Description | Syllabus | Schedule | Registration

Description:

Language Across the Curriculum presents LAC 200: Oral Communication Workshop. This four-week workshop is designed to build your skill and confidence in Oral Presentations through practice in a low-key non-pressured atmosphere. Students who successfully complete LAC 200: Oral Communication Workshop will receive a notification on their transcript.Students who complete this seminar should expect to improve their ability to organize a talk by:

• Selecting information appropriate for oral presentation
• Using a framework of a clear thesis, motivating introduction and strong conclusion
• Using transitions
• Assembling notes to facilitate “natural” delivery
• Designing visual aids

They will also improve their ability to deliver a talk by:

• Learning to meet the needs of an audience
• Gaining a rapport with an audience
• Using graphics and visual information
• Improving vocal delivery
• Gaining self-confidence and presence
• Handling questions
• Controlling nervousness to present a sense of control and calm

And they will improve listening skills by:

• Looking for specific qualities in a speech
• Giving structured feedback
• Taking notes during a talk in order to facilitate discussion
• Taking part constructively in group discussion
• Making notes and asking intelligent questions

Instructors:  
D. Tihanyi  deborah.tihanyi@utoronto.ca                     
P. Weiss  weissp@ecf.utoronto.ca

Enrolment is limited

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Syllabus:

Description:  The purpose of an oral presentation is to do what a written document cannot do: to make a human connection between your material and your audience. In order to help you do that, this introductory level workshop provides the basic tools for developing an organized, off-the-cuff speaking style. In four weekly, two-hour sessions, you will progress from short, informal impromptus to brief prepared presentations on subjects pertinent to your area of specialization. The use of notes to stay on track is encouraged; memorization is discouraged. You will also learn the basics in designing, preparing and incorporating overhead projections into talks, and giving peer evaluation. Your course workbook is set up in four sections designed to take you through each class and provide reference notes to help you build future presentations.

Objectives:   By the end of the seminar, the student will:

1.     be able to define a purpose for a short talk|
2.     organize a talk so that it logically supports a main point
3.     design clear and appropriate visual aids
4.     develop strategies to overcome mannerisms that get in the way of effective speaking

Expectations:  The student is expected to:

1.     Attend all four sessions
2.     Complete all talks, writing assignments and 2 evaluations of other students’ talks.
3.     Participate in classroom discussion and exercises
4.     Submit copies of overhead slides, talk outlines.
5.     Attend one ½ hour meeting with the section instructor.

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Schedule:

Section 1: Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m. September 18 to October 9
Section 2: Fridays, 12 noon to 2 p.m., September 19 to October 10

Weekly Schedule

Week 1:  Organizing your thoughts in order to express them verbally

Structured discussion is used to introduce the principles of organizing and evaluating a talk and on using overheads.

Each student will present a brief talk introducing a partner

Assignment: Prepare a 3-minute talk on a subject of interest to you. Write a paragraph, to be handed in at the beginning of class, describing your approach to this task.

Week 2:  Developing Oral Delivery

Students deliver 3 minute talks.  Each student evaluates another student.  After all the talks they meet and exchange notes.  Then as a group, we critique the talks and the evaluations of the talks.  This is an opportunity to discuss performance issues such as gesture, relaxation, enunciation, speed of talking.

Assignment: Prepare a 5-minute talk with overheads on a topic related to your field of study (4^th year students might want to do their thesis topic). Write a paragraph, to be handed in at the beginning of class, describing any changes in your approach.

Week 3:  Rehearsal of 5-minute talks

Five-minute talks with feedback

Each student delivers a five minute talk, another student fills out an evaluation form to be handed to instructor at the end of class.

Students make appointments for ½ hour individualized feedback session with instructor.

Assignment:  Rework 5-minute speech using feedback from class and instructor. Write a paragraph describing how you prepared and practiced your talk. How did the feedback influence you?

Week 4:  Polished 5-minute talks. This class will be devoted to delivering and responding to the polished 5-minute talk.

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Registration:

The cost for LAC200 is $40.00. This includes all handouts and readings for the course. In order to register, students must send the information requested below to weissp@ecf.utoronto.ca in a message with the subject "LAC200 Registration Request" and deliver a cheque or money order, payable to the University of Toronto, for the course fees to R. Irish or P. Weiss at the Engineering Communication Centre, SFB670. You will be considered registered after we have received a cheque or money order. IMPORTANT NOTE: Registration is first come, first served.

Enrollment is limited.

Name
Student Number
Year of Study (please say if you're on PEY)
Program
E-mail
Telephone

Preference for Thursday or Friday sections.

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