A course in any field is eligible to be designated as a C course if, in addition to its other goals, it also meets the following objectives:
I. C courses teach students how to construct and deliver an oral message of at least five minutes.
II. C courses teach students how to craft oral presentations which are characterized by Clear Structure, Substantial Content, and Effective Delivery.
Clear Structure includes the following:
· A clearly identifiable purpose which can be summarized in a thesis or focus statement
· An identifiable design with a coherent beginning, middle, and end
· Effective previews, transitions, and summaries which facilitate active listening
Substantial Content includes the following:
· Content which is substantial and not frivolous
· Language which is appropriate to the topic and the audience
· Sufficient supporting material (examples, evidence, reasoning, etc.)
· Clear citation of sources
· Responsible and accurate use of information and knowledge
Effective Delivery includes the following:
· Connection to the audience, its needs, and its knowledge
· Sufficient and balanced eye contact
· Volume which is appropriate to the space, the topic, and the audience
· Clear enunciation and accurate pronunciation
· Gestures and movement which enhance (and do not distract from) the message
· Personal commitment (i.e., passion) to/for the topic
· Effective use of any visual aids in ways that enhance the message.
III. C courses provide students with multiple opportunities to craft and deliver oral presentations. PLEASE NOTE: The intent of C courses is that each student will have individual opportunities to speak and be evaluated (including assessment of improvement). Faculty who wish to use group presentations to satisfy the C course speaking requirement will need to demonstrate that students will have opportunities to speak individually and that they will be assessed individually. For more information, please contact the Curriculum Committee.
IV. C courses facilitate student improvement by providing feedback in ways that both permit and encourage students to incorporate the feedback into subsequent oral presentations.
V. In order to provide the level of instruction and feedback which are necessary, C courses are open to no more than 20 students.