COMM 1553 Introductory Speech Syllabus 040 Spring 2026

Credit Hours 3.00 Lecture Hours 3 Clinical/Lab Hours 0
Type of Credit
CIP Code
23.1304
Course Description

The student will be introduced to basic principles of effective speaking and listening. Emphasis is on both understanding basic communication theory and on improving oral communication skills. The student will learn to prepare, organize, and deliver effective research-based informative and persuasive speeches. AAS: Business elective. IAI: C2 900.

Prerequisites

Appropriate assessment score or ENGL 1422 with a grade of C or better - Must be taken either prior to or at the same time as this course.

Course Alignment

IAI Number
C2-900
SPCH1553
IAI Title
Oral Communications
Introductory Speech
General Education Outcomes

General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:

  1. Communication

Faculty Contact Information

Faculty Name
Keith Stevenson
Faculty Email

Course Information

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Develop awareness of the communication process and understand the relationships among self, message, and others in effective message design.
  2. Listen to, evaluate, and critique verbal communication.
  3. Analyze the audience and situation and use language that is appropriate to enhance understanding and affect the desired result.
  4. Craft informative and persuasive speeches using appropriate organization methods and content, including research.
  5. Identify and employ effective delivery techniques.
  6. Prepare and use presentational aids that promote clarity and interest.
  7. Demonstrate acceptable ethical standards in research and presentation of materials.
Topical Outline
  1. Foundations of Human Communication
    1. Develop awareness of the communication process and understand the relationships among self, message, and others in effective message design
  2. Ethics
    1. Listen to, evaluate, and critique verbal communication
    2. Demonstrate acceptable ethical standards in research and presentation of materials
  3. Topic Selection
    1. Discuss factors that characterize good demonstrative, informative, and persuasive speech topics
  4. Audience Analysis
    1. Analyze the audience and situation and use language that is appropriate to enhance understanding and affect the desired result
  5. Speech Delivery
    1. Identify and employ effective delivery techniques              
  6. Reasoning and Support
    1. Learn proper research and citation methods
  7. Organization and Outlining
    1. Utilize a clear and effective organizational pattern which helps the audience follow along with the presentation
  8. Introductions and Conclusions
    1. Write an introduction which gains the audience's attention, reveals the topic, creates topic significance, and establishes your credibility
  9. Persuasion
    1. Utilize strategies and means of persuasion to craft a persuasive argument
  10. Presentational Aids
    1. Prepare and use presentational aids that promote clarity and interest
Academic Division

Liberal Arts & Sciences

Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700

College Policies, Resources and Supports

College Policies

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Resources

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