SPCH 130 - Oral Interpretation
Course Description:
This course focuses on the oral performance aspects of various forms of literature, including poetry, prose, and drama. The skills needed for making such public performances are addressed and students’ knowledge of the various forms of literature will be enhanced. Emphasis is placed on creating the essence of characters in a text through facial, vocal, and kinetic methods. This course is appropriate for speech majors or anyone interested in public performance and literature.

I. Cover

CC Discipline/Department: Communications and Languages
Planning Department: Speech
Course Number: SPCH 130
Course Title: Oral Interpretation
Units: 3.000 Units
Lecture: 54.000 Hours
Lab: 0.000
Discussion Hours: 0.000
Total Contact Hours: 54.000 Hours
Outside-of-Class Hours: 108.000 Hours
Total Student Learning Hours: 162.000 Hours
It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts.
TOP Code: 1506.00 - Speech and Rhetorical Studies
CIP Code
SAM Code: Non-Occupational

II. Need/Justification/Goals

This is a degree appropriate course. It is also a general education course at RHC and at the four-year institutions.  This course focuses on creative use of literature and expressive delivery. Oral interpretation will help a student conquer speaking anxiety while helping him/her to better understand and appreciate literature. The student will further learn organizational and logic skills while s/he learns how to adapt the literature to meet performance goals. 

III. Title 5 Requirements

A. Entering Skills (“Upon entering the course, students should be able to…”):
Comprehend a textbook written at the early-college level.
Write a multi-paragraph essay with a thesis statement and general introductory and concluding remarks.
B. Exiting Skills (“Upon exiting the course, students should be able to”):
Demonstrate situational awareness by managing public speaking anxiety and managing verbal and nonverbal communication.
Demonstrate understanding of the history of oral interpretation
Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of oral interpretation
Exhibit improved verbal and nonverbal skills
Display an understanding and appreciation of various forms of literature
Distinguish between prose, drama, and poetic analysis and performance
Assess the effectiveness of oral interpretation performances inside and outside of the classroom
Reflect on the application of the knowledge and skills gained in oral interpretation to other professional and personal communicative circumstances and events
C. Minimum Required for a “C”:
Completion of all required work with at least 70% of all possible points
D. Grade Options:
  • Standard Letter

IV. Course Content

Lecture Outline:
  1. Introduction of Oral Interpretation
    1. Oral Interpretation as “Synergism”
    2. Definition
    3. Experiences in Literature
    4. Classifications by Genre
    5. Confronting Your Fear of Performance
    6. Interpreting and Acting
    7. Presenting Your First Reading
  2. A History of Oral Interpretation
    1. Greece
    2. Ancient Israel
    3. Rome
    4. Early Christian Era
    5. Middle Ages
    6. The Renaissance and Elocutionary Periods
    7. The Storyteller
    8. Lecture Circuits
    9. The Twentieth Century and Beyond
  3. Communicating Literature: Theory and Perceptions
    1. Communicative Intent in the Performance of Literature
    2. What Constitutes a “Text?”
    3. Interdependency of: Literature/Interpreter/Observer
    4. Literature as Message
    5. Interpreter as Translator
    6. Observers as Receptors/Responders/Critics
    7. A Communication Model for Oral Interpretation
  4. Nonverbal Communication and Oral Interpretation
    1. Kinesics
    2. Facial Expressions and Eye Behavior
    3. Physical Appearance
    4. Proxemics and Haptics
    5. Chronemics
  5. Vocal Factors and Oral Interpretation
    1. Vocal Qualities
      1. Pitch
      2. Volume
      3. Tempo and Rhythm Control
      4. Articulation and Pronunciation
      5. Resonance
    2. Vocal Set
    3. Vocalizations
    4. Connotations and Denotations
  6. Preparation for Oral Interpretation Analysis
    1. Primary Ideas in a Text
    2. Sequence Elements and Message
    3. Time Aspects
    4. Setting
    5. Persona Point-of-View
    6. Audience Perceptions
    7. Textual Language Choices
  7. Preparation for Oral Interpretation Rehearsals and Performance
    1. Cutting and Editing
    2. Writing the Introduction
    3. Performing with a Script
    4. Choosing Focus
    5. Sensory Sensitivity
    6. Audience Feedback
    7. Making a Strong Initial Impression
  8. Oral Interpretation of Prose
    1. Categories of Prose
    2. Component Features of Prose
    3. Tag Lines and Dialogue
    4. Rhythm
    5. Types of Prose
    6. Prose Performance Decisions
    7. Choices for Performance of Prose
      1. Short Stories
      2. Novels
      3. Histories, Biographies, Autobiographies
      4. Essays, Letters, Prayers, Diaries
  9. Oral Interpretation of Drama
    1. Features of Drama
    2. Projecting Dramatic Elements
    3. Drama Performance Decisions: The Solo Artist
    4. Drama Performance Decisions: Duo Sharing
    5. Choices for Drama Performance: The Solo Interpreter
      1. Monologues
      2. Comedies
      3. Serious Period Drama
      4. Classics
    6. Choices for Drama Performance: Duo Performers
  10. Oral Interpretation of Poetry
    1. Characteristics of Poetry
    2. Genres of Poetry
    3. Component Features of Poetry
      1. Figures of Speech
      2. Repetition and Parallelism
      3. Rhyme Scheme
      4. Meter
    4. Prior Preparation for Poetry Interpretation
    5. Suggestions for Poetry Performance
      1. Classical Poetry
      2. Modern Poetry
      3. Song Lyrics
  11. Readers Theatre and Other Group Forms of Interpretation
    1. Definitive Features of Readers Theatre
    2. Script Preparation
    3. Casting and Rehearsing
    4. Staging and Blocking
  12. Evaluating Oral Interpretation Performances
    1. Listening to a Performance
    2. Evaluating a Performance
      1. Comments on Introductions and Transitions
      2. Comments on Literary Choices
      3. Comments on Portrayal of Persona
      4. Comments on Delivery Techniques
      5. Comments on Nonverbal Communication
    3. Listening Reports
  13. Specialized Forms and Outlets for Oral Interpretation
    1. Program Oral Interpretation
    2. Original Material Interpretation
    3. Performing Children’s Literature
    4. Multicultural Interpretation
    5. Religious Scripture Interpretation
    6. Performance Outlets
    7. Festivals and Forensic Contests
      1. Oral Interpretation and Community Service
      2. Outlets for Your Future

V. Course Objectives

The Student Will Be Able To:
Demonstrate situational awareness by managing public speaking anxiety and managing verbal and nonverbal communication.
Demonstrate understanding of the history of oral interpretation
Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of oral interpretation
Exhibit improved verbal and nonverbal skills
Display an understanding and appreciation of various forms of literature
Distinguish between prose, drama, and poetic analysis and performance
Assess the effectiveness of oral interpretation performances inside and outside of the classroom
Reflect on the application of the knowledge and skills gained in oral interpretation to other professional and personal communicative circumstances and events

VI. Methods of Instruction:

Activity (whole class)
Audio-Visual
Collaborative Learning
Evaluation (peer)
Guided Instruction
Performances
Reading Assignments

VII. Assignments:

  1. Read assigned textbook chapters
  2. Individual and Group Oral Presentations
  3. Writing Assignments designed to give students practice in writing and interpreting various forms of literature
  4. Literary Analyses of the performance pieces that students have created
  5. Literary and performance peer evaluation
  6. Self-Critique of Videotaped Performance

VIII. Methods of Evaluation:

Measure understanding of course material through objective exams and quizzes containing multiple choice, true-false and/or short answer questions.
Assess discussions for course specific content and understanding.
Evaluate individual presentations for evidence of individual work, organization, clarity and accuracy.
Evaluate group presentations for evidence of collaborative work, organization, clarity and accuracy.
Appraise ability to research course related content in terms of thoroughness and relevancy.
Assess performance skills in regards to student ability to remember and perform actions appropriately.
Measure understanding of homework for accuracy and relevancy through quizzes, exams and/or short writing assignments.
Other Methods:
  • Assess writing assignments and literary analyses for improved demonstration of oral interpretation theories
  • Assess comprehension and recall of course content through quantitative and qualitative formative and summative assessments.

IX. Student Learning Outcome

  1. In an oral interpretation performance students will demonstrate the ability to differentiate between different literary styles appropriate for the event.
  2. In an oral interpretation performance students will demonstrate the ability to edit literary work appropriate for the event
  3. In an oral interpretation performance students will demonstrate verbal and nonverbal skills required to effectively communicate the literary work.

X. Texts/Instructional Materials:

Textbooks:
Gura, Timothy and Benjamin Powell, Oral Interpretation. 13th ed., New York: Routledge, (ISBN: ISBN: 9781138082212, 113808221X) (2019)
Lewis, Todd V. , Communicating Literature: An Introduction to Oral Interpretation. 7th ed., Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, (ISBN: 978-1-5249-8183-9) (2019) or most recent version
Other Instructional Material:
Or comparable open educational resources. Other communication work in mass media (videos, films, plays, newspapers, and magazines) as assigned by individual instructors.