Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons^™

Literacy Enhancement And Writing Across The Curriculum: A Motivational Addendum, L. Brooks Hill, Sandra L. Ragan

Basic Communication Course Annual

This "thought piece" supplements the preceding article with complementary information drawn from a national literacy project underwritten by the Ford Foundation. This project attempted to persuade teachers in all disciplines to become more proficient in the use of written exercises and to encourage an expanded conception of literacy as an essential cornerstone of education. As a part of the writing-across-the curriculum (WAC) efforts, this extensive project helped to organize these efforts by identifying the obstacles to enhanced literacy, specifying innumerable techniques for use in diverse contexts, and motivating faculty to intensify their work on this dimension of any curriculum. This …

Obstacles To Overcome In The Implementation Of A Program To Reduce Communication Apprehension In The Basic Public Speaking Course, Bruce C. Mckinney, Stephen J. Pullum

Basic Communication Course Annual

The problem of communication apprehension (CA) is well documented in the speech communication literature and many schools have implemented programs to help students overcome CA, especially CA associated with public speaking. Often times this is done as part of the basic course. However, there are many obstacles to overcome in the implementation of such programs. This article analyzes six common obstacles associated with implementing a program to reduce CA in a special section of the basic communication course.

An Assessment Of Panel Vs. Individual Instructor Ratings Of Student Speeches, David E. Williams, Robert A. Stewart

Basic Communication Course Annual

This study addressed the possibility of utilizing a panel of instructors to evaluate student speeches. Forty-six public speaking students were videotaped during an informative speech assignment. Instructor panels evaluated each speech using the same criteria as the real instructor. This study found that trait error exists in panel grading as it does in individual instructor evaluation. Panel and individual instructor ratings were generally similar but inferior speeches were graded lower by the panel than the real instructor. This suggests that panels may be less likely to experience leniency error and may give more accurate evaluations of weaker speeches. Considerations are …

Ta Mentoring: Issues And Questions, Pamela L. Gray, Martin G. Murray

Basic Communication Course Annual

The widespread use of graduate teaching assistants (TAs) in higher education has generated a search for techniques to improve the quality of teaching of TAs as well as enhance the entire TA experience. One such technique is mentoring. This paper attempts to accomplish four things: (a) delineate issues to be addressed, (b) share feedback from educators with mentoring experience, (c) present questions to guide decision making, and (d) provide a bibliography of literature on mentoring. The information presented comes from a questionnaire administered to basic course directors, a conference discussion on mentoring and the personal experiences of the authors.

Meeting Certification Requirements For Teacher Certification Through The Basic Course, S. Clay Willmington, Kay E. Neal, Milda M. Steinbrecher

Basic Communication Course Annual

This article explains how one institution of higher education designed their basic course to include communication proficiency for teachers as an integral part of the course. Features of the course include the following standardized assessments: a 60-question multiple-choice exam to assess cognitive proficiency; a one-on-one interpersonal encounter to assess interpersonal proficiency; a speech to inform to assess public speaking proficiency; and the use of the Steinbrecher-Willmington Listening Test to assess listening.

Instructional Resource Innovations For The Introductory Communication Course, Craig Newburger

Basic Communication Course Annual

The following four articles represent the proceedings of an SCA Seminar held at the New Orleans convention: "Instructional Resource Innovations for the Introductory Communication Course." These monographs detail four multi-media resource areas that introductory communication course directors can consider: Storytelling — the student-as-medium (Pamela Cooper); Visualization — the student-as-medium (Joe Ayres and Debbie M. Ayres); Self-confrontation — applications involving the use of videotape with public speaking instruction (Craig Newburger, Linda Brannon, and Arlie Daniel); and Computer-Mediated-Communication (Gerald M. Santoro and Gerald M. Phillips).

Stories As Instructional Strategy: Teaching In Another Culture, Pamela Cooper

Basic Communication Course Annual

This article describes the use of story as an instructional strategy in a basic communication course taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The Role Of Performance Visualization In The Basic Public Speaking Course: Current Applications And Future Possibilities, Joe Ayres, Debbie M. Ayres

Basic Communication Course Annual

This essay discusses current applications of visualization as well as future possible applications. At present visualization is used to help people cope with speech anxiety. Of the versions of visualization currently available, performance visualization seems superior because it helps people reduce anxiety and improve their presentation skills. The conditions under which performance visualization ought to be employed are discussed along with potential refinements in the procedure. The second section of the essay suggests that visualization may play a broader role in public speaking courses than it currently does. We point out that public speaking courses are grounded in a western …

Self-Confrontation And Public Speaking Apprehension: To Videotape Or Not To Videotape Student Speakers?, Craig Newburger, Linda Brannon, Arlie Daniel

Basic Communication Course Annual

This study examines the impact of self-confrontation (self-viewing of videotaped speeches) on student public speaking apprehension. Subjects who were confronted with their videotaped speeches (as post-performance feedback) did not experience a reduction in their public speaking apprehension, while subjects who were not so confronted did experience a significant reduction. The experience of presenting several speeches before an audience appears to be the intervening variable that invoked the reduction in public speaking apprehension, while self-confrontation appears to inhibit this reduction.

Author Identification

Basic Communication Course Annual

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Call For Papers And Editorial Philosophy

Basic Communication Course Annual

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Sentence Discrimination In Noise And Self-Assessed Hearing Difficulty, Dianna W. Brainerd

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the CID Everyday sentences, with competing cafeteria noise, as a measure of the real life receptive communication difficulty experienced by subjects with hearing loss limited to frequencies above 2000 Hz. In order to establish normative data the speech discrimination test w~s given to 38 normal hearing subjects (aged 19-46). Second, the discrimination test was given to 12 hearing impaired subjects (29-64), who also completed a self-assessment questionnaire, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA). The results were analyzed to determine: (a) if there was a significant difference between the …

The Impact Of Perceived Research And Teaching Competence On The Credibility Of A Basic Course Director: A Case Study, Pamela L. Gray, Martin G. Murray, Nancy L. Buerkel-Rothfuss

Basic Communication Course Annual

1992 Award Winning Paper in Basic Course Research

This case study provides an initial inquiry into graduate teaching assistants' (GTA) perceived credibility of a basic course director (BCD), specifically isolating their perception of the teaching and research competence of the BCD. The results indicate that the perceived credibility may be tied to both teaching and research competence, appears to be extremely important to the GTAs, and implies that low credibility would have many unpleasant effects on the staff, their teaching and the graduate program as a whole. This case study points to the need for more research to identify variables …

Adopting A Transformational Approach To Basic Course Leadership, Dawn R. Weber, Nancy L. Buerkel-Rothfuss, Pamela L. Gray

Basic Communication Course Annual

Transformational leadership focuses on communication aspects of leadership and vision, two concepts fundamental to the study of leadership in organizations. Basic courses function as subsystems within institutional organizations, making them appropriate contexts for application of organizational leadership theory. This paper presents strategies for using organizational theory to improve basic course leadership.

The Status Of The Introductory And Advanced Interpersonal Communication Courses At U.S. Colleges And Universities: A National Survey, Rod Troester, Drew Mcgukin

Basic Communication Course Annual

Interpersonal communication has become a significant area of instruction and research. This national survey clarifies the status of the introductory and advanced courses a U.S. colleges and universities by examining materials employed, and course texts and contents. Results are presented for each course and are compared to an earlier study of interpersonal communication courses by Berryman and Weaver (1970).

Title Page

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Editorial Board

Basic Communication Course Annual

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Editor's Page, Lawrence W. Hugenberg

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Contents

Basic Communication Course Annual

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The Effect Of Computer-Generated Instructional Feedback And Videotape On The Speaking Performance Of College Students In Basic Speech Course, Bruce W. Russell

Basic Communication Course Annual

1992 Award Winning Paper in Basic Course Pedagogy

This study examines the effect of computer-generated feedback and videotapes speech performances on the speech skill improvement of college students. Subjects are evaluated on "total" speech performance and on: (1) organization; (2) development; (3) style; (4) vocal quality; and (5) gestural quality.

Results indicate: (1) computer-generated feedback appear to be as effective as handwritten feedback; (2) providing instructor feedback before self-analysis of videotaped performances; and (3) providing computer-generated feedback appears to improve subjects' delivery speech skill performance.

Are You A Real Teacher? Student Perceptions Of The Graduate Student As Instructor Of The Basic Communication Course, Lynda R. Willer

Basic Communication Course Annual

This essay explores students perceptions of grad of the basic communication course. The primary purpose of this research was to identify and examine items of teacher effectiveness applied to graduate student instructors. Results suggest graduate student instructors are positively perceived on items evaluating teacher effectiveness of the graduate student instructors. A factor analysis suggests the emergence of two factors which relate to the task and interpersonal dimensions of teacher effectiveness. An alpha level of .88 established the reliability of the eight items which addressed these two dimensions as a measure of the perceived effectiveness of the graduate student as instructor. …

Student Perceptions Of Teaching Assistants (Tas), Nancy L. Buerkel-Rothfuss, Donn S. Fink

Basic Communication Course Annual

TAs perform a variety of teaching tasks in basic communication courses, but little empirical data exists to document the effectiveness of TA teaching ability or provide insight into how basic course directors and others involved in TA training might enhance their ability. The two studies presented herein provide descriptions of undergraduate students' perceptions of TAs as instructors. Results suggest that professionalism and communication skills are perceptions. Suggestions are provided for how to focus TA training on those critical variables.

Teaching Ethics In Introductory Public Speaking: Review And Proposal, Jon A. Hess

Basic Communication Course Annual

Ethics are not heavily emphasized in either public speaking textbooks or classroom lectures. This de-emphasis of public speaking ethics is unfortunate. Educators should take responsibility for making sure that students are familiar with ethical issues and that they know that unethical public communication is not acceptable. Since public speaking textbooks do not provide much explicit guidance for ethical decision making, supplementary material is provided in this article. Four ethical principles are provided to help students understand the nature of communication ethics, a sample class lecture is outlined, and teaching ideas are included.

Teaching Thinking In The Basic Course, Melissa L. Beall

Basic Communication Course Annual

More "critical thinking" and "greater transfer" seem to be the rallying cries of educational reformers. Few in the field of communication would dispute the need for critical thinking. The argument, instead, maybe whether we concentrate on logic and/or argumentation as the basis for teaching critical thinking, or choose to look at higher order thinking skills and practical application. This paper provides practical application for teaching thinking in the basic course.

An Esl Oral Communication Lesson: One Teacher's Techniques And Principles, John M. Murphy

Basic Communication Course Annual

This article presents a set of techniques and principles for teaching English as a second language (ESL) oral communication that is designed to prepare ESL students as successful participants in the introductory courses in communication. The discussion is divided into two major sections: a detailed description of an authentic classroom lesson and a concise listing of thirty techniques and principles derived from the lesson.

It is widely acknowledged that ESL speakers sometimes experience debilitating degrees of anxiety/apprehension during oral communication lessons which may results in resistance to traditional methods of instruction. Aiming to address this concern, the article presents a …

Experiential Learning As An Adjunct To The Basic Course: Student Responses To A Pedagogical Model, Judith A. Rolls

Basic Communication Course Annual

An experiential learning model requiring regular weekly attendance at a communication lab, videotaped classroom presentations, and journal submissions as adjunctive course requirements is described as assessed. A content analysis of lab evaluation forms and journal entries clearly shows that the model works. Students report they enjoy the experience, improve their interpersonal skills, become more sensitive communicators, experience personal growth, and feel they are more successful in classroom presentations as a results of the lab experience.

Communication Competence: A Commentary, Lawrence W. Hugenberg, Donald D. Yoder

Basic Communication Course Annual

There have been many attempts to identify "communication competence" by communication scholars. Many attempts in determining definitions have focused on action definitions (speaker-defined competence) and reaction definitions (listener defined competence). In agreeing that communication is transactional, communication competence should be held to the same standard. Communication competence must be viewed as a joint effort by all participants in a situation; not as solely dependent on the communicator or the listener).

Public speaking evaluation forms attempt to measure communication competence of the speaker only. A recent attempt is The Competent Speaker Speech Evaluation Form (1992). This form identifies 8 competencies for …

Author Information

Basic Communication Course Annual

Biographical information about the authors who contributed to this volume

Call For Papers

Basic Communication Course Annual

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Basic Communication Course Annual Vol. 5

Basic Communication Course Annual

Full issue (279 pages, 12.582 MB)