GRA 6813 Advanced Persuasive Communication: Managing in the 21st Century
GRA 6813 Advanced Persuasive Communication: Managing in the 21st Century
CANCELLED AUTUMN 2020
(Max. 30 students)
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 listen to the responses their colleagues have to these new ideas and have the skills necessary for participation in constructive learning dialogue with them. Leaders 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
- Critical thinking
- Ethical communication
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to master the following communication practices:
- Deliver effective arguments and handle criticism - engage in productive, balanced dialogue during the critique process
- Critique peer arguments logically and constructively
- Give and feedback constructively.
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.
Part 1. Critical thinking: argumentation analysis, assumptions and fallacies
Part 2. Rhetoric: Ethos, logos, pathos, argument analysis, storytelling, dialogue as ethical communication.
Part 3. Mutual Learning Model: Case study – challenging dialogue
Part 4. Voice and body
We expect that students will actively 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 argumentation and at the same time work on developing their delivery skills so that they, without the aid of notes - using PowerPoint or other suitable visual aids - can make a credible, persuasive argumentation 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 peers' proposals in the discussion following each presentation. Finally, they will deliver a written reflection concerning the work they have done 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.
Classes are designed to be interactive - small group activities, student-led discussions, and peer feedback exercises.
It is highly suggested, given the interactive format of this course that students attend each session.
Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, due to the interactive nature of this course, attendance strongly recommended. And, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.
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 starts.
At resit, all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.
All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Oral examination Weight: 60 Grouping: Individual Duration: 40 Minute(s) Exam code: GRA 68131 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: 25 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Final manuscript for the speech Exam code: GRA 68131 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: 15 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Week(s) Comment: Final reflection: Must be completed one week after the oral examination. Exam code: GRA 68131 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 | 18 Hour(s) | |
Prepare for teaching | 37 Hour(s) | |
Group work / Assignments | 25 Hour(s) | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 20 Hour(s) |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 3 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 80 hours.
Day 2: Opponent
The oral exam will take place in the classroom with the class present.