ELE 3706 Persuasion and Dialogue for Leaders
ELE 3706 Persuasion and Dialogue for Leaders
Leaders must be able to honestly and persuasively present new ideas to their colleagues, motivate them, and prepare them for change. Just as important, if not more so, leaders must be willing to listen to the responses their colleagues have to these new ideas and have the skills necessary for participation in constructive dialogue with them. They must be able to defend their proposals and at the same time remain open to helpful criticism and suggestions. This course aims, therefore, to develop these essential communication skills for good leadership in our students. Students will draw upon theory, but this is a hands-on course, and the emphasis is upon the application of theory to relevant communication situations.
Specifically, students will acquire advanced knowledge about:
Public speaking: rhetoric, argumentation, critical thinking, debate.
Interpersonal communication: dialogue, listening.
Ethical communication.
Challenges of effectively communicating in an international business environment.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to master the following communication practices:
- Deliver effective persuasive presentations and;
- handle criticism - engage in productive, balanced dialogue during the critique process
- handle logically and constructively critique peer presentations
- give feedback constructively.
- apply theoretical knowledge to practical communication challenges
- recognize manipulative communication techniques
Students will understand that their leadership abilities depend upon their communication and critical thinking skills and that it is the duty of good leaders to develop their own unique styles of communication to a professional level. Students will also understand ethical implications of different communication styles and exercise balanced judgement in challenging communication situations.
Tentative: 10 lectures in plenary session. 3 to 4 interactive workshops in small groups.
Part 1.
- Critical thinking: argumentation analysis
- Critical thinking: assumptions and fallacies
- Rhetoric
- Ethos, logos, pathos, using examples from student manuscripts and popular speeches
- Speech analysis
- Storytelling
- Dialogue as ethical communication. Introduction to the Mutual Learning Model.
- Challenging dialogues - case study
Part 2
- Small groups. Ethos. Speeches, followed by individual feedback on body language, voice.
- Students turn in drafts of their manuscripts. In class - feedback
- Exercise - dialogue for constructive feedback
- Dialogue. Tools for practicing the Mutual Learning Model
- Visual Aids
- Logos for the persuasive speech: argumentation, critical thinking, case study
- Speech delivery with individual feedback
- Draft of manuscript - feedback
- Mock exam - exam preparation
Students must participate in both lectures and workshops.
During the course of the semester, students will develop a presentation focusing on a controversial proposal for change or action that lies close to their hearts and in which they strongly believe. Students will focus on the development of a written manuscript and at the same time work on developing their delivery skills so that they, without the aid of this manuscript - using PowerPoint or other suitable visual aids - can make a credible, persuasive presentation of their proposal. Students will hone their rhetorical and argumentation skills so that they can not only incorporate critical and logical thinking into their presentations, but also listen to critical responses from their audience and constructively discuss/defend their proposal after it has been delivered. Furthermore, students will be responsible for critiquing their peer's proposals in the discussion following each presentation. Finally, they will deliver a written reflection concerning the work they have done on this presentation during the course of the semester.
In order to successfully complete these goals, the students must become familiar with the theory presented in lectures as well as become proficient at applying the theory in the workshops, where formative feedback will be given throughout the semester.
Class participation requirements
Classes are designed to be interative - small group activities, student-led discussions, and peer feedback exercises. Attendance and participation in class is expected.
Coursework requirements
- Preparation of speeches
- Preparation of individual case
- Preparation and participation in Debate/Mock Exam
- Outline of persuasive speech
- Draft of speech manuscript
- Final draft of speech manuscript
- Video Selfie of speech
- Written reflection due: 3 days from date of speech delivery
This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course start.
At re-sit all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.
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Higher Education Entrance Qualification
Covid-19
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.
None.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 25 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Quality of the Final Manuscript: Obligatory outline and draft submitted during the semester. Exam code: ELE37061 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 10 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Quality of the Final Delivery: Obligatory workshop exercises. Exam code: ELE37061 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation Weight: 25 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Quality of the Presenter's Dialogue with Peers Following the Presentation: Obligatory workshop exercises. Exam code: ELE37061 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Oral examination Weight: 15 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Quality of Each Student's Critique of a Peer's Presentation: Based on course concepts. Before the final delivery of the presentations, the "opponents" will be given copies of 4 or 5 final manuscripts so that they can prepare for critiquing the presentations in their group. An hour before the presentations, the identity of the presentation they will focus upon will be drawn from a hat. Exam code: ELE37061 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation Weight: 25 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Quality of Written Reflection on the Manuscript, Delivery, Critique, and Dialogue/Discussion following the presentation: 10% (Based on course concepts.) The final delivery of presentations will be administered in 3-hour sessions with groups of 4 students at each session. Each presentation will be 10-12 minutes, and the dialogue/discussion/critique following will be allotted ca. 15 minutes. This allows ca. 30 minutes for each student's final presentation. Exam code: ELE37061 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 26 Hour(s) | Participation in lectures |
Seminar groups | 10 Hour(s) | Participation in workshops |
Prepare for teaching | 68 Hour(s) | Preparatory reading for lectures (54) and workshops (14) |
Prepare for teaching | 80 Hour(s) | Preparation of speech manuscript, delivery, critique, and defense |
Submission(s) | 10 Hour(s) | Written reflection |
Submission(s) | 3 Hour(s) | Final delivery, dialogue: 30 minutes in a 3-hour session with peers |
Feedback activities and counselling | 3 Hour(s) | Final critique: 15 minutes in a 3-hour session with peers |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.