Hi Summer Writing Campers of 2011!

What a great first day of camp--You all are so bright and talented! Let's use this blog to communicate this week! Post here by using "comments below"--be sure to click on anonymous if you don't want your own blog to be set up! For our first blog, post here: Your name, and a favorite  quote OR song lyric--be sure to include the source (author)--also feel free to comment on others' selections, but only positive or thoughtful comments--no critical comments ok? I'll go first: "Great writing...really great writing, happens in the revisions"--John Gardener-----I also like: "Baby, you're a firework..." --Katy P.

Final: Study Guide/Team Effort

Please post the names or name of your group and the numbers for each word or concept (from the study guide)--Keep things brief! Thanks all--Coffee was fun!

Your (drumroll, pleeeeese....) LAST BLOG OF SPRING

Hi Gang! What a wild and crazy semester! We've seen some interesting film and video clips, witnessed some unexpected news and world affars this spring and made some new friends too! Pat yourself on the back, it is not easy staying in school, especially with these trying economic times. I am proud of all of you! Every person who has stuck it out in our broken-down, ghetto-fabulous portable with the 20-year-old television and no air conditioning is a better speaker going into summer! For this final post, please share your favorite moment during student speeches and the most important thing you learned in our class (either from your teacher, the book or fellow students). Thanks and have a wonderful summer! Keep in touch now! Blog-on--S

Ideas for the Final!

3 weeks to go!!!!! Shut up! Really? Time flies! How was break? For this week's blog, post an idea or two of what you would like to see happen with our 301 final on 5/12....Essay? Multiple choice? Other suggestions or ideas? Unusual or unexpected ways to assess your public speaking mastery? Let's hear you ideas!!!

Spriiiiiiing Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!

Hi! Have fun and be safe!!! For this blog, write a short, four line rhyming poem about spring break and start reviewing the textbook for our final in May! Each line has to rhyme. Creative and clever musical aspects can make public speaking more unique and lyrical--Let's see what ya' got!

"Spring break is sic
I like to dance and kick
I want to eat fries
all week until I dies"---

Earth Day!!!

Hi Gang! Next week is earth day! I am hosting a 'star gazing' party over ay CRC from 830-915pm on Wed 4/13--come for some extra credit and check it out! We'll be on the south east corner of the lawn facing the public library on the Hwy 99 side of CRC campus --it is only 10 minutes from SCC! Snacks will be served!5 points for coming and up to 15 for writing up an earth day "action plan" using class  vocabulary--BUT only if you come to the star party! For this blog, post one thing you and your friends can do (ideally: FREE!) to celebrate EARTH DAY, by cherishing, cleaning up or improving something on our lovely planet! Be sure to use some public speaking vocabulary in your post (The persuasion chapter in your book)

EARTH IS HOME---HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS! Smiles--S

Outlines/No class today: 3/29--I am sick!

Hi Gang--Class won't meet today, I am very sick, but with meds, will be back TH to review persuasive speeches/give persuasive quiz. For this blog, let's talk about your outlines: Persuasion requires heavy support of your main points (3-5 for this speech)--Support points with a good analogy (comparision) or a great bit of evidence or even a clever or heartfelt example. Since you have chosen your topics, here is a good chance to get feedback: State one of your main points and support it with strong, relevent evidence. Ask your readers for some input if you like. If you use research, tell us about the source. Be sure to site sources both in the speech itself and afterwards in your references section of the outline. Smiles--Sandra

Only 4 weeks until SPRING BREAK!!! 3 Part Blog

Hi Gang! Let's talk about PERSUASION! How will you persuade yourself and your classmates to come to class and stick it out for the next 4 weeks...after break it's all coasting downhill, right? RIGHT??? Lets get those grades up and come to every class, why not get the best grade possible?! Everyone has the potential to improve a full letter grade between now and finals! Follow these instructions for this week's pep-talk-blog:

1. ) Visit this site for awesome and realistic persuasive speech tips:
http://www.brighthub.com/education/homework-tips/articles/53098.aspx
Write a few key ideas/tips down and try them!

2.) Use one thing you learn from this website in #2 to persuade the classmate who posted a problem right before you here on our blog. Persuade them to hang in there! Inspire them to overcome!!! Go in order, so "help" the person who posts immediately before your post.

3.) Post one complaint or struggle you are having in our class, or just school in general this semester. What will be challenging for you between now and BREAK? What's a goal you need a push on? You can use fake names or classes if you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

I'll go first: When the rain and wind are stalling spring's arrival, I get bogged down with grading. I need some good persuasive advise on how to overcome the weather blues and get everything graded so my students know their midterm grades!!!!!!!!!!! Help!!!!!!!!! I'm barely hanging on here...........................

Quiz: Social Network

Choose 5 terms from either part 5 or part 6 in your speech textbook. Underline them and include the pg # for each. Define the 5 and apply them to a character or a theme from the film. Don't post, type this up and it is ue Tuesday March 22nd in class or by email please wheeleS@crc.losrios.edu-- Refer to this blog for ideas:  thesocialnetwork-movie.com

"The Social Network"

http://www.thesocialnetwork-movie.com/

Hey--a million dollars isn't cool...you know what's cool? A billion dollars!Hope you like the film--we'll finish it up Tuesday--the link above is to the official website for "The Social Network"--check it out...bring your notes for the quiz! Think about these aspects of the film...what are the key ethical questions raised in the partially true story? What's the irony in a friendless, techy-geek-social outcast developing the biggest social network in the world? Whose your favorite character? Does the film inform the audience or persuade them? What is the film saying about money? What is it saying about values? What is it saying about friendship? What does it say about college?  In our book, chapter 23 on informative speaking talks about the analogy as a great way to establish common ground for understanding: Audiences can grasp new ideas best when they have something they already know to relate them to (163). The team sport of Crew at Harvard is used as a kind of analogy in the film--what is it being compared to? Is it effective? Is Facebook good or bad? Helpful or dangerous? Inquiring minds want to know!

Demonstrations for Dummies

Hi There Everyone--After the midterm it is time for us to work on Informative Speeches--You will speak for 5-7 minutes on an unusual or "revelatory" topic, sure to WOW the crowd! Don't say the word SHOULD or else you've crossed over to the "persuasive" side! You may choose to demonstrate something or even make a How-To speech (ie: how to set up a facebook page or how to plan a train trip....) Pick a topic that excites you, or else we will ALL be bored and have to paint fake open eyeballs on our closed eyelids so you won't know we are SLEEPING....zzzzzzzzzzz.......So for this week's entry, let's start with really BAD topics so we know what we DO NOT want to hear about....Post here, the very WORST possible demonstration topic you can possibly think of...what would be just awful to watch, just painfully dull or straight up rediculous--why would that be abad choice? ...I'll go first: I would not want to hear a demonstration speech about sleeping. Why? Ummmmm.......YAWN....it is making me drowsy just thinking about it!!!!

Lady Gaga is Speechless?

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/lady_gaga/speechless.html

Visit the link above and read the lyrics to Gaga's tune "Speechless"--What does the concept of silence mean to you? Is it effective as a tool of communication? Is silence powerful or weak? As a "public speaker" how does Gaga challenge gender roles and encourage diversity? The "generalized other" is a communication term we can use to talk about societal/cultural and gender norms and behavioral expectations. The generalized other points a critical finger at difference, so how does the song Speechless either react to or ignore the generalized other?

Speaking for the People: President's Holiday

Hello and remember everyone: No class meeting for Comm 301 this week on Feb 17th! Start Presidents' Day festivities a day early! Also Feb 18th and 21st are campus holidays for Presidents' Day fyi. We start with group speeches the following Tuesday--In the meantime, please email me at wheeleS@crc.losrios.edu if you need any group speech help! Each member of each group is required to submit their own individual copy of the group outline. This week here on our blog-o-rama, I need you to look ahead to spring break! Get excited, it is just around the corner! Woo-hoo!  April 18th-24th! Once we make it to that it is downhill friends! Okay, think about it, get motivated and then blog here: Every good speech should have a clear thesis--the main point of your speech, right? The book calls it your 'central idea!' Chapter 8 reminds us to creat thesis statments that are relevant and motivating--Use key words in your claim to make it POP! (p. 54). Construct a great thesis statement here and use high energy, key words and active language to state something about spring break, make a thesis statement about anything to do with planning, scheduling, destinations, instructions, what to take, when it is or should be, where not to go, how to make it until then, ect. Kep this blog short, direct and super powerful and creative: Let the thesis's begin!!!!!

Mine: As concerned students, we must band together and create a giant count-down to spring break calendar for the fountain quad of Sacramento City College. Wouldn't this motivate everyone to push through until break???!

Groups and Bands

Hi Gang--we are 25% of our way through the spring semester! Hooray for you hard working students! Those info speeches were so interesting--Thanks for the great enthusiasm! Now...this week we'll start on your group speeches...and bands are my favorite kinds of groups to observe! There's always a leader right? Oh, and there's always drama! Sometimes they break up and one goes solo, one hits rehab, one ends up in reality TV...It's always a suprise! As we prepare to write and present group speeches, think about your favorite band. Tell us who they are and what kind of music they make--How long have you been a fan? What's ONE THING we thing we can learn about public speaking (or performing) from your favorites? Or what can we learn from their mistakes? Rock on people!

BLOG 3: Parts 1 & 2 from Textbook

Hey gang! Hope you enjoyed the group activity--Everyone did really well! Parts one and two in your textbook cover getting started and development--The begining foundation of successful public speaking--For this post, please find a good quote or idea from chpts. 1-11. Next make a proper MLA or APA citation quoting (directly or paraphrasing) your tip, concept or idea. Finish this post off by stating in your own words how you think this information will help our classmates or by providing a good example! Thanks for playing gang! Smiles--Sandra

Blog 2: Introductory Speeches

For your first speech, you will introduce a classmate after you and your partner interview each other. Speakers should speak for about 2 minutes each on February 1st (Tuesday) using the outline found here on the blog, CLICK on the right hand side on 'outasight-outline' near "syllabus" under 'pages'--Organization is an important aspect of public speaking. It requires planning and logical flow of thoughts. Are you an organized person or is the idea of an outline frustrating for your creative, free-flowing spirit? Try to think of the outline as a helpful "map" of where you will take your audience. Use signposting (words like 'first' and 'now' and 'turning to my next point' and 'finally') in a good speech to keep the audience following along as you cover a begining (introduction) middle (body) and end (conclusion).

A brief outline is worth 10 of the points in this first speech assignment, so hand me your outline, typed only, after making your intro speech. During your interview, ask unique and unexpected questions to get material for an amusing, exciting or compelling speech. Your interview notes can be turned into an outline from there. For this speech, you will share two interesting and factual things about your partner and then include one bold faced lie the two of you agree on. After the speech our class will try and guess the lie--Prizes may be awarded! Interview will take place on Tuesday during class so don't miss out! Respond to the following prompt for this blog:

Using an outline makes me feel ___________. Why? What part of the outline are you most concerned about/not understand/hate using? How can we make using the outline FUN??? Respond now, inquiring minds are awaiting your brilliant response!!!

Welcome Spring 2011 Public Speaking Bon Vivants!!!

Bon vivant is a French term for one who lives the "good life!" Hope the syllabus made sense to you--I have it posted here on the blog for you too, in case you lose it or sell it or whatever.... Click on "comments" right underneath this prompt to respond to this first practice blog by

1.) typing your name into the textbox and
2.) letting me know you understand the syllabus--get a shout out if you like!

Remember to click on the 'anonymous' bubble right below the textbox if you don't want to join blogger or you do not have a google or yahoo account and just want to post quickly and get on with your "good life!"  Let the smooth-talking begin!!!! Smiles--S