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DIRECTIVES FOR
THE
SPEECH
PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
MARYVILLE
UNIVERSITY
2007-2008
The Speech Proficiency Examination is an option through
which currently enrolled Maryville University students may demonstrate
proficiency in public speaking. Students who pass the exam are eligible for
equivalency credit in SPCH 110 Oral Communication or for notation on their
transcript that they have shown proficiency in speech.
Students majoring in Communications may not use the Speech Proficiency
Examination to fulfill their general education requirement of SPCH 110 Oral
Communication.
PLEASE
NOTE: Students who are in their last semester of study at Maryville are not
permitted to take the Speech Proficiency Examination.
The Speech Proficiency Examination is composed of two
elements:
1) A 5-7 minute informative or persuasive speech.
THE TIME LIMITS ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
2) A written outline of the speech. (See the outline format in these
directives.)
SCHEDULE FOR THE SPEECH PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION FALL 2007:
Tuesday, Oct 2, 2007, 12:15p Kernaghan 2109
Thursday, Oct 4, 2007, 6:00p Reid 3327
SCHEDULE FOR THE SPEECH PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION SPRING
2008:
Thursday, Feb 28, 2008, 6:00p Reid 2318
(session that was postponed because campus was closed Feb 21--different room!)
Friday, Feb 22, 2008, 12:15p Reid 2309 (session will be held as scheduled)
To register for the exam,
email Leah Schwartz
lschwartz@maryville.edu In your email, include your name, student number,
phone number, and the date you will take the exam. There is no examination fee.
Students who pass the Speech Proficiency Examination
are eligible for credit in SPCH 110.60 (3 credits, grade of P). Tuition for SPCH
110.60 is at the current rate.
Address questions about the examination to:
Dr. Leah Schwartz, ABAC 3206, 314-529-9409
Voicemail: 314-529-9201+ 9409#
Email:
lschwartz@maryville.edu
http://accweb.itr.maryville.edu/schwartz
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
SPEECH PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
1. The examination is offered twice annually, during the
fall and spring semesters, in day and evening sessions. The usual dates are
mid-October and mid-February.
2. Students who pass the examination may receive credit in SPCH 110.60 by
registering for this credit within a calendar year after they pass the exam. No
attendance is required. The student will receive a grade of P. Regular tuition
is charged.
3. Students who pass the examination have a second alternative: to have the
Registrar indicate on their transcript that they have passed the challenge exam
in speech within a calendar year after they pass the exam. A $45 fee is charged.
4. There is no fee for the examination itself.
5. Only currently enrolled Maryville University students may take the Speech
Proficiency Examination.
6. The examination may not be taken in the last semester of registration.
7. Communications majors may not elect to take the exam instead of the speech
course required for their major.
8. Directives for the Speech Proficiency Examination, exam dates, and
instructions for registering by email to take the exam are posted at:
http://accweb.itr.maryville.edu/schwartz
9. Register by emailing
lschwartz@maryville.edu. Include in your email your name, student number,
phone number, and the date you will take the exam.
THE SPEECH
1. Choose a topic that interests you.
2. Be sure that your topic is likely to interest an audience of college
students of various ages. Don't choose a trivial topic.
3. Adapt everything you say about your topic to the needs and interests of your
audience. (A topic such as global warming is suitable for many audiences; the
same speech on the topic could not be used for both an elementary school class
and a meeting of scientists.)
4. Organize your thoughts so that they accomplish your goal in giving the
speech: to inform or to persuade a college audience.
5. Define any terms that need clarification. Don't assume that the audience
shares all of your ideas and experiences.
6. Explain or prove your points graphically. Use specific examples,
statistics, quotations, anecdotes, analogies, and demonstrations.
7. Only non-electronic visual aids may be used (NOT videos, NOT presentation
programs such as PowerPoint).
8. Research your topic; be sure your information is accurate and current.
9. If you are discussing a controversial subject, know the arguments of your
opponents and refute them during your speech.
10. Keep the audience interested in your speech by incorporating appropriate
humor, suspense, and familiar references. Appeal to their curiosity, their
desire for health, happiness, wealth, personal fulfillment, etc.
11. Pay careful attention to the introduction and conclusion of your speech.
The audience is particularly attentive at those moments, so don't miss your
chance to impress them.
12. Make sure that you have effective transitions between ideas in your speech.
You know your topic; the audience doesn't. Make sure that you tell them the
relationship between one idea and the next.
13. Be logical, but don't ignore the value of emotional appeal.
14. Get rid of distracting habits such as saying "uh," "okay," "you know,"
"like."
15. Have aesthetic value in your speech (vivid vocabulary and imagery,
interesting insights).
16. Let the audience sense your self-confidence and sincerity.
17. Deliver your speech extemporaneously, using notes if you like. A
speech is different from a paper or other written assignment read aloud.
18. Practice your entire speech out loud several times before the exam day.
19. Use your body, face, and voice effectively. Facial expression, voice
control, and other elements of delivery are performance elements that can help
the audience remember the content of your speech.
In summary, these are the things you should keep in mind
while preparing your speech. They are the criteria on which your speech will be
judged:
TOPIC - worthwhile, of some value to mature
people
ORGANIZATION - coherent, logical, systematic,
effective
SUPPORTING MATERIALS - varied, concrete, appropriate
to the topic, convincing
STRUCTURE - recognizable and effective introduction,
body, and conclusion
DELIVERY - effective use of voice and body; absence
of distracting habitual sounds, phrases, and gestures; commanding,
self-confident presence; conversational manner; good eye contact
REMEMBER that your task is to DELIVER A SPEECH,
not to read a good paper to the audience. The Speech Proficiency Examination is
not a test of your ability to read aloud.
REMEMBER to stay strictly within the time limits:
5-7 minutes.
Consult any standard public speaking text for a fuller
discussion of the elements of effective speaking.
THE OUTLINE
Consult any standard public speaking text for a fuller
discussion of the outline. Use this form for your outline or use another model
that includes the items in this form. Hand in the outline when you deliver your
speech. Put your name and student number on your outline.
SPEECH TITLE:
SUMMARY OF THE INTRODUCTION:
PURPOSE STATEMENT: In one declarative sentence,
state your topic. The scope of your speech and the advantages the audience will
derive from listening to you should be obvious from your purpose statement.
Examples: Global warming must be addressed now. Frank Lloyd Wright changed the
way we see a dwelling.
BODY: 2-5 main ideas, with sub-topics as necessary,
supported with appropriate and varied materials.
1st main idea:
2nd main idea:
3rd main idea:
SUMMARY OF THE CONCLUSION:
PRESENTATION CRITIQUE SHEET
STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION:
Introduction:
Establish credibility
Establish rapport
Get audience's attention
Introduce the topic
Give a presummary of main ideas
Body:
Present main ideas in logical order
Provide support for main ideas which is
varied
appropriate
concrete
Provide transitions between:
intro/body/conclusion
main ideas
supporting elements
Conclusion:
Summarize main ideas
Close effectively
PHYSICAL PRESENCE:
Posture
Use of appropriate gestures
Poise, commanding presence
Eye contact; facial expression
Absence of distracting mannerisms
VOICE:
Conversational variety
Pitch
Volume
Pace
Quality
Enunciation
LANGUAGE:
Vocabulary
Avoidance of vocal mannerisms
Use of enrichment such as imagery; the aesthetic dimension
Pronunciation
MOTIVATION OF THE AUDIENCE TO LISTEN:
Use of humor, suspense, familiar reference
Logical appeals; emotional appeals; charisma
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