Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

What you'll learn

When and how to employ a variety of rhetorical devices in writing and speaking
How to differentiate between argument and rhetorical technique
How to write a persuasive opinion editorial and short speech
How to evaluate the strength of an argument
How to identify logical fallacies in arguments

Course description

We are living in a contentious time in history. Fundamental disagreements on critical political issues make it essential to learn how to make an argument and analyze the arguments of others. This ability will help you engage in civil discourse and make effective changes in society. Even outside the political sphere, conveying a convincing message can benefit you throughout your personal, public, and professional lives.

This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of rhetoric, the art of persuasive writing and speech. In it, you will learn to construct and defend compelling arguments, an essential skill in many settings. We will be using selected addresses from prominent twentieth-century Americans — including Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Margaret Chase Smith, Ronald Reagan, and more — to explore and analyze rhetorical structure and style. Through this analysis, you will learn how speakers and writers persuade an audience to adopt their point of view.

Built around Harvard Professor James Engell’s on-campus course, “Elements of Rhetoric,” this course will help you analyze and apply rhetorical structure and style, appreciate the relevance of persuasive communication in your own life, and understand how to persuade and recognize when someone is trying to persuade you. You will be inspired to share your viewpoint and discover the most powerful ways to convince others to champion your cause. Join us to find your voice!

Course Outline

Introduction to Rhetoric

Define the term "rhetoric."
Articulate the importance of effective communication.
Summarize the history of rhetorical study, from the ancient Greeks to the modern-day.
Identify the parts of discourse.
Define the three modes of appeal.
Identify tropes and schemes, and explain their use in composition.
Compose an opinion editorial on a topic of your choice.

Civil Rights - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Analyze Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream…” speech
Define inductive reasoning and some of its associated topics
Identify instances of inductive reasoning in writing and speech
Define deductive reasoning and some of its associated topics
Identify instances of deductive reasoning in writing and speech
Recognize and evaluate the strength of an argument's refutation
Apply the elements of rhetoric you have learned so far into the final draft of your op-ed

Gun Control - Sarah Brady and Charlton Heston

Analyze Sarah Brady’s Democratic National Convention Keynote Speech.
Analyze Charlton Heston’s speech on the Second Amendment.
Define “inductive reasoning” and some of its associated topics
Identify instances of inductive reasoning in writing and speech
Define “deductive reasoning” and some of its associated topics
Identify instances of deductive reasoning in writing and speech
Recognize and evaluate the strength of an argument’s refutation
Apply the elements of rhetoric you have learned so far in the final draft of your op-ed

Introduction to Oratory

Describe the origins of the practice of oratory.
Recognize ways in which orators tailor their writing for the spoken word.
Describe techniques for effective public speaking, both prepared and extemporaneous.
Brainstorm ideas for your own short speech.

The Red Scare - Joseph McCarthy and Margaret Chase Smith

Analyze Joseph McCarthy’s “Enemies Within” speech.
Analyze Margaret Chase Smith’s "A Declaration of Conscience" speech.
Identify the modes of appeal and the logical reasoning of the featured speeches.
Identify both common and special topics used in these speeches, like cause and effect, testimony, justice and injustice, and comparison, and begin to recognize their use in other speeches.
Identify examples from these speeches of logical fallacies including the either/or fallacy, the fallacy of affirming the consequent, the argument ad hominem, the argument ad populum, begging the question, the complex question, and the use of imprecise language.
Discuss the importance of winning and keeping an audience’s trust and the pros and cons of attempting to tear down their confidence in an opponent.
Define for yourself the definition of "extremist rhetoric," debate its use as a political tool.
Consider the moral responsibilities of those who would seek to persuade others through language.

Presidential Rhetoric - John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan

Discuss how the audience and the desired tone for a speech can influence diction (word choice).
Compare the effects of using passive vs. active voice, and first-person vs. other tenses in a speech.
Discuss the effectiveness of the use of symbolism in writing and speech.
Define hyperbole, antimetabole, and polysyndeton, and identify when these devices might be appropriate and useful in terms of persuasion.
Describe techniques for connecting with your audience, including storytelling and drawing on shared experience.