This course focuses on the basic elements of oral communication: speaker, speech, method of speaking, and listener. Students learn how to apply these concepts in order to become effective, poised speakers. The lessons are flexible and can be taught in the most logical order for your course. A goal of this course is to have the teacher provide both oral and written critiques of speeches, as well as to have peers evaluate classmates’ presentations. The unit includes final exam options as well as model speeches that students can study, evaluate, and deliver.

Students organize and deliver speeches for a variety of purposes: to inform, to demonstrate, to convince or persuade, to entertain, and to inspire. Lessons examine such topics as communication failure, articulation and pronunciation, methods of speech delivery, choosing a topic, gathering information, and targeting the audience.