ELE 3706 Persuasion and Dialogue for Leaders

ELE 3706 Persuasion and Dialogue for Leaders

Course code: 
ELE 3706
Department: 
Communication and Culture
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Yanique Fletcher
Course name in Norwegian: 
Persuasion and Dialogue for Leaders
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Electives
Semester: 
2021 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

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.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

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.

Learning outcomes - Skills

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
General Competence

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.

Course content

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
Teaching and learning activities

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.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

.

Qualifications

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.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None.

Assessments
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
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
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
Sum workload: 
200

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.