COMM 1
Principles of Oral Communication
Description: Lecture, four hours. Enforced requisite: satisfaction of Entry-Level Writing requirement. Examination of foundations of communication and public speaking. Consideration of number of basic theories related to study of communication and development of skills to enable composition and delivery of speeches in accordance with specific rhetorical concepts. Improvement of ability to analyze, organize, and critically think about communicative messages while becoming better equipped to articulate ideas. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2020 - This was one of my first classes I have taken at UCLA. Since it is a speech class, I was definitely nervous, but this nervousness went away after literally the first day. From the get go, he goes over everything you will be doing over the quarter. The class consists of 3 speeches that are around 5-7 mins each (biography, informative, and persuasive), and a paper in which you analyze a speaker (4-7 pages). The lowest grade I received on a speech was a 95 on my first one. From there on I got 100s on all of the assignments- including the paper. Kochian is a very fair grader and the assignments are incredibly easy and flexible. He goes out of his way to make everyone feel comfortable and has a lighthearted and endearing spirit about him. I am extremely glad I took this class with this professor, he definitely made it worthwhile. Of course this was during COVID so it was a bit easier, but I learned a lot about how to perfect my own public speaking. Overall, I enjoyed the class and would encourage everyone to take it with him for an easy A and caring professor.
Fall 2020 - This was one of my first classes I have taken at UCLA. Since it is a speech class, I was definitely nervous, but this nervousness went away after literally the first day. From the get go, he goes over everything you will be doing over the quarter. The class consists of 3 speeches that are around 5-7 mins each (biography, informative, and persuasive), and a paper in which you analyze a speaker (4-7 pages). The lowest grade I received on a speech was a 95 on my first one. From there on I got 100s on all of the assignments- including the paper. Kochian is a very fair grader and the assignments are incredibly easy and flexible. He goes out of his way to make everyone feel comfortable and has a lighthearted and endearing spirit about him. I am extremely glad I took this class with this professor, he definitely made it worthwhile. Of course this was during COVID so it was a bit easier, but I learned a lot about how to perfect my own public speaking. Overall, I enjoyed the class and would encourage everyone to take it with him for an easy A and caring professor.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2017 - Selling all books for COMM 1 with Mack. Text ********** if interested. Overall, it was a fun, easy class. Your grade consists of 5 assignments: Impromptu job pitch, ceremonial speech, informative speech, persuasive speech, and a paper analyzing the persuasive elements of a famous speech (Gettysburg, Churchill, etc...). Plan ahead for the speeches, give them a few run-throughs, and you'll be fine. Mack is very approachable and easy to talk to, so definitely take advantage of that if you have any questions. Good class if you want to improve or refine your public speaking skills.
Fall 2017 - Selling all books for COMM 1 with Mack. Text ********** if interested. Overall, it was a fun, easy class. Your grade consists of 5 assignments: Impromptu job pitch, ceremonial speech, informative speech, persuasive speech, and a paper analyzing the persuasive elements of a famous speech (Gettysburg, Churchill, etc...). Plan ahead for the speeches, give them a few run-throughs, and you'll be fine. Mack is very approachable and easy to talk to, so definitely take advantage of that if you have any questions. Good class if you want to improve or refine your public speaking skills.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2025 - This class was very fun and I enjoyed attending. Attendance is mandatory and counts towards your grade. The class is comprised of giving 3 speeches and a final at the end. The final is multiple choice with some short answer and is just based on presentations Prof Mclean gives in class and then posts online, so studying for it was easy. Overall, I think that this class really improved my public speaking skills, and I also learned a lot from listening to other speeches. I recommend if you are looking for a fun class to balance out more serious ones. Super easy A as long as you show up. Grading on the speeches is not too harsh and the Professor is understanding.
Winter 2025 - This class was very fun and I enjoyed attending. Attendance is mandatory and counts towards your grade. The class is comprised of giving 3 speeches and a final at the end. The final is multiple choice with some short answer and is just based on presentations Prof Mclean gives in class and then posts online, so studying for it was easy. Overall, I think that this class really improved my public speaking skills, and I also learned a lot from listening to other speeches. I recommend if you are looking for a fun class to balance out more serious ones. Super easy A as long as you show up. Grading on the speeches is not too harsh and the Professor is understanding.
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2020 - DO. NOT. TAKE. COMM 1 WITH MILLER. This man consistently loses over half of the classes' assignments despite all of us resending all of them THROUGH EMAIL multiple times. His voice is also extremely difficult to understand and listen to in general. He sometimes makes jokes with misogynistic and racist undertones and is overall unbearably annoying to interact with, even on zoom.
Summer 2020 - DO. NOT. TAKE. COMM 1 WITH MILLER. This man consistently loses over half of the classes' assignments despite all of us resending all of them THROUGH EMAIL multiple times. His voice is also extremely difficult to understand and listen to in general. He sometimes makes jokes with misogynistic and racist undertones and is overall unbearably annoying to interact with, even on zoom.
Most Helpful Review
I loved this class! It was so fun and truly helped me learned about public speaking and appreciation for others. I recommend this course. Yes, its easy, but you truly learn more than that! Professor Miller can be extremely funny and blunt but I truly think he cares about the subject and simply wishes to see people improve in their ability to tell stories. Take this class!
I loved this class! It was so fun and truly helped me learned about public speaking and appreciation for others. I recommend this course. Yes, its easy, but you truly learn more than that! Professor Miller can be extremely funny and blunt but I truly think he cares about the subject and simply wishes to see people improve in their ability to tell stories. Take this class!
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