College Public Speaking Classes Offered in January

By R. Michael Brown, Adjunct Faculty at Florida Atlantic University & South Florida State College

“Public Speaking is a skill that many avoid because they fear it worse than death and taxes. It doesn’t have to be that way. I’m sensitive to each student’s individual situation and I show you how to overcome your fear in a stress-free environment.” – R. Michael Brown

I’m in the process of preparing for the following Speech (Public Speaking) and Presentation classes at two colleges.

Unlock your potential in Public Speaking and Presentations

Learn in a stress-free environment to overcome speaking anxiety.
Find out the easy-to-use speaking development and delivery process for success.
Learn extemporaneous, impromptu, persuasive, and informational speaking.
Become a confident presenter & learn how to write & produce professional business presentation material.

Public Speaking Class Topics

How to Get Attention and Keep It in Public Speaking – It’s easier than you think
Creative Process
When to use Artificial Intelligence in your speech development process – and when not to.
Storytelling in Public
Public Speaking, Advocacy, and Audiences
Professional Research for Speeches & Presentations
Claims, Arguments, and Information
Aesthetics and Delivery
Approaches
- Introduction Speaking (You, Others, Brands)
- Informative Speaking
- Persuasive Speaking
- Ceremonial Speaking
- Online Public Speaking
- Writing & Producing Professional Speaking Aids: Slides/Charts (PowerPoint), Video, Live Demonstration

*Learn master-storytelling. Writing and producing creative nonfiction for speeches and presentations.*

Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Deliver speeches and presentations with less anxiety.
Give speeches and presentations that will get immediate audience attention and keep it until the memorable closing.
Apply rhetorical theories to analyze a speaking situation and craft effective and appropriate audience-centered speeches.
Collect content like a pro and effectively use research to support ideas.
Prepare and deliver speeches for various contexts and purposes — to introduce, inform, persuade, and celebrate.
Critically evaluate speeches and public discourse according to principles of rhetorical theory.

Class Listings

Florida Atlantic University [FAU]

Location: FAU, Boca Raton [Online Only]
Offered Fully Online via FAU Zoom
Course Registration for Robert Brown’s Class: SPC 2608-016: Public Speaking
Days & Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 AM – 12:20 AM
Dates: Starting Tuesday, 1/7/2025 thru Tuesday 4/29/2025
Adjunct Faculty: Robert [Michael] Brown
Credit Hours: 3

South Florida State College [SFSC]

Location: SFSC, Lake Placid Florida Campus
Offered Fully In-Classroom: Bldg 100 Room: 0124
Course Registration for Robert Brown’s Class: SPC 2608 Section 8 CRN 26914 Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Days & Time: Evening Class on Wednesdays 5:30 PM – 8:15 PM
Dates: Starting Wednesday, 1/8/2025 thru Wednesday 4/30/2025
Adjunct Faculty: Robert [Michael] Brown
Credit Hours: 3

Location: SFSC, Avon Park Florida – Main Campus
Offered Fully In-Classroom: Building B Room: 0212
Course Registration for Robert Brown’s Class: SPC 2608 Section 12 CRN 27173 Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Days & Time: Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Dates: Starting Monday, 1/6/2025 thru Monday 5/5/2025
Adjunct Faculty: Robert [Michael] Brown
Credit Hours: 3

Location: SFSC, Arcadia Florida – DeSoto Campus
Offered Fully In-Classroom: Bldg A Room: 0110
Course Registration for Robert Brown’s Class: SPC 2608 Section 10 CRN 26192 Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Days & Time: Mondays 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Dates: Starting Monday, 1/6/2025 thru Monday 5/5/2025
Adjunct Faculty: Robert [Michael] Brown
Credit Hours: 3

All classes are eligible for High School Dual Enrollment, Corporate and Community Education (CCE), and college transfer credit to a Florida university. The class is often required for many college majors.

These courses introduce students to the theory and practice of public speaking, speeches, and presentations, with the ultimate goal of preparing students to be confident, effective, and ethical communicators – as taught by Robert [Michael] Brown, Adjunct Faculty, at FA U School of Communication & Multimedia Studies and South Florida State College Arts and Sciences .

Students develop practical skills in preparing, presenting, and critiquing various forms of public discourse, firmly grounded in rhetorical theory and performance art. Recognizing the relationship between speakers and audience members, this course seeks to develop strong listening skills alongside speaking skills.

TedTalk video and R. Michael Brown written and produced multimedia content is used throughout the course to help students overcome speaking anxiety, and as examples for inspiration in developing and performing great speeches and presentations.

R. Michael Brown sample multimedia content for Public Speaking class. — *R. Michael Brown’s Public Speaking Class Sample Content*

Register for Classes

For the FAU course, this is a fully online course, presented over Zoom, and accessible only through FAU’s learning management system, Canvas. You must log into Canvas with your FAU ID and Password to access the materials and assignments in this course:

Register for FAU Classes

For the South Florida State College classes, these are in-classroom courses and you must register with the college:

Register for SFSC Classes

Public Speaking Apprehension is a major focus in the class. — *Public Speaking Apprehension and how to overcome it is a major focus in the class.*

A major emphasis in the class is helping students overcome Public Speaking Apprehension. Workshops in class and personal coaching from Michael will help you learn to perform your speeches and presentations in public while managing your speaking anxiety.

Instructor Bio

R. Michael Brown, Adjunct University and College Teacher

Robert [Michael] Brown is part of the Adjunct Faculty with the FAU School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and the SFSC School of Arts and Letters. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at FAU in Communication [Journalism specializing in science, technology, and medicine] and Master’s Degree in Communication [Broadcasting, Marketing, Public Relations, Public Speaking] at Barry University in Miami. Prior to teaching at FAU and SFSC, he taught at Miami State College, at IBM Management School, and as a guest lecturer at many colleges and universities.

Michael is currently an international marketing & communication leader for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. He’s a worldwide published and broadcast writer and multimedia producer, keynote speaker, speechwriter, speaking coach, teacher, and integrated marketing and PR consultant. He’s been a speechwriter for CEOs, executives, and government and political leaders, and a former speaker at COMDEX (now Consumer Electronics Show [CES]), National Association of Broadcasters [NAB], Society of Applied Learning Technology [SALT], IBM, and more.

Under the byline R. Michael Brown, he was a pioneer for multimedia and Internet communication at IBM, the first multimedia producer at IBM and Motorola, and has written and produced content aired on Discovery Channel, ABC Wild World of Sports, local affiliates and two Web-based channels that he founded: Town of Palm Beach Palm Beach TV and Go Home TV. While at IBM, he produced “Introducing Ultimedia,” a NY Film Festival Award winner that was featured on NBC Today Show, ABC Good Morning America, Discovery Channel, CNN, and PBS. He lives in his new lake house home in Lake Placid, Florida with his wife and one (high schooler) of five children. See R. Michael Brown’s Multimedia Portfolio