Texas A&M University 3 credits COMM
COURSE OVERVIEW. Introduces principles and practices for analyzing speeches and other forms of public discourse. Deploys rhetorical analysis to explain how symbols, images, language, performances and/or narratives shape meaning. Considers how communicative acts function in cultural, political, religious, institutional and/or historical contexts. Includes exposure to discourses and theories across a wide spectrum of political, cultural and/or ideological differences. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Demonstrates how public discourse shapes civic life. Provides tools for interpreting speeches, media and other forms of public discourse across various contexts. Builds skills in analysis, research and writing that transfer to fields including law, politics, media, public relations and education. Shows how studying rhetorical strategies can uncover arguments and explain how communication impacts civic decision-making, public controversy and cultural understanding. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Expands the understanding of rhetoric to be beyond speechmaking to include other forms of public discourse such as popular media, advertisements and digital content. Introduces frameworks scholars use to study how communication may be shaped by context, culture, ideology and/or power. Emphasizes understanding and evaluating these perspectives, building awareness of the range of approaches scholars bring to the study of public discourse. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include scholarly traditions of rhetorical analysis, including feminist, narrative, ideological, dramatistic and/or classical criticism. Material may draw from political speeches, media messages, entertainment media and social movements. Because rhetorical criticism examines communication across many areas of public life, the course may include discourses and perspectives that are unfamiliar or controversial, reflecting the diversity of ideas present in society.
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