Contact: James Ferris
jvferris@wisc.edu
(608) 262-1135
6144 Vilas Hall
Department of Communication Arts
http://commarts.wisc.edu
UW Timetable
Comm Arts 100 may be one of the most useful courses a student will take during his or her undergraduate career. Not only does it focus on the skills involved in selecting, researching, organizing and writing persuasive messages, it teaches students the skills they need to present their ideas effectively in public. In a small, supportive classroom environment, students learn to communicate their ideas effectively using verbal, written, and visual techniques. They also learn important listening skills, and peer evaluations of student speeches are an important component of the course. Students also undertake self-evaluations, by viewing videotapes of their own speeches and analyzing their performance. CA100 teachers are specially trained to be supportive and effective. |
Here’s what CA100 students have to say about their experience:
“A powerful, amazing class which teaches students a new way to think and speak.” “This course has not only allowed me to become more confident as a speaker, but it has also made me like public speaking.” “Of all my classes, I think my speech course is the most interesting and useful. . . . Besides improving my speaking skills, I’ve also learned to write and listen better. . . . The thing I like most about this class is the personal attention each person received due to its small size.” “It's a great confidence booster.” “It is especially helpful to get feedback on papers and speeches. . . . I think it is outstanding that as a student I receive so much personal attention. It helps improvement immensely.” “Very worthwhile class that helped me grow as a speaker and as a writer – something I didn't expect – and it was quite fun.” “I learned far more than just speech communication; I learned about myself and the world.” |
Why students will benefit from trying CA100 to satisfy their Comm A requirement:
- small classes, individualized attention (only 13 students per section)
- develops valuable public speaking skills, as well as writing and critical thinking
- overcomes fear of public speaking in supportive, helpful environment
- students are evaluated on writing, speaking, and by performance on multiple choice tests (not on writing or speaking alone)
- CA100 instructors go through weekly training sessions, supervised by internationally recognized speech expert Professor Stephen E. Lucas, author of The Art of Public Speaking (now in its 9th edition, the most widely used textbook in university public speaking classes)
Click here to see the CA100 syllabus.
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