Course Syllabus

Syllabus Speech 1 (Global)

Welcome

Welcome to Speech 1! We’re so glad you’re here.

Every lesson is designed to help you grow as a thinker, problem solver, and global learner. As a Mizzou Academy global student, you will complete lessons and assignments on your own schedule, interacting with course content, participating in interactives, and completing practice activities, as well as drafting and revising assignments, preparing for quizzes and assessments, and taking exams.

To stay on track, we recommend using a pacing guide. You can find more information about pacing in the Course Resources section, along with helpful tools, technology support, and tips for online learning success.

As you begin, remember that online learning requires both independence and communication. Be curious, stay organized, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher if you need support.

We’re excited to learn with you, and we’re happy you’re part of our Mizzou Academy community!

Pacing

This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment.

This course is asynchronous, meaning you can complete lessons and assignments at your own pace.

Most students spend approximately 10 hours per lesson interacting with course content, participating in interactive activities, and completing practice exercises, as well as drafting and revising assignments, preparing for quizzes and assessments, and taking exams. Your time may vary depending on your goals and learning style.

We encourage you to work at a consistent pace, allowing time to absorb new ideas, build skills, and reflect on what you’ve learned. Use a pacing guide to plan ahead, stay organized, and finish strong.

Course Description

Welcome to Speech 1! We are so glad you’re here in our Mizzou Academy high school speech course! Being able to clearly express your ideas and be heard matters. This is because you matter. You have important things to say and we want to hear them.

In Speech 1, you will learn the basics of verbal and nonverbal communication and practice delivering a clear message to an audience. You will review the basics of speech writing and construction. You will deliver a variety of speeches, each with different goals, such as informing, persuading, and entertaining. Your speech performances will be different lengths, have different requirements, and some will incorporate visual aids.

The first half of Speech 1 will cover basic terminology and deeply explore verbal and nonverbal communication strategies. There will be two major assignments in the first half of speech one. The first will be a verbal reading demonstration after Lesson 3, where you will creatively interpret and read a text out loud. The second assignment will be the Midterm speech performance, where you will tell your classmates about spectacular travel destinations around the world.

The second half of Speech 1 will reinforce the concepts from the first half of the course and expand upon those skills by introducing rhetorical persuasion, the use of visual aids, and building up to a 2 to 4 minute speech where you will demonstrate a topic of your choice.

By the end of Speech 1, you will have gained an awareness of many strategies to set you up for public speaking success for years to come! We hope you have a great time in Speech 1 and hope you will continue on through Speech 2!

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

control verbal communication with intentionality
control nonverbal communication with intentionality
deliver an appropriately-structured and audience-centered speech
engage appropriately with a text and with a template
plan and structure an effective presentation
develop and engage effective listening and feedback strategies
develop topic and content ideas from prompts
work with and overcome fear of public speaking
express themselves clearly, with confidence and power, in a variety of speaking situations

Course Essential Questions

How can we use verbal and nonverbal communication to become better communicators?

How can we share our ideas with others in a way that changes the way that they see the world?

Course Overview

Lesson	Objectives	Quiz	Assignment
1: Introduction to Communication	Describe the steps of the communication process Specify differences between communication and public speaking Speak out loud to an audience, using a template Speak out loud to an audience, using an original composition	No quiz.	Lesson 1 Assignment - Self-Introduction Speech Video (12 Points)
2: Basics of Verbal Communication, Part 1	Define verbal communication and characteristics of volume, rate and articulation. Use volume intentionally to best suit context. Demonstrate effective use of pacing in speech performance. Demonstrate clear articulation in speech performance. Practice strategies to intentionally control verbal communication aspects of volume, rate and articulation.	Lesson 2 Quiz (10 MC Questions, 1 Point Each)	No Assignment
3: Basics of Verbal Communication, Part 2	Define verbal communication and characteristics of tone, pronunciation, and pauses Use tone intentionally to best suit the context of the speech Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of pronunciation in a performance Demonstrate an understanding of the importance and benefit of intentional pauses in speech Demonstrate an understanding of the distraction caused by verbal fillers, and how to avoid them Utilize breathing strategies to help prepare for and deal with stage fright Focused review on the definition, intentional utilization and effective creation of pronunciation, tone, pitch, pauses.	No quiz.	Lesson 3 Assignment - Verbal Communication (40 Points)
4: Basics of Nonverbal Communication	Define nonverbal communication and its defining aspects of eye contact, posture, movement, gestures, facial expressions, appearance, and other aspects of nonverbal communication Use eye contact intentionally to maintain contact with a range of listeners while speaking Intentionally use posture, movement, gestures, facial expressions, appearance, and other aspects of nonverbal communication Use effective nonverbal communication skills to communicate a clear viewpoint and engage listeners Avoid body language or mannerisms that might be distracting to an audience	Lesson 4 Quiz (10 MC Questions, 2 Points Each)	Lesson 4 Assignment: Annotation (1 Point)
5: Informative Speech - Introduction to the Writing Process	Define the features of an informative speech Use brainstorming strategies to narrow and select a speech topic Gather, analyze, and select supporting evidence Write a complete and cohesive outline for an informative speech that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion	No Quiz	No Assignment
Midterm Exam (Midterm Assignment: Three Locations Informative Speech and Performance, 75 Points)
6: Introduction to Persuasive Rhetoric	Identify the elements and rhetorical devices used in a persuasive speech Outline a persuasive speech Identify preparation techniques for delivering successful persuasive speeches	Lesson 6 Quiz (10 MC Questions, 2 Points Each)	Assignment Title and brief description (or n/a)
7: Introduction to Persuasion - Active Listening, Feedback, and Reflection	Analyze speeches for effectiveness Actively listen to presenters and offer feedback (Praise, Polish, Questions) to speakers Use feedback for revision Deliver a professional and clear persuasive speech for student body president candidacy	No Quiz	Lesson 7 Assignment - Persuasive Speech (submission page) (130 Points)
8: Introduction to Demonstration	Define the features of a demonstrative speech Use the following strategies to polish your speech outline with: action verbs, active voice, syntax variety, parallelism, and tone. Craft a speech introduction with a deliberate hook and a clear thesis Craft support statements that clearly and directly serve the thesis Craft a conclusion with a strong clincher.	Lesson 8 Quiz (10 MC Questions, 2 Points Each)	No Assignment
9: Using Visual Aids	Differentiate between effective and ineffective visual aids in various speech contexts Begin to draft your final speech Incorporate visual aids in a polished and edited speech	No Quiz	No Assignment
10: Demonstrative Speech - Polish, Practice, Perform	Polish and refine the final demonstrative speech notes and filming plan Use figurative language and sound devices to enliven your voice and connect with your audience Use your notes to deliver an extemporaneous speech smoothly and fluently Use a microphone to achieve clear and consistent volume Use a camera to frame a speech with intentional effect Identify performance elements in delivering a speech: verbal, physical, use of space, technology, and visual aids Perform a complete dress rehearsal of the final demonstrative speech assignment	No Quiz	No Assignment
Final Exam (Demonstration Outline and Video Submission, 125 Points)

Grades

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on submitted work and exams. The available points are distributed as follows:

Source	Available Points
Lesson Assignments	183
Lesson Quizzes	40
Midterm Exam	75
Final Exam	125
Acceptable User Polity and Mizzou Academy Handbook Quiz	2
Total	425

Textbook & Technology Requirements

To fully participate, make sure you have:

A computer that meets our Mizzou Academy technology requirements
A microphone and webcam for recording audio and video assignments
Any other required textbooks or materials for the course

Textbook

No textbook is required for this class.

Materials

During the course of the semester, students will need to have the following items available to them. It is up to the instructor whether students will buy their own supplies or if the school will keep these things on hand for students:

Notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes
Poster board or butcher paper or any large paper that could be used for cue cards
Index cards
Colored markers or colored pencils
Post-it notes
A means of video recording speeches (students may use their cell phones, or you may prefer to have a video camera, tripod, and microphone in the classroom for student use)

Technology

The most up-to-date requirements can be found here:

Browser and Computer Requirements
Proctoring Requirements
Microphone (external or internal)
Webcam

Additional requirements for the course are below:

audio and video recording capabilities (e.g., smartphone, camera)

If you ever have trouble accessing course materials or recording tools, reach out to your teacher for support. We are here to help!

Accessibility

If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.

Canvas Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.

Access Canvas through the Tiger Portal https://mizzouacademy.missouri.edu/
For assistance with Canvas, passwords, or other technical issues, submit a ticket by selecting Help from the Global Navigation menu on the left in Canvas. Additional information is provided in the following Canvas Guide: How do I get help with Canvas as a student?
For questions about enrollment, access to courses, exam proctoring, or billing, contact our Support Services Team at (855) 256-4975 or mizzouacademy@missouri.edu.