Courses
Communication Studies (COMM)
Rhetoric
- COMM-R 110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 cr.) Theory and practice of public speaking; training in thought processes necessary to organize speech content for informative and persuasive situations; application of language and delivery skills to specific audiences. A minimum of 5 speaking situations.
- COMM-R 227 Argumentation and Debate (3 cr.) Discussion and application of argumentative analysis, audience, logic, and refutation. Study of debate structures and formats, including an overview of competitive collegiate debate. In-class debates on a general topic.
- COMM-R 309 Great Speakers: American Public Address (3 cr.) Course introduces students to historical and contemporary public address. Students will study the speechmaking of notable American speakers. The study will include speeches from a wide range of established genres and will include campaign rhetoric, debates, historical celebrations, lectures, legislative speaking, presidential speaking, public meetings, movement, rhetoric, and sermons.
- COMM-R 310 Rhetoric, Society, and Culture (3 cr.) P: COMM-R 110 or equivalent. Explores the persuasion process by examining the historical development of persuasion theory and practice in the Western world, and by studying and applying rhetorical concepts in contemporary culture to our everyday lives. Students become more critical consumers and practitioners of communication.
- COMM-R 320 Public Communication (3 cr.) P: COMM-R 110 or equivalent. Critical analysis of the public communication efforts of individuals and organizations; emphasis on research, clarity of organization, application of argument strategies, and development and presentation of public communication messages.
- COMM-R 321 Persuasion (3 cr.) P: COMM-R 110 or equivalent. Examines classical and current theories and research related to persuasion and social influence; considers variables affecting implementation of persuasion principles with special emphasis on media and persuasion. Designed to help students become critical consumers and effective, ethical producers and presenters of persuasive messages.
- COMM-R 330 Communication Criticism (3 cr.) P: COMM-G 100 or COMM-R 110 and reading placement of at least 80. Course will introduce students to criticism as a method of studying persuasive messages in speeches, fiction, mass media, music, political campaigns, art, and other modes of communication in contemporary culture.
- COMM-R 350 Women Speak: American Feminist Rhetoric (3 cr.) To understand the ideological development of American feminist rhetoric, we examine: 1) speeches by well known, "Great Women" from the 1600's to the present; 2) non-traditional rhetorical forms of "ordinary women," including diaries, fiction, photography, reading groups; 3) intersections among race, class, ethnicity, sexual preference and gender in public discourse.
- COMM-R 390 Political Communication (3 cr.) Provides an opportunity to study, understand, and participate in political communication. Topics covered include the rhetoric of politics, campaign discourse, political advertising, the role of the media and public opinion, the impact of new technology, and the place of interpersonal communication.
- COMM-R 478 Persuasion and Media in Social Movements (3 cr.) Social movements require understandings of persuasion and the limitations and opportunities of media for the goals of the movement. This course explores how people mobilize to transform and improve society by applying theories from rhetoric and media studies to social movements both historical and contemporary.
