Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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GS 1003 - Freshman Studies III

4 lecture hours 0 lab hours 4 credits
Course Description
This course develops oral communication skills through multiple presentations and small group interactions aimed at producing confidence, poise, and fluency in speech.  Students will learn rhetorical strategies for oral communication through classroom activities and analysis of sample “texts” (speeches on video).  Multimedia visual support is emphasized, particularly the relationship between a presentation’s communication goal and the design of a its supporting visual elements.  Assignments will be based on the thematic subject matter of the particular section of the course and typically will require students to explain or persuade in varying presentation formats or to problem-solve in a group discussion.  The final project of the course is a multimedia presentation that addresses a specific problem or opportunity within the larger civic or professional context outside of the classroom.  Thematic subject matter varies by instructor. (prereq: none)
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Produce professional quality presentations - specifically visual representation within supporting materials
  • Communicate information, ideas, and results effectively via oral means
  • Apply knowledge to and formulate creative solutions to problem-solving and decision-making
  • Demonstrate expectations of responsible citizenship (civic engagement)
  • Select and use the most appropriate medium for a variety of audiences, contexts, and purposes

Prerequisites by Topic
  • None

Course Topics
  • Theory and rhetorical principles of oral communication (5 classes)
  • Audience analysis, including cultural contexts (2 classes)
  • Lectures, class discussions (ideally led by students), activities related to selected-topic subject material (8 classes)
  • Lab/workshop on civic project, which will be the subject of the multimedia presentation (6 classes)
  • Informative presentation (4 classes)
  • Debates or persuasive presentation (4 classes)
  • Small-group discussion (7 classes)
  • Multimedia presentation preparation and delivery (4 classes)

Coordinator
Dr. Katherine Wikoff



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