The Communication Studies Department offers COMM 2200 Fundamentals of Communication, which is a required course in MTSU’s general education core.

This course focuses on oral communication including speeches. Some topics covered in the course are:

• Speaking ethically and honestly
• Becoming a better listener
• Analyzing your audience and choosing an appropriate topic for a speech
• Researching (library, internet, interviews, etc.)
• Organizing and outlining a speech
  • introduction
  • transitions
  • main points
  • supporting evidence, examples, statistics, facts, testimony
  • citing sources within the speech
  • visual aids
  • conclusion
• Various speech types (informative, persuasive, ceremonial)
• Improving delivery skills (verbal and nonverbal communication)

Typical assignments include:

• brief impromptu speeches
• self-introductory speech
• informative speech
• persuasive speech
• tribute speech