It also prepares Speech majors and minors for more advanced courses such as Classical Rhetoric and Contemporary Rhetorical Theory and Criticism. One course credit, fall semester. Students study the theory and practice of persuasion as part of decision making in a free society. The focus is on the individual's role as both persuadee and persuader with an examination of how to be critical, observant, responsible and ethical with regard to persuasive messages. The course examines persuasive language, propaganda, persuasive campaigns and social movements.
Students critically examine a variety of persuasive texts and participate in a campaign simulation.
One course credit, spring semester. This course pursues five related goals. First, it gives students the background necessary for further study of communication issues in a variety of contexts. The central communicative issues highlighted in Speech 9 include language, meaning, information, interaction, and influence. Third, the course introduces students to the parameters and chief areas of concern in the field of communication and its relationship to other disciplines such as English, Psychology, and Political Science.