Conflict In Relationships
Styles Of Conflict
Guidelines For Collaboration
o Conversation And Analysis

Module 5:

CH9: Communicating In Groups

o Characteristics Of Healthy Groups
Healthy Groups Have Ethical Goals
Healthy Groups Are Interdependent
Healthy Groups Are Cohesive
Healthy Groups Develop And Abide By Productive Norms
Heathy Groups Are Accountable
Healthy Groups Are Synergetic
o Stages Of Group Development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Adjourning
o Types Of Groups
Families
Social Friendship Games
Support Groups
Interest Groups
Service Groups
Work Groups
o Evaluating Group Dynamics

CH10: Problem Solving In Groups

o The Problem-Solving Process
Step One: Identify And Define The Problem
Step Two: Analyze The Problem
Step Three: Determine Criteria For Judging Solutions
Step Four: Identify Alternative Solutions
Step Five: Evaluate Solutions And Decide
Step Six: Implement The Agreed-Upon Solution
o Shared Leadership
Task roles
Maintenance roles
Procedural roles

Module 6:

CH11: Developing And Researching A Topic

o Identify Topics
List Subjects
Brainstorm And Concept Map For Topic Ideas
o Analyze The Audience
Identify Audience Analysis Information Needs
Gather Audience Data
o Analyze The Setting
o Select A Topic
o Write A Speech Goal
Identify Your General Goal
Phrase A Specific Goal Statement
o Locate And Evaluate Information Sources
Personal Knowledge, Experience, And Observation
Secondary Research
Primary Research
o Evaluate Sources
o Identify And Select Relevant Information
Factual Statements
Expert Opinions
Elaborations
o Record Information
Prepare Research Cards
o Cite Sources In Speeches

CH12: Organizing Your Speech

o Developing The Body Of The Speech
Determining Main Points
Writing A Thesis Statement
Outlining The Body Of The Speech
Selecting And Outlining Supporting Material
Preparing Section Transitions And Signposts
o Creating The Introduction
Gaining Attention
Establishing Listener Relevance
Stating The Thesis
Establishing Your Credibility
Setting A Tone
Creating A Bond Of Goodwill
o Crafting The Conclusion
Summary
Clincher
o Listing Sources
o Reviewing The Outline

Module 7:

CH13: Visual Aids

o Adapting To Your Audience Verbally
Relevance
Common Ground
Speaker Credibility
Information Comprehension And Retention
Adapting To Cultural Differences
o Adapting To Audiences Visually
Types Of Visual Aids
Criteria For Visual Aids
Designing Effective Visual Aids
o Methods For Displaying Visual Aids
Posters
Whiteboards Or Chalkboars
Flip Charts
Handouts
Document Cameras
CD/DVD/VCR Players And LCD Projectors
Computer-Mediated Slide Show

CH14: Delivery
o Public Speaking Apprehension
Symptoms And Causes
Managing Your Apprehension
o Characteristics Of An Effective Delivery Style
Use A Conversational Style
Be Animated
o Effective Use Of Your Voice
Speak Intelligibly
Use Vocal Expressiveness
o Effective Use Of Your Body
Facial Expressions, Gestures, Movement,
Eye Contact, Posture, Poise, Appearance
o Delivery Methods
Impromptu Speeches
Scripted Speeches
Extemporaneous Speeches
o Rehearsal
Preparing Speaking Notes
Handling Presentational Aids
Recording, Analyzing, And Refining Speech Delivery
o Criteria For Evaluating Speeches
o Sample Informative Speech

Module 8:

CH15: Informative Speaking

o Characteristics Of Effective Informative Speaking
Intellectually Stimulating
Relevant
Creative
Memorable
Address Diverse Learning Styles
o Methods Of Informing
Description
Definition
Comparison And Contrast
Narration
Demonstration
o Common Informative Speech Frameworks
Process Speech Frameworks
Expository Speech Frameworks
o Sample Informative Speech

CH16: Persuasive Speaking

o How We Process Persuasive Messages:
The Elaboration Likelihood Model (Elm)
o Writing Persuasive Speech Goals As Propositions
Types Of Persuasive Goals
Tailoring Your Proposition To Your Audience
o Developing Arguments (Logos) That Support Your Proposition
Finding Reasons To Use As Main Points
Selecting Evidence To Support Reasons
Types And Tests Of Arguments
Avoiding Fallacies In Your Reasons And Argument
o Increasing Audience Involvement Through Incentives
Use Incentives To Satisfy Unmet Needs
Creating Incentives That Outweigh Costs
o Organizational Patterns For Persuasive Speeches
Statement Of Reasons
Comparative Advantages
Criteria Satisfaction
Refutative
Problem-Solution
Problem-Cause-Solution
Motivated Sequence
o Sample Persuasive Speech

*subject to change at instructors discretion based on the needs of the student and the institution

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
Public Speaking
Organizing a presentation
Telling the right stories
Speaking with confidence
Speaking with clarity
Being persuasive
Speaking with enthusiasm and vitality

Written
Using proper grammar
Spelling
Preparing written reports
Preparing brochures, memos
Organizing documents for high impact
Proofreading & editing

Meeting management
Facilitating a meeting
Leading brainstorming sessions
Conducting a meeting without taking over
Analyzing & commenting on the direction
of the group process
Clarifying expectations of group members
Creating consensus
Judiciously evaluating all group members
ideas
Research & Analysis
Discerning underlying organizational
problems
Assessing communication practices
Understanding implications of new
technologies
Assessing personality types
Analyzing audiences
Collecting & evaluating research
Researching markets & consumers

Problem Solving & Strategy

Creating communication strategy
Selecting appropriate names for initiatives
Solving communication problems
Using proper problem solving techniques
Selecting the appropriate channels
Becoming comfortable with uncertainty
Develop strategy to communicate
organizational change

Visual Information
Creating advertising campaigns
Selecting the proper visual images
Creating proper visual images
Managing information overload
Developing persuasive images

Critical Thinking
Providing proof for arguments (Can you
prove it?)
Discerning the implications of ideas (so
what?)
Developing action plans (What to do?)
Discerning underlying assumptions (What
are your assumptions?)
Clarifying definitions of effectiveness (What
is effectiveness?)
Finding underlying patterns (What is the
pattern?)
Acting in an ethical manner (Is it ethical?)

Personal
Repressing useless emotions & thoughts
Listening to negative feedback
Properly expressing disagreements with
others
Following through on group
responsibilities

Interpersonal
Being appropriately assertive
Adapting communication style to different
people
Listening constructively
Managing conflicts
Managing others expectations
Conducting managerial interviews
(selection, appraisal etc.)
Providing corrective feedback
Focusing on understanding rather than
evaluating
Treating others with respect

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT

Daily Work
Project 1
Project 2
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Total

100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
500 points

90+ %
80 90 %
70 80%
Less than 70

A
B
C
D

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor (will have to repeat)

COURSE CALENDAR
Aug. 17, 2016
Aug. 18, 2016
Aug. 25, 2016
Sept. 5, 2016
Oct. 13-14, 2016
Oct. 19, 2016
Nov. 21-23, 2016
Dec. 7, 2016
Dec. 8-12, 2016
Dec. 13, 2016
Dec. 14, 2016

Registration
Classes Begin
Last Day Drop/Add
Labor Day Holiday-no classes
Mid-Term Exams
Mid-Term Grades Due
State Professional Days-no classes
Graduates Grades in by 12 noon
Exams
Classes End
Final Grades Due

ATTENDANCE
All instructors will notify the Dean of the College, or their respective campus Coordinator of
Student Services, if any student accumulates five consecutive absences. The Dean will then
determine, and notify the instructor of the students status. In the event that a student is
dropped from enrollment due to excessive absences, the drop date will always be the class day
immediately following the students last day of attendance.

STATEMENT ON DISCRIMINATION/HARASSMENT
The College and the Alabama Board of Education are committed to providing both employment
and educational environments free of harassment or discrimination related to an individuals
race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Such harassment is a violation of
State Board of Education policy. Any practice or behavior that constitutes harassment is a
violation of State Board of Education policy. Any practice or behavior that constitutes
harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated.