COMS 100 Oral Communication Competency Exam (OCCE)
Fall 2004
Overview
The Oral Communication Competency Exam administered by the Department of Communication will be offered on the following dates:
- Monday, September 20, 12:30 p.m., DuSable 456
- Wednesday, October 13, 12:30 p.m., DuSable 456
- Monday, November 8, 12:30 P.M., DuSable 456
The Oral Communication Competency Exam tests competency in college level listening and speaking skills. Listening skills are tested by an objective exam. In this part of the exam, students will view and listen to a videotape, and answer questions about conversations, public speeches, and interviews from televised discussions. Students who demonstrate college level competence in listening are then required to prepare and present a 5-6 minute extemporaneous persuasive speech. Topics will be provided and experienced COMS 100 faculty will evaluate students.
Passing a competency examination fulfills the requirement for the core competency but gives no credit (i.e., it reduces the required number of hours in general education but does not reduce the number of hours required for a degree.)
STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN COMS 100, WHO HAVE TAKEN COMS 100, OR WHO HAVE TAKEN THE OCCE EXAM ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE EXAM!!!!
In addition, students planning to take the OCCE exam are advised to take the exam AT LEAST one year before graduating from NIU. If students fail the OCCE, arrangements must be made to take a COMS 100 course in order to meet graduation requirements.
Students taking Part I of the OCCE are required to do the following:
- Complete the attached sign-up sheet and return it to Watson Hall 209 at least one full week prior to the desired exam date.
- Bring an NIU student photo ID or an acceptable substitute to Part I. Students without an appropriate form of photo ID will not be permitted to take Part I.
- Bring a #2 pencil for taking of the exam.
- Arrive 15 minutes early for Part I in order to sign in and complete necessary forms.
- PLEASE NOTE: Students who do not show up to take Part I on the date identified on the sign-up sheet must REAPPLY to take the exam on another date.
Any questions should be directed to Ferald Bryan at 753-7100 or Madelyn Anderson at 753-6999.
Oral Communication Competency Exam
Any student is eligible to take the Oral Communication Competency Exam prior to enrolling in COMS 100. The exam consists of two parts, and students must pass both parts to waive the core competency requirement. Part I assesses competence in listening. Part II assesses competence in speaking. Students must pass Part I to be eligible to take Part II. Depending on demand the exam is offered three times each semester.
Additional Information Regarding Eligibility
Although any student is welcome to take the exam, students who meet one of the following criteria should be encouraged by their academic advisors to take the exam: 1) students with a 24 or higher on the English part of the ACT; 2) students who have excelled (e.g., grade of A in a rigorous high school speech class) (e.g., a full semester course that included numerous graded speaking assignments, an "honors" course, etc.); 3) students who have excelled in high school forensics (e.g., debaters or oratory champions); 4) transfer students who have successfully completed communication courses that did not transfer to NIU as equivalent to COMS 100.
Additional Information Regarding the Exam
Part I is a 45-item listening exam that takes approximately 55 minutes. The exam (including instructions, sample question, stimuli and questions) is on videotape. Students view and listen to a variety of communication exchanges, including televised interviews, discussions of public issues, formal speeches and informal arguments, and are asked questions about those exchanges. The exam is machine scored by Testing Services.
For Part II, students must prepare and present a 5-6 minute extemporaneous persuasive speech. Students are provided a copy of the rating form used to assess the speech and a list of topic areas and prototypical audiences from which to choose prior to presenting the speech. Speeches are rated by a panel of COMS 100 faculty. Following the speech, each student is asked a series of brief questions about the speech. The student's oral answers to those questions are also rated. Excluding a week of preparation time that the student may use as he or she sees fit, Part II takes 20 minutes to complete.
PART II MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE NEXT SCHEDULED EXAMINATION DATE!!!!!