APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016 Norwegian version

PRK 3515 Applied Rhetoric

Responsible for the course
Ratna Elisabet Kamsvåg

Department
Department of Communication and Culture

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
Norwegian

Introduction
Every organisation is depending on having an awareness of what and how they communicate, in order to influence the way they are received and interpreted. This course will teach students about rhetoric, so that they can apply relevant methods and principles in any communication situation, based on the rhetorical way of thinking. They will be introduced to research of rhetoric, theory and criticism; all basic knowledge in order to analyse and design texts and messages for different contexts and specific situations. For instance there might be organisations in need of developing and maintaining identity, manage communication related to challenges, risks and crises or even communicating with employees.

Learning outcome
Aquired knowledge
Students who complete the course earn a thorough understanding of rhetorical analysis, and learn to adapt communicative actions for specific tasks. They should understand typical situations and strategies, be able to critically analyze and evaluate, using their conclusions to propose measures and help their organisations or clients to use a clear, appropriate and effective language.

Aquired skills
After completing the course students will be able to:

• Identifying a rhetorical situation and mapping the options
• Utilize rhetorical thinking in the analysis of internal and external materials, as well as applying the knowledge in their own copy writing
• Understand and see the nuances between internal and external public role
• Adapt communication to relevant channels and genres
• Dealing with context on both macro and micro level
• Describe community between form and content
• Explain the interaction between organizational rhetoric and everyday public discourse
• Self adaptation or development of new approaches in the communication challenges

• Organizations and rhetoric in contemporary culture
• Identifying rhetorical strategies in organizational rhetoric
• Rhetorical situations in organizations
• Critical approaches to organizational rhetoric
• Evaluating and critiquing organizational rhetoric
• Identity creation and maintenance rhetoric
• Rhetoric about issues
• Rhetoric about organizational risk
• Crisis rhetoric
• Organizational rhetoric for internal audiences