Final Exam Information

The information for the final exam can be found here.

I have published the questions and instructions for the take-home portion of the exam.  You can view the document here.  Remember the take-home portion is due at the beginning of the in-class exam.

Exam Times:

Crowder Classes -- Monday, December 13th at regular class times

MWF 11:30am Class -- Thursday, December 9th at 4:00pm

T/Th 2:00pm Class -- Saturday, December 11th at 4:00pm

Wed. Evening Class -- Wednesday, December 15th at 5:30pm

(Optional: Wednesday evening students may take exam on December 8th at 5:30pm)

U of A Evening -- Make-Up Speech Opportunity

U of A EVENING STUDENTS ONLY:

Because your class loses two weeks (Thanksgiving break and Dead Day), your make-up day had to be scheduled on the evening of the Final.  That sounds super stressful to me. . . Add to that the fact that I will be on campus for my graduate class on Wednesday evening anyway, and I figured I might as well offer your class the opportunity to make-up speeches on Dead Day.

I am adding an extra make-up day for U of A Evening students ONLY -- Dead Day

(Wednesday, December 8th at 5:30pm in Kimple 410)

This is optional -- you can still give your speech after the final as planned.  This will just add another time when you can give your speech if you want to get it out of the way early. 

Business PowerPoints

Since some of you are focusing on presenting in a business setting, I thought this video was appropriate. It's short, sweet, and he has some great ideas!

No points for this one -- it's just an interesting video.

Persuasive 2 Topics

As you continue to work on your Persuasive 2 speeches, let's see what the rest of the class is working on.  Enter you topic (or topics if you're still deciding) into the form below.  The results can be viewed here.

This is required, but no points will be awarded.

Death by PowerPoint

Below is a presentation created by the "Corporation for a Skilled Workforce" on how to prevent what they call "Death by PowerPoint."  Watch this presentation (you can turn off the sound if the song is annoying to you) and fill out this quiz to receive up to 5 points.

Monday classes -- due November 22nd before class

Tuesday/Thursday -- due November 23rd before class

Wednesday class -- due November 24th by midnight

Increasing the Odds of Persuading Your Audience

Although we are finished discussing persuasive strategies, you should still be thinking about how they will affect your next speech.  Below is a checklist for the ways you can increase your chances of persuading your audience.  This is fair game for the final exam, but is not worth points as an assignment!

Persuasive Critiques

I'm psyched to listen to your speeches this week!  Now that you're all starting to feel a little more comfortable in front of an audience, I'd like to encourage you to start thinking critically as audience members.  I posed some questions to you the other day -- and I hope you listened for these traits in your classmates' speeches. 

For 5 quiz points, choose one of those speeches and analyze it using two of those questions (printed on the form).  The form is located here.

Monday classes -- due November 15th before class

Tuesday/Thursday -- due November 16th before class

Wednesday class -- due November 17th before class

Preparing to be Persuaded

This week, you'll be presenting your first persuasive speech.  You'll also be watching the persuasive speeches presented by your classmates.  I'll be putting up a blog post tomorrow that will allow you to identify the persuasive techniques employed by the other speakers in your class (worth 5 quiz points).  In order to be able to complete the assignment, you will need to be critically analyzing your classmates' speeches.  Think about the following questions as you listen/watch:

1. Where do they employ persuasive techniques?
2. Did they adapt to their anticipated audience receptivity?
3. Were you persuaded?
4. Did they use logos/pathos/ethos, Maslow's hierarchy, etc. 

You may want to take notes during and between others' speeches so that you are equipped to answer these questions on the blog activity.  I will not give you these questions if you ask in class.  You  need to BE PREPARED and have them written down in your notes.

Monday classes -- due November 15th before class

Tuesday/Thursday -- due November 16th before class

Wednesday class -- due November 17th before class

Stranger Danger

DISCLAIMER -- This video has some bad language in it.  If you are offended by the use of bad language (in humor, not violence, force, etc.), please email me, and I will give you an alternate assignment.

Though there are many persuasive personalities in our popular culture, many of them do not employ solid reasoning.  One group who I have found to use solid evidence is the magic and comic duo, Penn and Teller.  They have a series called "Bullsh!t," in which they discuss current issues in a comical, but persuasive manner. 

Watch the episode called, "Stranger Danger" (links below) and complete this quiz to receive up to 15 points. 

Monday classes -- due November 8th before class

Tuesday/Thursday -- due November 9th before class

Wednesday class -- due November 10th before class

When you follow the link, you will see a notice that the video has been taken down.  Wait just a few more seconds, and it should load just fine.
Stranger Danger -- Part 1
Stranger Danger -- Part 2
Stranger Danger -- Part 3

The Toulmin Model

Today we discussed the Toulmin Model of argumentation.  However, we were only able to briefly skim the surface of this cornerstone persuasive theory.  The fine folks at University of Nebraska Lincoln Department of Communication Studies have created a comprehensive tutorial of this concept -- available for you to explore. 

You can complete the four steps of the tutorial here, and if you complete the assessment page with at least 80% accuracy, I'll give you 10 quiz points. 

MEGA IMPORTANT NOTE: You must PRINT the assessment page before you click Submit -- Clicking Submit DOES NOT send your test to me!!!!

Monday Classes -- Due November 8th before class

Tuesday/Thursday -- Due November 9th before class

Wednesday Class -- Dues November 10th before class

Adapting to Your Audience

We have talked about audience analysis several times in the past, but this concept is particularly important when we are attempting to persuade our audience.  The handout below gives specific ways you can adapt your topic to your audience's anticipated reaction.

You can also take a 10-point quiz on this handout here. 

Monday classes -- due November 8th before class

Tuesday/Thursday -- due November 9th before class

Wednesday class -- due November 10th before class

This information is also fair game for the final exam.