THEA 209
Public Speaking: Traditions and Practice
Last Offered Fall 2015
Division I
Cross-listed AFR 202
This course is not offered in the current catalog

Effective oral communication skills are necessary for any student, regardless of major or area of concentration. This course is designed to give students an introduction into the fundamentals of oral communication. We will discuss the critical role of both speakers and listeners within the transactional process of communication. Together we will explore African American oratorical traditions through viewing, listening to, and reading speeches from notable figures such as Frederick Douglass, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barak Obama, and many others. With an emphasis placed on Aristotelian and African American rhetorical methods of persuasion, evidence-based research, and organization, students will gain a better understanding of what it means to be an ethical and responsible communicator. Students will give three formal speech presentations with a focus on informative and persuasive elements. Through discussions, lectures, activities, readings, and speech presentations, students will develop meaningful skills to effectively communicate in the public setting.