This Advent 2023 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 including:
*The Rhetoric Minor
*The Shakespeare Minor

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

Don't forget the Registration Dates!
Sunday, April 23 - Tuesday, May 2

 

Public Speaking
RHET101A

T/Th 3:00-4:15 p.m.
W 7:30-8:20 p.m. (first three weeks)

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

RHET101A
Taught by Professor Sean O'Rourke
Public Speaking
RHET110B

M/W 3:30-4:45 p.m.

W 7:30-8:20 p.m. (first three weeks)

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

RHET101B
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
*Counts for the Shakespeare Minor

RHET201A
Taught by Professor Sean O'Rourke
Rhetoric of Mass and Social Media
RHET341A

M/W 2:00-3:15 p.m.

This course surveys the key topics, questions, issues, and controversies surrounding the rhetoric of mass and social media. Students explore not only how rhetoric helps us inform, persuade, and move others to action--but also how, and whether--they are informed, persuaded, and moved to act themselves. Topics surveyed may include rhetorical framing, message bias, propaganda, the rhetorical propagation and circulation of misinformation, freedom of expression, protest, and visual rhetoric.

*Counts for the Rhetoric Minor

RHET341A
Taught by Professor Melody Lehn

Questions about courses?

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