COMM 1000H: Introduction to Public Speaking - Honors

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2025
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
District General Education: A2. Communication & Analytical Thinking
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

In this course, students learn and apply foundational rhetorical theories and techniques of public speaking in a multicultural democratic society. Students discover, develop, and critically analyze ideas in public discourse through research, reasoning, organization, composition, delivery to a live audience, and evaluation of various types of speeches, including informative and persuasive speeches. This is an honors course. Student must be eligible for the Citrus College Honors Program or obtain a recommendation from an Honors instructor. Formerly SPCH 101H. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Part 1: Course Objectives (Identical and Required):\\nObjectives/Outcomes (Identical and Required):\\nAt the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to (Identical and Required):\\n1. Apply rhetorical theories to create and analyze public speeches in a variety of contexts including historical and/or contemporary.
  • Formulate and implement effective research strategies to gather information and ideas from primary and secondary sources, evaluating them for credibility, accuracy, and relevancy.
  • Employ sound reasoning and construct compelling arguments in support of a guiding thesis and organizational pattern appropriate for the audience, occasion, and purpose
  • Demonstrate rhetorical sensitivity to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging and adhere to ethical communication practices which include truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason.
  • Compose and deliver a variety of speeches, including Informative and Persuasive speeches, to a live audience (one to many) using effective delivery practices.
  • Employ effective listening practices.

Major Course Content

Part 1: Course Content: Required Topics (Identical):

  1. Foundational rhetorical theories, including the canons of rhetoric and Aristotelian proofs, as well as relevant principles of human communication.
  2. Critical analysis of historical and contemporary public discourse.
  3. Ethical communication practices as senders and receivers.
  4. Effective listening and principles of constructive feedback.
  5. Rhetorical sensitivity to diverse audiences.
  6. Adaptation to audiences, rhetorical situations, and purposes.
  7. Types of speeches (for example, speeches to inform, persuade, entertain).
  8. Outline and compose effective speeches based on purpose and appropriate subject matter, topic, thesis, and organizational patterns.
  9. Research strategies for locating and critically evaluating ideas and information from primary and secondary sources.
  10. Use of credible evidence and sound reasoning to support a variety of claims, including appropriate written and oral citations.
  11. Effective practice and delivery skills using various modes of delivery.
  12. Effective verbal and nonverbal practices while delivering a speech.
  13. Techniques for managing communication apprehension.
  14. Delivery of a variety of student-composed speeches, including Informative and Persuasive speeches. 

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Textbook assignments, research materials, handouts

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Speech outlines, assignment essays. etc

Examples of Outside Assignments

Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time: 1. prepare a speech of introduction 2. service learning speech presentation 3. prepare informative speech 4. prepare persuasive speech 5. prepare visual aids 6.prepare for exams

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 1: English Communication

1C. Oral Communication