BIK 2913 Rhetoric - the art of persuasion in speech and writing.
BIK 2913 Rhetoric - the art of persuasion in speech and writing.
Is it possible to learn how to become a successful speaker? Can you learn how to write good texts? Can you strengthen your professional and personal credibility? Of course you can. The art of speaking and writing can be learned and rhetoric makes this possible. Rhetoric is the art that the Greeks regarded as fundamental to leadership and to leading people. Everybody can learn to be better speakers; everybody can learn to be better participants in conversations; everybody can learn to write persuasively and effectively. Rhetoric helps you convince your audience to accept a point of view or a message. Speech and writing need to be adjusted to the sender and the audience, the issue and the argumentation, to time and place; to what is called the rhetorical situation. The better these elements are coordinated, the better the rhetorical effect.
Students should show the following theoretical learning outcome after having completed the course:
- have basic knowledge of rhetorical theory and terminology
- have an understanding for language, style and coherence aimed at persuasion in speech and writing
Students should show the following practical learning outcome after having completed the course:
- possess rhetorical skills relevant for communication at work and for other contexts where messages are to be presented
- be able to present a problem clearly and sensibly
- be able to argue effectively and credibly
- be able to construct their own speaker roles with respect to context
- be able to engage their audience in speech and writing
- be able to do rhetorical analyses in order to evaluate how the speaker (ethos), the text (logos) and the audience (pathos) connect and influence the whole
- be able to give a speech
Students should show the following attitudinal learning outcome after having completed the course:
- be able to communicate the importance of meaningful and effective language usage
- be able to contribute to a better work environment based on mutuality and co-existence
Day 1. What is rhetoric?
- To persuade, raise interest, demonstrate understanding, result in action
- The production of verbal messages and credible texts
- Analyzes, interprets, constructs, evaluates, critiques
- Takes a holistic perspective
Skills: Outlining a speech text for oral presentation; practicing oral presentations
Day 2. Ethos: Credibility competence, character, goodwill
- The credibility of the speaker
- Authority, authenticity, trust
- Personal and professional ethos
Skills: Constructing writer/reader roles; developing tone of voice, training body language
Day 3. Pathos: Feelings, appeals and persuasion
- The impact of text and speech on readers and audience
- Involvement, commitment, identification
Skills: Writing second drafts based on feedback; accommodating language, style, tone of voice to audience
Day 4. Logos: Argumentation, thesis and arguments
- Diction, argumentation fact and reason
- The good argument
- Argumentation and positioning
Skills: Developing a thesis, finding good arguments, working on coherence for speech and text
Day 5. Speech and body language.
- From text to speech. Theory and practice
- Body language. Individual training and exercises
- Oral delivery: exercises
Skills: Oral delivery
Day 6. Evaluation: Speech delivery or oral presentation
Six days, 36 hours in one semester.
Final grade i the course is based on a process evaluation consisting of three parts. Part 1-2 are submitted on a given date after the end of the course. Part 3 is performed in class on day 6.
- Part 1: Write a speech text (2 pp.) on a topic chosen by the student about a communication problem or challenge related to the workplace of the student. The assignment is written individually, but students receive feedback in group.
- Part 2:Oral delivery (7 min) of the speech text with fellow students acting as audience in class. Performed and evaluated on day 6 of the course.
- Part 3: Take-home exam.
Higher Education Entrance Qualification
Work experience.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 40 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Part 1: Write a speech text (2 pp.) on a topic chosen by the student about a communication problem or challenge related to the workplace of the student. The assignment is written individually, but students receive feedback in group. Exam code: BIK 29131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation Weight: 20 Grouping: Individual Comment: Part 2: Oral delivery (7 min) of the speech text with fellow students acting as audience in class. Performed and evaluated on day 6 of the course. Exam code: BIK 29131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 40 Grouping: Individual Duration: 72 Hour(s) Comment: Part 3: Take-home exam Exam code: BIK 29131 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
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.