Public Speaking for Digital Platforms

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Introduces principles, practice and criticism of public speaking adapted for online audiences and platforms. Emphasizes public speaking as more than performance, examining key skills, including audience analysis, research, organization, use of supporting materials and delivery techniques. Attention to ethical communication and sensitivity to diverse audiences across professional, political, religious, cultural and/or ideological contexts. Includes practice in informative, persuasive and ceremonial speaking, developing competence in composition, digital presentation and multimedia editing. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Equips students with skills essential for professional, academic and civic life. Builds competence in organizing ideas, supporting arguments, adapting them to varied online audiences. Develops confidence in digital delivery, critical listening and communication across diverse platforms. Prepares students for leadership roles, workplace communication and/or active participation in public dialogue through online media. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Highlights how everyday ideas about public speaking, such as viewing it only as performance or memorization, differ from research-based and practical perspectives. Develops understanding of speaking as a process involving invention, organization, style, delivery and audience adaptation across both in-person and digital contexts. Emphasizes that effective speaking requires ethical choices, critical thinking and sensitivity to diverse audiences, as well as confidence in both live and recorded delivery. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include exploration of why public speaking matters in digital society; study of ethical principles in communication; development of confidence and listening skills; analysis of digital audiences and rhetorical situations; research and organization of supporting materials; crafting of effective introductions, bodies and conclusions; use of language and presentation aids; practice in informative, persuasive and/or ceremonial speaking; training in composition, delivery, recording and editing of speeches for digital distribution; application of digital rhetoric and multimedia tools across video conferencing, online platforms and social media. Course speeches and examples may address diverse and sometimes controversial topics, reflecting perspectives represented in public life as well as subjects chosen by students; breadth of content emerges from student interests and experiences, and guidance from the instructor.