DPS_Dynamic_Public_Speaking

Course Description and Competencies

What to Expect

In this course, you will work through four modules of material. Each module is broken down into smaller units. These units provide an overview of key concepts in both informative and persuasive speaking. These include topic selection, research, organization, incorporating feedback, rehearsal, and delivery.

Throughout the course, you will find readings and other activities to help you develop your public speaking skills. These include videos, practice activities, and knowledge checks to deepen your understanding of the content. Engaging with these activities reinforces and expands new learning, helping you communicate more clearly and become a more confident and impactful speaker in school, work, and everyday life.

Course Competencies

This course covers the following competencies:

Applies Foundational Public Speaking Principles: The student applies foundational public speaking principles in speech development.
Delivers Informative Speech: The student delivers an informative speech that promotes shared understanding.
Applies Speech Foundations to Persuasion: The student applies foundational public speaking principles in persuasive speech development.
Presents Persuasive Speech: The student presents a persuasive speech supported by evidence and clear reasoning.

Assessment

You must achieve a ranking of Competent on each assessment to pass the course. You may attempt each assessment two times before additional support is necessary. If you require further attempts, please contact your Course Instructor or Student Experience Specialist.

4 Final Projects

3 Competency Units

Course Outline

Module	Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
Informative Structure	Identify an informative speech topic, defining a purpose and writing a thesis statement. Analyze audience characteristics to inform speech content. Select supporting material appropriate to the topic and purpose. Organize speech content into an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Informative Delivery	Deliver an informative speech with clear ideas and organized structure. Demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication. Use presentation technology to support audience understanding. Evaluate speech performance and identify specific improvements for future delivery.
Persuasive Structure	Develop a persuasive speech topic, purpose, and argument. Analyze audience beliefs to inform persuasive messaging. Interpret performance data to assess the success of a recommendation. Construct arguments using evidence and reasoning. Incorporate counterarguments into the speech structure.
Persuasive Delivery	Deliver a persuasive speech with a clear argument and supporting evidence. Organize arguments using claims and supporting material. Apply communication techniques to influence an audience and support a persuasive purpose. Use presentation technology to support a persuasive purpose.

Technology Requirements

We want to be sure you have the tools to succeed! Review the Computer System and Technology Requirements to learn about the technology you'll need. If you have questions about your setup, contact support@academy.wgu.edu.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. If you haven't already, download this free software. You may encounter an interactive form that contains fields that you can select or fill in. Review how to fill in a PDF form.

Key Contacts

Course Connect
Check out this online community to take advantage of course resources, including videos and tips from your educators. You can ask and answer questions, provide feedback on your progress, and interact with fellow students. You will find this platform in the Student Resources section of the course. Log on and do some exploring!

Technical Support
If you encounter technical issues, be sure to contact the Help Desk. Just submit a Support Request for assistance.

Program Support
Do you have questions about your account? Student Support has answers. They can help with billing, switching courses, and other requests. You can contact them at (888) 320-0540 or support@academy.wgu.edu.

Accommodations

WGU provides compliant and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodation, please contact us at the start of the course. You can email disability@academy.wgu.edu or call (888) 320-0540.

We are committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to WGU's services and materials. We strive to use best practices for accessibility. Our goal is to conform to existing U.S. laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Our learning management system (LMS) platform is Open edX. Open edX’s commitment to accessible content is published in their Website Accessibility Policy.