GRA 6813 Advanced Persuasive Communication: Managing in the 21st Century

GRA 6813 Advanced Persuasive Communication: Managing in the 21st Century

Course code: 
GRA 6813
Department: 
Communication and Culture
Credits: 
3
Course coordinator: 
Yanique Fletcher
Sut I Wong
Course name in Norwegian: 
Advanced Persuasive Communication: Managing in the 21st Century
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Business - Elective course
Semester: 
2021 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

(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.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Specifically, students will acquire advanced knowledge about:

  • Public speaking: rhetoric, argumentation, critical thinking, debate
  • Interpersonal communication: dialogue, listening
  • Critical thinking
  • Ethical communication
Learning outcomes - Skills

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.
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.

Course content

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

Teaching and learning activities

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.

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

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.

Qualifications

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 spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

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.

Teaching 

Information about what is taught on campus and other digital forms will be presented with the lecture plan before the start of the course each semester.

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Activity
Form of assessment:
Oral examination
Exam code:
GRA 68131
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
60No 40 Minute(s)Individual Day 1: Speech and discussion Day 2: Opponent The oral exam will take place in the classroom with the class present.
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA 68131
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
25No 1 Semester(s)Individual Final manuscript for the speech
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA 68131
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
15No 1 Week(s)Individual Final reflection: Must be completed one week after the oral examination.
Exams:
Exam category:Activity
Form of assessment:Oral examination
Weight:60
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Individual
Duration: 40 Minute(s)
Comment:Day 1: Speech and discussion Day 2: Opponent The oral exam will take place in the classroom with the class present.
Exam code:GRA 68131
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:25
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Individual
Duration: 1 Semester(s)
Comment:Final manuscript for the speech
Exam code:GRA 68131
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:15
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):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
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
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)
Sum workload: 
100

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.