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.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2024 - One of the best classes I've taken at UCLA so far! Professor Litvinsky is super engaging and inspiring which enables her students to take a step out of their comfort zone and learn to be more confident as a public speaker. I would recommend this class to anyone that wants to go into a field where public speech and general conversation is essential (pretty much all fields). I was able to take huge strides in my confidence speaking in front of crowds. The final exam was a speech on any topic of our choice, so that was a super fun and rewarding project. Take this class!
Winter 2024 - One of the best classes I've taken at UCLA so far! Professor Litvinsky is super engaging and inspiring which enables her students to take a step out of their comfort zone and learn to be more confident as a public speaker. I would recommend this class to anyone that wants to go into a field where public speech and general conversation is essential (pretty much all fields). I was able to take huge strides in my confidence speaking in front of crowds. The final exam was a speech on any topic of our choice, so that was a super fun and rewarding project. Take this class!
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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
Fall 2024 - This class was literally the bane of my existence. I didn't use to mind public speaking UNTIL I took this class...now I hate it. We had to submit outlines of our speech before we performed them, and her comments were so subjective. She nitpicked the smallest details that she didn't like in our outlines then gave us awful scores. The class itself was chill and the content was easy. The final exam was straightforward and she just repeated the same questions that were on the study guide. Comms 1 is a great class otherwise, but please just take it with another professor if you can.
Fall 2024 - This class was literally the bane of my existence. I didn't use to mind public speaking UNTIL I took this class...now I hate it. We had to submit outlines of our speech before we performed them, and her comments were so subjective. She nitpicked the smallest details that she didn't like in our outlines then gave us awful scores. The class itself was chill and the content was easy. The final exam was straightforward and she just repeated the same questions that were on the study guide. Comms 1 is a great class otherwise, but please just take it with another professor if you can.
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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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