SPCH 151 The Spoken Word

The course will focus on performing literary selections as spoken presentations with an emphasis on analyzing prose, poetry, dramatic literature, and children's literature in order to communicate its beauty, meaning, and emotional impact while emphasizing the oral and aural quality of the works. In addition, this course will empower individuals to feel more at ease making text-based presentations at public and private events. Especially recommended for all public performers, education, business, and journalism/mass media majors and for those wishing to improve their delivery and articulation.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3

Course Objectives

1. Organize and articulate vocal variety with pitch, tempo, volume, diction, and tone.
2. Communicate interpretations of prose, poetry, and dramatic literature to an audience
   through imaginative formal performances as well as demonstrating active listening.
3. Use spoken and symbolic forms of communication to convey character, tone, and general
   circumstances of a script, using a variety of formats and techniques.
   
4. Analyze one’s own communication style and choices, and those of others through honest
   and constructive class critique of peer performances and revising one’s own performance.
5. Assess, reflect on, and critically analyze the role of speech and performance in illuminating
   the human condition.
6. Identify and apply concepts and theories of enduring and contemporary issues of aesthetics
   and creativity through ensemble trust, emotional commitment, character development,
   imagination, and vocal life.
7. Incorporate innovation, risk taking and creativity into performance choices through
   investigation of one’s own voice and sense memories as an interior source for character
   inspiration by using analysis and problem-solving methods.
8. Pose and address questions related to the confluence of creative expression with social and
   cultural contexts of selected literature and poetry, respecting diverse opinions and
   encouraging the participation of others.

Course Objectives

1. Organize and articulate vocal variety with pitch, tempo, volume, diction, and tone.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Writing and performing Vocal Scoring of various texts

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Oral Communication Rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC1
2. Communicate interpretations of prose, poetry, and dramatic literature to an audience
   through imaginative formal performances as well as demonstrating active listening.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Performance for class peers

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Oral Communication Rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC2
3. Use spoken and symbolic forms of communication to convey character, tone, and general
   circumstances of a script, using a variety of formats and techniques.
   

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Completion of vocal exercises from textbook

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Oral Communication Rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC3
4. Analyze one’s own communication style and choices, and those of others through honest
   and constructive class critique of peer performances and revising one’s own performance.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Assessment of final performance and constructive critique of classmates’ performances

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Oral Communication Rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC4
5. Assess, reflect on, and critically analyze the role of speech and performance in illuminating
   the human condition.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Written response paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric

   Creative Process

   • CP4
6. Identify and apply concepts and theories of enduring and contemporary issues of aesthetics
   and creativity through ensemble trust, emotional commitment, character development,
   imagination, and vocal life.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Group performance

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric

   Creative Process

   • CP1
7. Incorporate innovation, risk taking and creativity into performance choices through
   investigation of one’s own voice and sense memories as an interior source for character
   inspiration by using analysis and problem-solving methods.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Group improvisation exercise

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric

   Creative Process

   • CP2
8. Pose and address questions related to the confluence of creative expression with social and
   cultural contexts of selected literature and poetry, respecting diverse opinions and
   encouraging the participation of others.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Literature selection proposal

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric

   Creative Process

   • CP3