Notes and Grading Formulas for Sociology of Communications Spring 2007

Grading formula for final grades:

Total Score - [Quizzes and Finals]*0.25+[Assignments]*0.25+[Attendance]*0.1+[Research Paper]*0.4+[Extra Credit]

Quizzes and Finals = ([Quiz One]+[Quiz Two ]+[Quiz Three:  Verbal Fallacies]+[InClass Quiz Feb 9]+[In Class Quiz March 2]+[Quiz Four]+[In Class Quiz Feb 23]+[In Class Quiz March 2]+[In Class Quiz March 30]+[Quiz Five]+[Final Exam Part One]*3+[Final Exam Part Two]*3)/16

Assignments = ([Enrolling]+[BivariateCrosstab]+[Multiple Bivariate Crosstab]*2+[Citation Abstract]+[Excel Trends]+[Statistical Abstract Trends]*2+[Proposal for Research paper]+[Literature Review]*3+[Multivariate Crosstabulation]+[Powerpoint]*2+[Historical Speech]+[Oral Presentation]+[Poster])/18


April 9 Learning Public Speaking Skills.  These are summarized on the Guidelines for Oral Presentations form which will be used in grading your presentations next week.  We will view some videos by TJ Walker of Media Training Worldwide.  These are available on the Google Video site.   To see them, just go to Google Video and type "Media Training Worldwide" in the Search box.   Two that may be particularly useful to us are learn the art of public speaking, don't overdo your powerpoint presentations"  and "the rule of three". 
 Some of his  material is also available by link to his site in wmv format, but it is not as useful for us because it focuses on media relationships.:

Part 1 - How Can The Power of the Media Help You Indirectly
TJ explains why you should never under estimate the power of the media to help
you.
http://members.speakcast.com/video/tjwalkerspeakingep20.wmv


Part 2 - Be Cool
TV cools down your energy so make sure you have enough to come across strong.
http://members.speakcast.com/video/tjwalkerspeakingep18.wmv

Part 3 - More Is More
More is more in media world. The more press you do the better.
http://members.speakcast.com/video/tjwalkerspeakingep19.wmv

Part 4 - Keep It Simple
TJ Walker explains why you need to keep your message points simple and easy to
understand.
http://members.speakcast.com/video/tjwalkerspeakingep43.wmv

Part 5 - Answering Questions
TJ Walker gives you useful tips on answering questions so they that always go
back to your key message points.
http://members.speakcast.com/video/tjwalkerspeakingep31.wmv

April 9 - presentation by Ben Goertzel on the Future of the Global Brain and the Path to Posthumanity.  References:    Wikipedia entry on The Global Brain.  Nova Spivack - Blog Entry, January 24, 2006. Ben Goertzel and Stephan Vladimir
Bugaj, "The Internet as an Artificial
Brain," in WEBCT


We can also look at some other online speeches, some of which are examples of poor speaking. E.g., NYC Political Candidates, MartinKoppel:  SWP.  Note stiffness, lack of arm movement. Al Gore.   Daniel
Imperiale
.  Ian's True Confession on Quitting Smoking.  Bush 911LTTE leader
Reagan
News Conference Video
.


One way to learn public speaking is to imitate great speeches. 
Some texts we cn use are at:   JFK Inaugural Address - Martin Luther King "I have a Dream" speech-WinstonChurchill's Battle of Britain speech (These are availableonline  HistoryChannel or other sites).   Shakespeare:  To Be or Not to BeTomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.   With luck we might be able to watch streaming video from American Rhetoric or the History Channel or elsewhere.  C-Span "Analyze a Speech" TJ Walker "Don'tOverdo Your Powerpoint Presentation"  Google Video and YouTube are great sources of videos that run quickly online.  See PaulDaniels "Stress Free Guide".  Speakcast: Nothing is Worse than a Well Written Speech:  
Grading Formulas as of March 27.

Predicted Grade = [Quizzes]*0.25+[Assignments]*0.25+[Attendance]*0.1+[Research Paper]*0.4

Quizzes = ([Quiz One]+[Quiz Two ]+[Quiz Three:  Verbal Fallacies]+[InClass Quiz Feb 9]+[In Class Quiz March 2]+[Quiz Four]+[In Class Quiz Feb 23])/7

Assignments = ([Enrolling]+[BivariateCrosstab]+[Multiple Bivariate Crosstab]*2+[Citation Abstract]+[Excel Trends]+[Statistical Abstract Trends]*2+[Proposal for Research paper]+[Literature Review]*3+[Multivariate Crosstabulation])/13