Projects are designed in consultation with the appropriate faculty member with approval of the department chair. Students who register for CST 291 are required to register in the same manner and within the same time limit as for registration in other courses. Examines the role of theory construction and research in communication studies, including purposes, process, types of research methods, criteria for evaluation of theories and research, and ethical issues in research. Investigates themes of theory and research common to all emphasis areas in the CST program, such as message construction, mediation of messages, and persuasion. An introductory course covering the concepts, formats and strategies of debating.
Emphasis is on the development of personal skills of argumentation.
Speakers and speeches that have had a significant impact will be viewed or heard and evaluated. Speakers include women and minorities. Types of speeches include inaugurals, political keynotes, war-related speeches, speeches of self defense and special occasion speeches. Methods of criticism include neo-Aristotelian, Fantasy Theme analysis, Burke's dramatistic pentad, metaphoric criticism and feminist criticism. Offered Semester II, alternate years.