Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Advanced Presentations and Speaking (Face-to-Face)

COMM 3810-01

Course: COMM 3810-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: COMM
CRN: 32065

Course Description

Advanced principles of public speaking and speechwriting with their practical implementation for professional communication settings. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): COMM 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D-

Required Texts

TEXT: RESONATE 

AUTHOR: NANCY DUARTE-ISBN-987-0-470-63209-7 

This text is required. 

Additional Text Not Required: SLIDE:OLOGY. 

AUTHOR: NANCY DUARTE 

Learning Outcomes

* Develop and improve delivery of public presentations. 

* Understand the role of media in public speaking and the role of public speaking in culture. 

* Gain an understanding of the influence and power of the spoken word in various contexts. 

* Define and apply the major concepts of public speaking and rhetoric to the practical skill of effective presentational speaking. 

* Prepare and deliver speeches that are appropriate to specific audience and situation. 

Strengthen research skills to use supporting material and enhance argumentation. 

* Gain experience and knowledge of computer-generated presentational aids. 

* Develop and sharpen critical listening/thinking skills through evaluation and reasoning. 


Course Requirements

Introduction Presentation. Students will interview each other in pairs and prepare for the presentation. Each student will introduce their partner in front of the class and vice versa.  This is an ice breaker exercise.

Written and Presented Historic Speech. Members of the class will write the speech completely out after researching the subject they are using to complete the assignment. They then will present the presentation on the historic person in front of the audience.

Speech to Inform along with the written speech. Students will select the topic that they wish to use to do the presentation. They will also complete the written portion and place it on canvas.

Story-telling Speech and written speech. Class members will write a story speech that will build around the story they are using to make a point in the presentation.

Persuasive Presentation performance before the class. The Presentation will change the audience or have them to continue an acceptable behavior. This speech requires a call-to-action in the conclusion and the written copy of the speech is also required.

Pecha Kucha Presentation. This presentation will give participants the opportunity to present a speech using slides. This presentation format allows for 20 slides that will be on the screen for 20 seconds each. This helps speakers think on their feet about the slides as they are shown.

Chapter Readings are assigned and other assignments are given in class that will help speakers become more professional and also learn to be better writers.

Course Outline

Unit One—Chapter One reading of the text by Nancy Duarte is assigned on the art of public speaking. A presentation interview will be presented by class members as a get to know class members. This is also an ice breaker assignment to get the class more at ease when speaking in front of an audience.

Unit Two—The Historic presentation will be researched, written and presented to the class audience. Narrative theory is introduced in this unit and examples of historic speeches are given to the class.

Unit Three- The informative speech is written and presented to the class audience. Topics are the student’s choice and some potential topics are discussed. Chapters from Duarte and other authors will be read in this unit.

Unit Four—The story telling presentation will be written and presented by the students. The stories they will use to make a point are their choices from their experiences or from others that they know. Chapter readings will focus on story- telling and its value to society.

Unit Five—A Persuasive Speech with a call- to -action conclusion will be written and delivered. Two chapters on persuasive speaking are required reading for this assignment. In this unit, class members will discuss and view President Reagan’s address to the nation about the Challenger launch that ended in tragedy.

Unit Six-- Pecha Kucha presentation will be presented in class. Each student will prepare a 20-slide presentation on the topic of their choice. Each slide will be on the screen for 20 seconds. Video examples will be shown to the class of speakers presenting these Pecha Kucha presentations.

Note: Each presentation in this class will take two to three class periods to complete.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments will be accepted in class or by 5:00 the day they are due. If there are extenuating circumstances, please communicate that before the due date if possible. 

Assignments received late will be accepted, but will receive a deduction in points possible of at least 1 grade. 

I care about your success. If I feel you are struggling in my course, you will receive a notice of concern from me through SUU. I hope you will use the resources designed for your benefit. 


Attendance Policy

Regular attendance in this course is expected.

Course Fees

This course has a $12 fee.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.