ENG4842 - Writing, Performance and Persuasion

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
analyse the rhetorical component of speeches, for example in plays, public speaking, polemical essays
write speeches, showing understanding of elements such as subject position, construction of argument and recognition of audience
demonstrate oral proficiency in persuasive speech and dialogue
Show understanding of secondary sources on rhetoric and monologue

Content:

Students will study political speeches and debates, in multi-media format. They will be introduced to the theory of rhetoric, e.g. classical material, and recent theory. Students will construct and perform speeches as part of debates on seminal cultural topics. They will further explore the projection of character in fictional situations In Semester 2, as a kind of rhetoric. Students will acquire skills in speaking; articulating argument; making a case; and the importance of language and style in persuasion. They will learn the value of the reflective process, by writing up their study week by week.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Workshops; student presentations; video material; group activities; tutor presentations.

Workshop
Contact hours: 40
Intended Group size: 40

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Portfolios will consist of a reflective record of study undertaken throughout the module.

Further details relating to assessment
Portfolio will consist of a reflective record of study undertaken throughout the module, e.g. scholarly exercises involving library and online research and analysis; materials gathered for writing up; materials written in class; analysis of texts. Presentations will demonstrate student competence in written and performed persuasive skills, e.g. monologues. dialogues, speeches and debate. In-class informal formative activities for the oral assignments will be in the form of debates and monologues performed for immediate group and tutor feedback. In-class informal formative activities will be in the form of critical and creative exercises completed and presented for immediate group and tutor feedback. Formal formative assessment will take place in Semester 1 in the form of speeches and debate.

Other relevant matters
Learning and teaching will be in the form of workshops, which will be structured to include sections of tutor presentation and sections of group discussion and creative/critical exercises. Tutor presentations will include Youtube and other video material providing examples of what they are asked to write and study. Students will perform materials written in preparation, and will work on materials in small groups in class. Tutor presentations will provide guidance, workshop exercises, theory, and information as a framework for students to develop their independent skills. In preparation, students will be expected to read materials set up on Moodle, including links to online resources; to research materials in the library; to read the set texts; and to carry out exercises set up on Moodle. The focus throughout will be more on writing than on reading, while recognising that the two go hand in hand, so while there are set texts, they may be fewer than in non-writing modules.

Assessment: