Persuasion and Speechmaking Minor Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following courses: | 12 | |
| Advanced Speech Communication | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Speech Writing | ||
| Rhetoric for Politics and Law | ||
| Stand Up Comedy | ||
| Executive Presence and Presentations | ||
COM 204 Advanced Speech Communication 3 Credits
Provides students with the opportunity to further their study and practice of various types of speech communication. Moving beyond an introductory perspective, this course focuses on the development of critical, analytical, and pragmatic aspects of speech. The focus is divided between the discussion of theoretical models and a demonstrated competence of that material.
COM 205 Persuasion 3 Credits
Analyzes the motivations that lead individuals and audiences to beliefs and actions and the techniques of achieving objectives through persuasion. Attention, interest, empathy, ethos, fear, and techniques of speakers, and those who use persuasion professionally are studied.
COM 294 Speech Writing 3 Credits
Introduces the art of speechwriting, focusing on creating compelling and impactful messages. Students will learn to research and analyze their client’s unique voice/style, stance on issues, and desired outcomes to prepare speeches and remarks for a variety of settings. Particular attention will be given to audience analysis, various rhetorical and stylistic techniques, and conventions of various oratorical genres. Provides a valuable foundation for those aspiring to work in public relations, corporate communications, non-profit organizations, government, and political campaigns.
Prerequisites: COM 104 or COM 290 (minimum grade of C required).
COM 304 Rhetoric for Politics and Law 3 Credits
Introduces the theory and strategy of crafting persuasive messages and cultivating relationships with the media in the context of judicial, deliberative, and epideictic genres of rhetoric. In addition, students will learn how to plan and coordinate media briefings and how to prepare and participate in a media interview.
COM 321 Stand Up Comedy 3 Credits
Explores the theory, history, and practice of stand up and comedy writing as a contemporary rhetorical practice. Students will learn the various mechanics of joke construction, the nature of comedic narratives, and how humor can be used to engage in personal, social, cultural, and political commentary through the analysis of comedic performances. The class will also feature workshops in which students create and refine their comedic performances and personae. The class will culminate with students performing their material in front of an audience.
COM 404 Executive Presence and Presentations 3 Credits
Empowers students to develop a powerful personal brand and project self-assurance in interpersonal, organizational, and public contexts. Focusing on nonlinguistic communication and the strategic use of paralanguage to include kinesics, proxemics, and chronemics, students will learn to command attention, inspire confidence, and deliver messages that will leave a lasting impact. The course will also focus on the creative development and strategic implementation of visual resources and presentations.