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Empowering Speech Method and Curriculum

The Method and Curriculum

How Students Learn

Empowering Speech is a college-level, asynchronous course built on structure, accountability, and real-world application.

The course is delivered through Canvas and organized into modules. Whether offered in a 16-week, 8-week, or accelerated 5-week term, the content remains the same, only time management changes.

Core Teaching Method

The course integrates four elements throughout:

  • Instruction — clear, direct teaching
  • Modeling — demonstrations of effective speaking
  • Application — speeches delivered to real audiences
  • Feedback — instructor and peer evaluation

Students practice leadership through spoken communication, not just theory.

Developing an Organized Mind

Every component of the course reinforces one central discipline: developing an organized mind.

Students learn to:

  • Structure ideas clearly
  • Compose and control a speech thesis
  • Use transitions to guide audiences
  • Think clearly under pressure

Clear thinking produces clear speaking.

The Seven Directives of Credible and Confident Public Speaking

  1. A public speaker must acknowledge and actively manage anxiety.
  2. A public speaker’s number-one concern is always the audience.
  3. A public speaker’s preparation is the key to presentation success.
  4. A public speaker must have an organized mind.
  5. A public speaker must balance emotion and logic to achieve credibility.
  6. A public speaker must commit fully to their performance.
  7. A public speaker must celebrate every opportunity to speak.

These directives guide every assignment and expectation in the course.

Module Structure (8 Modules)

Module 1: Demonstration Speech


Module 2: Personal Artifact Speech

Purpose of the Personal Narrative / Artifact Speech

This assignment allows maximum freedom of expression. It is designed to:

  • Build comfort speaking in front of peers
  • Establish community and trust
  • Normalize individuality and vulnerability
  • Create early success

Formal structure is intentionally minimized at this stage.

Modules 3 and 4: Direction, discussion, and skill development


Module 5: Informative research and outlines

Module 6: Informative speech delivery

Module 7: Persuasive research and outlines

Module 8: Final persuasive speech

Class discussions and peer commentary are integrated throughout the course, creating an ongoing dialogue.

Audience Requirement

Because public speaking requires a public, students must:

  • Assemble small live audiences
  • Record speeches
  • Watch and evaluate peer speeches

This reinforces ownership and accountability.