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Regular version of the site
Master 2020/2021

Rhetoric and Speech-Making

Area of studies: Fundamental and Applied Linguistics
Delivered by: School of Literature and Intercultural Communication
When: 1 year, 3, 4 module
Mode of studies: distance learning
Instructors: Dmitry V. Bosnak
Master’s programme: Прикладная лингвистика и текстовая аналитика
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6
Contact hours: 64

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The objective of the course is to teach the techniques of effective communication to facilitate persuasion and decision-making. The expected outcome is such skills as building a powerful argumentation, segmenting and engaging audiences, creating the speaker’s image, successfully confronting verbal manipulation, and polemicizing. The course is designed to combine theoretical and practical issues and complements in this way the Program’s focus on analytical approaches to text. Participation does not require any special prior knowledge; the class is open to students in all areas.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • understanding the role of logic and logical thinking in public speaking
  • analyzing the role of the audience and the role of the speaker
  • understanding the importance of style in public communication
  • understanding the role of emotions in public communication
  • learning polemical techniques
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • analyzing political speech acts from the point of view of emotional impact
  • analyzing the stylistic properties of political speech acts
  • analyzing political speech acts from the point of view of logical argumentation
  • ability to maintain a political debate
  • analyzing political speech acts from the point of view of the speaker's identity
  • analyzing political speech acts from the point of view of the structure of the audience
  • ability to argue one's point effectively
  • ability to dispute the opponent's position
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Basic concepts of political communication
    The political sphere; political discourse; the rhetorical situation; speech act; critical analysis
  • Argument (Logos)
    The role of logical proofs. Conceptual analysis. Logical fallacies
  • Ethos / Identity
    The identity of the speaker and structure of the audience
  • Pathos
    The emotional impact in political communication. The role of allusions and quotations. Elements of non-verbal communication
  • Final debate
    Two debates on topical issues
  • Polemic and political dialogue
    Rhetorical attacks and ways to counter them
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Class activity
  • non-blocking Terminology test
  • non-blocking Final debate
  • non-blocking Exam
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (4 module)
    0.3 * Class activity + 0.3 * Exam + 0.2 * Final debate + 0.2 * Terminology test
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Aristotle, Yunis, H., Waterfield, R., & Aristotle. (2018). The Art of Rhetoric. Oxford, United Kingdom: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2096818

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Atkins, J. (2010). Moral Argument and the Justification of Policy: New Labour’s Case for Welfare Reform. British Journal of Politics & International Relations, 12(3), 408–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-856X.2010.00415.x
  • Beard, A. (2000). The Language of Politics. London: Taylor & Francis Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=60933
  • Charteris-Black, J. (2014). Analysing Political Speeches : Rhetoric, Discourse and Metaphor. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1453945
  • Edelman, M. (1998). Language, Myths and Rhetoric. Society, 35(2), 131–139. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02838136
  • Feldman, O., & Landtsheer, C. de. (1998). Politically Speaking : A Worldwide Examination of Language Used in the Public Sphere. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Publishing Group. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=182543
  • Finlayson, A. (2007). From Beliefs to Arguments: Interpretive Methodology and Rhetorical Political Analysis. British Journal of Politics & International Relations, 9(4), 545–563. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-856X.2007.00269.x
  • Hopkins, N., & Kahani-Hopkins, V. (2004). The antecedents of identification: A rhetorical analysis of British Muslim activists’ constructions of community and identity. British Journal of Social Psychology, 43(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466604322915971
  • Jerit, J. (2004). Survival of the Fittest: Rhetoric During the Course of an Election Campaign. Political Psychology, 25(4), 563–575. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9221.2004.00387.x
  • Martin, J. (2015). Situating Speech: A Rhetorical Approach to Political Strategy. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.9ADDDE3B
  • Reicher, S., & Hopkins, N. (1996). Self-category constructions in political rhetoric; an analysis of Thatcher’s and Kinnock’s speeches concerning the British miners’ strike (1984-5). European Journal of Social Psychology, 26(3), 353–371. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-0992(199605)26:3<353::AID-EJSP757>3.0.CO;2-O