"in alte tende"

How to Succeed in Your Public Speaking Class

Strive for Perfect Attendance. Every session of your speech class is designed to help you learn the material and master the skills of public speaking. Some days will be devoted to lecture, others to class discussion or activities, still others to the presentation of speeches by you and your classmates. You will learn something important every day—including the days on which you are listening to your classmates' speeches. The more faithfully you attend class, the better you will do in the course.
Do the Assigned Readings and Do Them Ahead of Time. Your textbook and other reading materials are designed to familiarize you with the principles of effective speechmaking. When you read the assigned material ahead of time, class discussion helps reinforce your understanding of what you have read in a way that doing the reading after class (or just before the exam) cannot.
Learn the Language of Public Speaking. Every area of study has its own specialized language. Terms such as central idea, specific purpose, extemporaneous delivery, preparation outline, and the like are part of the language of public speaking. Be sure you know what these terms mean.
Participate in Class. In addition to helping you learn the material better, class participation gives you additional experience expressing your ideas in front of others. Most speech classes meet in small sections in which there is ample opportunity for discussion and sharing ideas. You owe it to yourself to take advantage of this opportunity.
Ask Questions. If you have no questions about the textbook, your speeches, or the class in general, you probably aren't putting much thought into the course. Asking questions is a good way to increase your understanding of the book, to help get ready for speeches, and to feel comfortable with your instructor and classmates.
Spend Lots of Time Working on Your Speeches. To get a sense of the time commitment required for this class, think of each major speech assignment as the equivalent of writing a paper in a composition class. The process of preparing a speech includes choosing a topic, narrowing the topic and settling on a specific purpose, researching the topic, determining the main points you will develop in the speech, writing an outline of the speech and organizing it so your ideas will come across clearly and convincingly, preparing visual aids to accompany the speech, and rehearsing the speech so you can deliver it fluently and confidently. Doing all of this well requires a great deal of effort. The more time you spend working on your speeches, the better they will be. Many B speeches could become As with a little more work.
Begin Working on Your Speeches Well in Advance. Because it takes a lot of time to prepare an effective speech, it is vital that you begin working on your speeches as soon as they are assigned. This way you will be able to spend the night before your presentation fine-tuning your delivery rather than racing feverishly to prepare the content of your remarks. In addition to giving you plenty of time to work through all the stages of speech preparation, getting an early start will help you avoid the dangers of plagiarism that arise when students leave all of their speech preparation to the last minute.

Get Feedback on Your Speeches. Get feedback from your teacher. Most instructors are willing to look at several drafts of a speech and to make suggestions for improvement. You can also get feedback from family, friends, roommates, and classmates. They may not be able to give as much advice as your instructor, but they can tell you if you are saying "um" or looking down at your notes too often. Whatever you do, take advantage of feedback that can help you become a better, more confident speaker.

Student Responsibilities:  

  1. Arrive on time for class. Arriving late is distracting and disruptive.
  2. If you arrive late during a speech, do not enter the classroom. Wait by the door and enter only after you hear applause at the end of the speech.
  3. Listen attentively to the speeches of your classmates. Do not read your phone messages, talk with other students, or stare out the window during a speech. Show your classmates the same courtesy and attention you expect from them when you are speaking.
  4. Put away all items such as cell phones, homework, magazines, textbooks, etc. when speeches are in progress.
  5. Refrain from asking questions until the end of a speech.
  6. Turn in speech outlines and all other written work on the day it is due. 10% of the grade will be deducted each day the assignment is late.
  7. If you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to get all handouts, notes, and assignments from that day.
  8. Be in class without fail on days when you are assigned to speak. Being absent will throw off the speaking schedule and may well result in a major penalty on your grade.
  9. If you become ill and will have to miss several classes, notify your instructor immediately. Be prepared to document your illness.
  10. If you cannot meet with your instructor during posted office hours, make—and keep—an appointment to meet with her  at another time.