COMM/218 Week 1

2-Minute Presentation

Create a 2-minute presentation. The focus can be informative, persuasive, or entertaining but should fall under one of the following topics (or another topic provided by your instructor):

• Make a sales pitch for a new video game.
• Describe how to perform a task on your PC or PC software.
• Warn what to do in the event of a virus alert.
• Describe the steps in troubleshooting a printer problem.
• Explain how a network or a part of a network operates.
• Describe the benefits of social media or compare two social networking packages.

Deliver your presentation and submit your presentation file or link.  Windows Media Link is the preferred method of recording and submitting the audio file.  Please refer to the course materials page under Week One for instructions on how to record a sound file.

Communicating Effectively Worksheet

Answer the following questions, using information from this week’s readings. Respond to each question in 100 to 200 words.

1. Briefly explain the five choices speakers can make. How do these elements determine a speech’s success or failure?
2. What role does the delivery method (e.g. online, video conferencing, face-to-face, conference room) play in constructing a presentation?
3. What is the difference between hearing and listening? What are some strategies you could employ to improve your listening skills? What does it mean to listen critically?
4. What are the parts of a speech? Describe the role each part plays in an effective presentation.
5. What are some ways to use your voice and body effectively when giving an oral presentation? In which areas do you need to improve?

Week 1 DQ#1- What speaking experiences have you had in classes, jobs, religious organizations, extracurricular activities, and so forth? Were they positive or negative? Why?

Week 1 DQ#2 -What is the importance of being an effective speaker in today’s workplace? Will public speaking be important in your career? How so?

COMM/218 Week 2

Public Speaking Self-Reflection paper

Review the feedback you received from the Individual Presentation by your instructor relating to your 2-minute presentation in Week One. Write a 350- to- 700-word reflection that answers the following questions:

• What verbal and nonverbal speaking anxiety signs did you see?
• What specific areas do you intend to work on in this class?
• What do you want to accomplish in this course?
• How would you plan to improve weak areas to accomplish your goals?

Complete the Presentation Analysis and Adaptation Worksheet located on the student website. This will help you identify your audience and prepare for your Informative Presentation, due this week. You can choose any audience, as long as you properly identify them.

Informative Presentation

(Includes .WMA Media File)

Create a 5- to 6-minute informative presentation that demonstrates or explains how to do an information technology task, such as:

• Creating a file directory tree
• Creating a secure password
• Another skill you feel is helpful and interesting related to computers, PCs, or smart devices

Include a PC or another prop as a visual aid.

Deliver your presentation.

• If you use an audio-only format, submit a Microsoft® PowerPoint® file containing images taken while you give the presentation with your prop. No text or diagrams can be included.

Week 2 DQ#1 -Name three characteristics you think are important when making an audience analysis. How would those affect the way an audience approaches a presentation?

Week 2 DQ#2 - Discuss the importance of posture, gestures, movement, eye contact, and facial expressions. Which skill is most effective when delivering a presentation? Why?

COMM/218 Week 3

Learning Team

Proposal Presentation

(Includes PowerPoint presentation and Windows Media File WMA File recording PLUS Discussion Questions for Week 3).

Higher Solutions is an information technology company specializing in software development and network architecture. The company has decided to develop a game in order to enter a new market. Teams of employees have been asked to present ideas for a new game that will capture the attention of company executives. Your team has been selected to make one of the presentations. This initial presentation is at the conceptual level.

Includes media files and PowerPoint Presentation plus DQ's

Brainstorm a game for your proposal presentation and submit your idea to your instructor for approval.

Develop a presentation in which you explain your game to Higher Solutions executives. Use an effective organization, and include an introduction and conclusion. Determine the best supporting materials and visuals to use. Cover the following:

• Basic game idea
• Audience and skill level
• Type of game, setting, and characters
• Player interactions
• Objectives, rules, and limits
• Platform and rational (PC, game console, smart device app)
• Tools and resources needed for development

Record your presentation. Each speaker must spend 4 to 5 minutes detailing an aspect of the proposal.

• Accompany your audio presentation with a Microsoft PowerPoint visual that contains images and text in support of your presentation.

Your instructor will provide feedback for this week’s presentation on the following subheadings:

• Audience and Topic
• Delivery: Voice and Body Language
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Week Three
• Overall Evaluation

Submit an outline of your presentation.

Week 3 DQ#1 -The first 30 seconds and last 30 seconds are most important in an oral presentation. What does this mean? What are the different options for powerful openings and closings?

Week 3 DQ#2 - Why is it difficult to maintain audience attention during presentations? What are some techniques you can use to keep an audience’s attention? How would you use these techniques when considering different types of audiences?

COMM/218 Week 4

Forms of Media Matrix

1. Complete the Forms of Media Matrix located on the student website.
2. Prepare and deliver a 5-minute supporting one-point presentation on a topic of your choice related to the IT profession.
3. Write a preparation outline: Supporting One-Point Outline on the student website. 
4. Choose three types of supporting materials to support your point. Develop a 3-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to highlight the supporting material. This requires research and skillful handling of the effective use of language and supporting material. This assignment stresses audience analysis and adaptation. 
5. Deliver a 5-minute supporting one-point presentation based on your outline.

Your instructor will provide feedback for this week’s presentation on the following subheadings:

• Audience and Topic
• Delivery: Voice and Body Language
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Visual Aids
• Language
• Overall Evaluation

Week 4 DQ#1 - What effect do you think improper use of language would have on a group of programmers, a business luncheon with executives, a teleconference meeting, or a software end-users? Discuss a specific example of improper language for each audience.

Week 4 DQ#2 - What presentational media can you use to enhance an oral presentation, other than Microsoft PowerPoint? What would stop you from using other types of media? What is meant by the phrase “Death by PowerPoint?”

COMM/218 - Week 5

Ethical Speaking Analysis

Identify a situation in your life when an issue related to speech ethics was involved. The issue could have affected you as a speaker or a listener.

Write a 350- to 700-word analysis in which you describe the situation and explain the ethical issues involved. Discuss ethical guidelines that could improve the situation.

Persuasive Presentation and Outline

Develop a 10-minute persuasive presentation on an information technology topic you strongly support. Select a topic provided by your instructor, or submit your own idea for approval. Examples include the following:

• Educational merits of video games
• Challenges of a paperless office
• Organizational effectiveness of telecommuting
• The virtual workplace

Incorporate a 6- to 8-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation

Write a preparation outline.

Your delivery will be extemporaneous, using a speaking outline. This presentation requires considerable research and skillful use of persuasion methods. Special emphasis must be provided to evidence and reasoning. This assignment stresses audience analysis and adaptation.

• Follow Monroe’s Motivated Sequence in Ch. 14 of Public Speaking, and include a measurable final action step in your presentation.

 Deliver your presentation.