JRN120 Course Syllabus Spring2021 .pdf - JRN 120:...

JRN 120: FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
SPRING 2021
CLASS SESSIONS
Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:30am – 12:50 (all online). Weekly course modules are located on Blackboard, which
can be accessed with your Stony Brook ID and password.
INSTRUCTOR
Radha Ganesan, PhD
Email: [email protected]
Office: West Campus, Melville Library, Room N4029
Office Hours: Please contact me via email to set up a time to meet virtually via Zoom.
Hi Everyone! Welcome to JRN 120. I am looking forward to our semester together and the chance to get to
know each of you as we work through the material. I see teaching as an opportunity to share what I know with
my students in an exciting and engaging manner. I see teaching as a way to take students along a journey to
unravel new ideas, information and knowledge, and be as excited as I was when I learned about it. As I travel
along this journey, I too become a student to deepen my own understanding about the subject matter. Each one
of us come into a classroom with our own history and build up an outlook towards the subject matter. The core
of my teaching, pedagogically speaking, is to figure out the starting point for each student and travel along from
where they are, leveraging what they already know, and take them along in a journey of discovering ideas,
information and knowledge. This course will be well organized, interactive, relevant, and intellectually
stimulating. I invite you to reach out to me as and when you need to, by sending me an email. Please maintain a
respectful and courteous attitude toward the ideas of others, even if you do not agree. In addition, I expect that
all students adhere to the course policies listed in the syllabus. Please pay close attention to the detailed course
schedule at the end of this syllabus for each week’s assigned readings and due dates. Public speaking may seem
intimidating at first, but I hope to help you develop your and practice these skills so that you will be a confident
and effective speaker. Best, Radha
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on the core principles underlying effective oral presentations and the development of
effective presentations in public and professional settings. There is an emphasis on analyzing audiences,
composing meaningful, coherent messages, conducting responsible research, developing effective arguments,
and improving delivery skills to strengthen confidence and credibility. Students will develop skills that lay the
foundation for success in future speaking endeavors in both professional and personal settings. This course will
also focus on how to make critical judgments as an audience to public discourse. Upon completion of this course
students will be more confident and effective speakers and listeners. This course consists of synchronous and
asynchronous online interactions:
1. Synchronous class meetings take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:30am – 12:50pm
(During these sessions you will present your speeches to a live audience (each other) and evaluate two of
your classmates using a standard peer feedback form which you will submit as an assignment following the
session. In preparation for your final speech you will participate in a peer workshop during one these virtual
sessions. All virtual class sessions will be recorded for grading purposes only, and will not be shared with
students.