CATA 101 - Fundamentals of Communication

Dr. Lee McGaan  

  Office:  WH 308  (ph. 457-2155);  email lee@monm.edu
  Home:  418 North Sunny Lane (ph. 734-5431)

Fall 2008 Office Hours:  MWF: 9-10am & 11am-1pm; TTh: 10:30am-noon; & by apt.  |       copyright (c) by Lee McGaan, 2008


PREPARING MATERIALS FOR SPEECHES

At the time you present a speech in class you will need to give the instructor two items:  a full‑sentence outline of your speech and a completed Student's Speech Analysis form.   An MS Word version of the blank Analysis form can be found on my CATA 101 web site.

 

Using the best knowledge available to you fill in all sections of the Analysis form.  The purpose of this form is to encourage you to think about your audience and adapt your speech to them.  Normally the audience for your speech will be "CATA 101 class."  (Occasionally students may wish to present speeches that they might wish give to another audience.  Discuss this possibility with your instructor.)

 

Before giving your speech you may wish to ask questions of class members (in or out of class) in order to accurately answer questions 2 and 3 on the Analysis form.  Remember the difference between purpose and thesis.  Your purpose statement should indicate what you hope will be the effect of your speech ON THE AUDIENCE (e.g. to inform, to entertain, etc.).  Be as specific as  you can in noting how you hope the audience will use the material  you present or how they will be influenced by your speech.    Your thesis statement will be different from your purpose.  It states the topic of your speech and your position on that topic (and does not refer to the audience).  You may list the references for your speech at the bottom of the Analysis form or at the end of the outline (see below).  Attach the outline and the form together and give them to the instructor before presenting your speech.

 

Speech Outlines

 

On the Web you will find a sample outline for an informative speech given last year by a CATA 101 student.  You should attempt to make the format of your outline look as much like the sample outline as possible.  In particular, you should include as much detail as the sample and use complete sentences.  While an outline which consists of single words or phrases may be sufficient for you to organize your thoughts, CATA 101 requires complete sentences and fully developed main and sub-points, summaries, and transitions for two reasons.  First, an outline with that much detail is far clearer and more useful to the instructor in following your speech and evaluating your effectiveness.  Second, the process of preparing such a detailed outline tends to help the speaker become more familiar with his/her material and more confident during the speech.  Further, a complete sentence outline is an ideal form for notes the speaker can use while giving the speech.  We strongly encourage you to make a copy of your outline to use at the podium (rather than writing out the speech word for word and then reading it, poorly and with little eye contact).

 

In preparing your outline keep the following points in mind:

 

1.  Use complete sentences for all main and sub-points, summaries and transitions.

(You do not need to write out all support material.)

 

2.  Write out completely introduction and conclusion material.

 

3.  Include all labels as required.   Especially, use the left margin for labeling the parts of the introduction and conclusion as well as transitions, and summaries.  DO NOT FORGET to indicate what thought pattern you are using.  (The thought pattern is the organizational scheme of your main points.  Types of thought patterns include:  chronological, spatial, problem/solution, pro/con, cause‑and‑effect, topical.)

 

4.  Indent each point just as in the sample outline so that the numeral or letter designating each point stands out.  (This makes the outline easy to read at a glance.)

 

5.  Include the section titles: introduction, body, conclusion.

 

6.  Beginning with the second speech, label each item of support material by type (e.g. example, statistic, etc.).

 

7.  Each main point should be developed roughly equally.  In other words, avoid very brief "main" points.

 

                                                               Citing References

 

Just as in writing papers you are expected to cite the sources of information and ideas you present in your speeches when you take material from the work of other people.  Not only does academic honesty and courtesy require that you acknowledge borrowed words or ideas, but also your own need to appear credible before the audience is aided by citing sources.  Further, if you fall into the habit of failing to cite sources or using an inadequate form of citation you will appear to other intelligent people as uneducated.  (In other words, if you graduate from Monmouth and don't know how to cite references you'll look stupid and embarrass the college and your fellow alums.)  When in doubt, I recommend you use MLA citation format, just as you learned in "Introduction to Liberal Arts."

 

Listing every source of information you use (even if you do not quote directly) and including sufficient information so that another person can easily find (and/or evaluate) the source of your information is vital.   For guidance on how to cite sources, including internet sources, try this link Bedford Manual Web Site on Citing Sources  or you can check out the Purdue Univ. writing lab.
 

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/index.html  

 

Keep these points in mind:

 

1.  Sources should be listed in alphabetical order by author (or by book/article title if there is no author).

 

2.  For print sources you must always include:  the author (if there is one), the book or article title, the name of the publisher (magazine/journal name for periodicals), the date (of copyright for books or cover date for periodicals), and the PAGE NUMBERS.

 

3.  If you get information through a conversation with someone, minimally include the person's name (and title/qualifications if appropriate), the word "interview" and the date and place of the conversation.  (e.g. Thomas R. Smith, Professor of Medicine, interview July 9, 1991, Rush Medical Center.)

 

4.  The author should be listed first and the page numbers should be listed last.  Other matters of style and form differ depending on which of the citation formats you are using.

 

5.  NEVER use a partial listing such as "TIME, May 15."  That's a sure signal to everyone who sees it that you are poorly educated.

 

6.  You should list "Works Cited" at the end of your outline, which you then submit to "turnitin.com.