Oral Communications - November 17- December 19

Monday, November 17 will be our last day for informative speeches. Tuesday, November 18, we will begin with discussion and notes on congressional bills and parliamentary procedure, our next big project. Our classroom will present their bills much like Congress does in passing laws. But before the classroom becomes a student congress, we will have to conduct research and each student will have to draft their own bill to submit to the class to be debated and voted upon. Students will have the opportunity to choose their own issue that they feel warrants change in our present system concerning either--school policy, local policy, state law, or national law.
Students will receive points for drafting their bills, presenting their bills, and their parliamentary procedure skills which includes points for following parliamentary procedure and for participation in the debates of the various bills. Students must participate in the debates and questioning periods of their class student congress in order to do well on this project which will be worth 125 to possibly 200 points (depending on how we decide to count short debate speeches and how many extra credit points may be earned). Friday, November 21, we will begin our research by going to the computer lab every day through Tuesday, December 2. By that time students will have to have their bills typed and ready to submit to me in order for me to make a copy of every student's (within a class) bill -- so all will have a packet of any current and future bills on the floor. We will begin debate on December 3, and hopefully complete our session by December 12.
I will give out a study guide for our semester test which will be given by, or shortly before December 19, our last day of the semester and of Oral Communications for this group of students. The semester test will cover: understanding communication, verbal and nonverbal communication, intrapersonal communication, the informative speaking process, and parliamentary procedure. It will be important that students spend time studying the study guide as the semester test grade will be 20% of the semester grade.

Oral Communications November 10 - 13

Remember, no school this Friday! Informative speeches are due this week which include a typed outline to be presented to me when you get ready to present. Total points for presentation and outline are 125 pts. I will take volunteers until no one volunteers, then I will call on students--don't miss out on volunteer points. Good luck.

Oral Communications -- November 3 - 7

We have been in the library this week working on Informative speeches that are due Monday, November 10. Students must present a typed outline to me just before they
step up to present speech. Remember, the speeches are worth 125 pts.--100 pts for content and presentation and 25 pts. for outline. Students may receive additional credit if they bring a note from home signed by parent stating that they listened to child's speech. Extra credit can also be received for volunteering. I am looking forward next week to some interesting speeches and awesome speakers. Thank you.

Oral Communications - October 27 - 31

Students in my classes, remember if you want to see the Halloween drama performances, you must purchase a ticket. All of my classes will be attending on the 31st with the exception of 4th hr. There will be no performances during 4th hr. because of lunch. Price of admission is .99 cents. You may donate the penny to the drama department to make it an even $1.00.
We are going to be getting ready to go to the library a few days next week to gather information for our informative speeches due the second week in November. Be thinking of a topic that you would like to give us information about. Remember, do not cross over into the realm of persuasive speaking and try to convince us to support something or somebody, or to change our views on some issue or to make some type of change--you'll have to save any persuasive ideas for later when we do our student congressional bills.
You will also be required to submit an outline with your persuasive speech.

Oral Communications - October 20 - 24

Busy week this week. We will complete our intrapersonal (color) speeches Monday, do a few exercises with perception and self-concept, design a logo, review for your test on Chapter 5, Intrapersonal Communication, and have the test on Friday. If you did nothing but study the
Knowledge Map you were given, you should get a 100% on the test.
I will be out on Wednesday, October 22, but back Thursday to help you review for Friday's test. I know Friday is homecoming, but the test is only 20 multiple choice questions and should not take long or be too much of a strain on you.
Hope everyone enjoys their three day weekend. I know I will.

Oral Communications October 13 - 16

Friday the 17th is a holiday for students and most teachers. The following Monday and Tuesday (October 20 and 21) will be Parent Teacher Conferences.
Monday, students will compose one minute speeches to present Tuesday. Handouts will be
given to help outline these short speeches. Presentation will be worth approximately 30 pts., 20 pts. on content, and 10 pts. on delivery. We should finish up on Wednesday and continue
learning about intrapersonal communication on Thursday and have a test the following week on
intrapersonal communication.

Oral Communications - October 6 -10

Reminders: The end of the 1st quarter is October 13--No school on October 17.
We will spend a little time this week discussing faulty reasoning, (we may have a quiz Tuesday (7th) on the faulty reasoning terms from the handouts I gave you on Chapter 4 Vocabulary. We will then move on to intrapersonal communication and shortly afterward interpersonal communication. Intrapersonal communication is a term for communicating with ourselves. It is helpful to give some thought to why we have the communication styles that we have. All that we think, do and say is centered in our own experiences, past and present. If we can open up our minds enough to comprehend that everyone else has different experiences, then we can begin to communicate in ways that are more tolerant of those differences--but we must look critically at ourselves first.

Oral Communications Sept. 29 - Oct. 3

I learned so many varied and interesting things about my students last week. One girl was attacked by a bear and has a scar to prove it; one young lady is into boxing, while another girl can break boards. One student has lost eighty pounds and might be on Oprah; one young man already has a working knowledge of several skills: plumbing, auto repair, and even some electrical; and another young man is a budding executive with his own lawn mowing business. Some have enviable talents such as playing the piano, an instrument, tennis, golf, swimming, dancing or drawing. Several have had to overcome adversities to get to where they are today. Others were just simply entertaining, and or informative.
This week we will complete our speeches by at least Wednesday. Students will turn in their listening notes on the speakers for credit. We should finally be able to get to our listening survey and a couple of listening exercises. When all of the speeches are completed, I will print out present grades to take home. The speeches have really helped most students' grades which I am always happy to see because the course is set up with the greatest weight being placed on oral presentations--skipping a speaking assignment can be devastating to a student's average.
Remember to speak up, speak out, and speak the truth.

Oral Communications - Sept. 22 - 26

I'm getting excited about listening to your collage presentations starting on Tuesday, the 23rd. You can bring your collages in that morning before class. Please have your name and period on the back of your poster in bold markings. 3rd and 4th hr. classes--if no one is in Room 1194, bring your posters to 602, (by band and choir entrance). With a possible score of 125 pts., this is a good opportunity for you to either maintain a good grade or bring up a less than desireable grade.
Please don't forget:
DETAILS! DETAILS! DETAILS! Pleae don't say things like, "I put a flower on my collage because I like flowers." Instead, you could say, "I have included several photos of flowers because flowers show nature at her best. I love them because they bring out the best in my mood and outlook on life. We can all experience their beauty, color and fragrance. This particular picture was taken by me on Wye Mountain last year when the thousands of daffodils washed the area in an array of golden yellow. Looking at this scene, it is easy to understand what inspired Wordsworth to write these lines: 'I wondered lonely as a cloud that floats on high over vales and rills, when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils.' Flowers! What is not to like."

Oral Communications - Sept. 15 - 19

Congratulations, students. Most of you did really well on the test on Chapters 1 & 2. All of the test grades are now in Pinnacle. If you did not do well on the test, you have an opportunity to bring your grade up with your Collage Speech that we will begin on September 23 (Tuesday), which will be worth 125 points. September 23 will be volunteer day. Anyone who volunteers (I'll bet we will have more than one day of volunteers because so many of you will volunteer) will receive 5 bonus points. In addition, you can receive another 5 points if you practice your speech in front of a parent or guardian and bring me a signed note that confirms that practice. Remember, speeches under 3 minutes long will lose points, so remember to time your practice for at least a minute longer and make certain that you include many interesting details. Practice enthusiasm, eye contact, VOLUME, and gestures--there is nothing better for nervousness than practice.
NOTE: On the back of your assignment handout is a copy of the critique that I will be using when I grade your speech: 100 points for delivery--25 points for your collage or whatever you choose to bring to illustrate your speech about you and your interests.
I will be out Monday and Tuesday (a hospitalized relative), but the week will be spent on listening (just now getting to that) and organizational skills for speaking.
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Good luck, Mr. Speaker!

Oral Communications- Sept. 8 - 12

Test this week on Chapters 1 & 2 (Wednesday or Thursday). Chapter 4 and listening will be covered this week and will not be on this week's test. Review your notes, handouts and worksheets--they are your study guides for this test; if after double checking the test I come across any information that you do not have in those sheets, I will supply it to you. (PARENTS, YOUR CHILD MAY CHECK OUT A SPEECH TEXT FROM THE LIBRARY AT ANY TIME AND KEEP THEIR BOOK AT HOME FOR REFERENCE).
I hope to make your collage speaking assignment this week which will make your collage speech due the following week. At least one very enthusiastic young lady has completed her collage, but has remembered additional information that she is going to include on the back of her poster. I am looking forward to hearing her presentation and seeing her collage. The collages are usually done with so much pride and expertise that they are truly a treat for both me and the students to enjoy.

Oral Communications- Sept. 1 - Sept. 5

Assignments: Start collecting pictures about the people, places and things in your life and things that are of interest to you. Jot down some notes to present these items orally in an entertaining manner. Don't say "I have included a lot of pink on my collage because I like pink." Instead, give the audience some details about your first memory of your attraction to pink and the first pink item that captured your attention; there may even be an interesting story associated with the memory. Try to incorporate images and information that brings your personality to life. What do you want us to know about you and your family, friends, hobbies, activities, places you are from or have visited? How should your oral information and collage be organized in order to make use of transitions in order to flow as seamlessly as possible to the next grouping or item? It is best to gather your pictures (magazines, photos, computer print-outs, etc.), think about how it can best be organized (spatially, topically, chronologically) to suit your presentation before you paste your pictures. Be thinking of that WOW factor to begin your collage speech and a memorable way to conclude it.
This week we will further discuss non-verbal communication, para language, and listening. We will view a short video on non-verbal communication and practice some listening exercises. This Friday, we should be able to get to our news discussion. Our first test will cover Chapters 1, 2, & 4 and will be taken next week. (week of Sept. 8-12)

Oral Communications

Assignments for August 24 - 28
PARENTS! Parents Make a Difference night is on Tuesday, August 26th. Come to Rogers High and meet your child's teachers. I will do all of my greeting from Room 602.
This week we will work on the communications model and Chapters One, Two, and Four. Also, this week, students should be able to go to the library and check out a speech text if they would like. We will keep a class copy in the rooms I am in, and I will pass out study guides when we have a test. On Friday, we will have a group discussion on current events that requires that every student participates
Don't forget to pick up poster board for collages.

Oral Communications

Assignments:
Ausgust 18 -22 - Getting acquainted exercises. Information brought home about oral communications syllabus and student expectations for parent signature. Students will need to get a poster board for eventual collage speech and a couple of folders with brads for both Oral Communications and for Academy Seminar classes.