This Advent 2024 semester, the Rhetoric department offers a selection of challenging courses that both provide foundation speaking and listening knowledge and engage you mindfully in upper-level courses on public address and oratory. Our courses this semester fulfill a variety of requirements for the Rhetoric minor and general education.

Browser our offerings below for course information, and see them on the University Registrar's page here.

Don't forget the Registration Dates!
Round One: Sunday, April 21 - Monday, April 22
Round Two: Sunday, April 28 - Monday, April 29

 

Public Speaking
RHET101AB

Section A: Professor Jamie Capuzza, T/Th 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Section B: Professor Sean O’Rourke, T/Th 3:00-4:15 p.m.

Study of the principles, precepts, and strategies of informative, persuasive, and ceremonial speaking. Emphasis is placed on assessing the rhetorical situation and researching, composing, practicing, and delivering a speech. Ethical, political, and social questions raised by speaking in public are considered. Students deliver speeches, practice effective listening, and serve as speech critics and interlocutors. 

*Required for the Rhetoric Minor
*Open only to first-year students and sophomores
*Note: this course has a lab for the first three weeks on W 7:30-8:20 p.m. in duPont Library

 

RHET101AB
Taught by Professors Sean O'Rourke, Jamie Capuzza
Argumentation and Debate
RHET110A

M/W 3:30-4:45pm

Study of the precepts, theories, strategies, and ethics of argument. Students critically analyze arguments found in speeches, public debates, and controversies, newspaper articles and editorials, television news programs, and scholarly texts. Students write argumentative essays, present argumentative speeches, and engage in class debate.

*Counts for the Rhetoric Minor

RHET110A
Taught by Professor Melody Lehn
Introduction to Rhetoric
RHET201A

T/Th 1:30-2:45 p.m.

Topical survey of the major questions and controversies in rhetorical theory, criticism, and practice, including rhetorical situations, classical canons of rhetoric, the role of rhetoric in civic life, and the relationship of rhetoric to power, politics, law, education, and ethics. Students consider the rights and responsibilities of speakers and critics. Accordingly, readings include selections from a wide array of rhetorical theorists and critics as well as a diverse and open canon of orators and speakers.

*Required for the Rhetoric Minor and also counts for the Shakespeare Studies Minor

RHET201A
Taught by Professor Sean O'Rourke
U.S. Public Address I: 1620-1865
RHET312A

 M/W 2:00-3:15 p.m.

History and criticism of American speeches and rhetorical texts. The course examines a broad range of historical and rhetorical factors that influenced the creation and reception of speeches from the colonial period through the end of the Civil War, focusing not only on the political, religious, legal, and social exigencies to which speeches responded but also on the place of those rhetorical texts in U.S. public controversies.

*Counts for the Rhetoric Minor
*G1: Reading Closely & G4: Exploring Past and Present

RHET312A
Taught by Professor Melody Lehn
Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Communication
RHET351A

T/Th 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Intercultural communication focuses on the importance of culture in our everyday lives, and the ways in which culture relates to and influences communication processes. With the goal of increasing students’ Intercultural Communication Competence, this interdisciplinary course examines several topics, including: identity, perception, culture shock, cultural adaptation, linguistic differences, nonverbal communication, among others. Through a practical application of theory and research, students will explore intercultural communication in a global context relating to the family, education, media, and business.

*New course!
*Counts for the Rhetoric minor
*G7: Encountering Perspectives

RHET351A
Taught by Professor Jamie Capuzza

Questions about courses?

Professor Sean O'Rourke: sporourk@sewanee.edu
Professor Melody Lehn: mjlehn@sewanee.edu
Professor Jamie Capuzza: jccapuzz@sewanee.edu