Communication

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Apply rhetorical theories to create and analyze public speeches in a variety of contexts including historical and/or contemporary.
• Formulate and implement effective research strategies to gather information and ideas from primary and secondary sources, evaluating them for credibility, accuracy, and relevancy.
• Employ sound reasoning and construct compelling arguments in support of a guiding thesis and organizational pattern appropriate for the audience, occasion, and purpose
• Demonstrate rhetorical sensitivity to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging and adhere to ethical communication practices which include truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason.
• Compose and deliver a variety of speeches, including Informative and Persuasive speeches, to a live audience (one to many) using effective delivery practices.
• Employ effective listening practices.
• Employ effective verbal and nonverbal practices while producing messages extemporaneously.
• Apply rhetorical principles to analyze public discourse across a variety of contexts.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze persuasive appeals using rhetorical strategies including Aristotelian proofs of ethos, logos, pathos.
• design persuasive messages using rhetorical strategies including the canons of rhetoric.
• employ effective verbal and nonverbal practices to produce responsible, ethical persuasion using appropriate organizational patterns.
• evaluate the ways language produces influence in historical and contemporary public discourse.
• demonstrate rhetorical sensitivity and skills necessary for open and respectful communication of diverse ideas and beliefs.
• choose compelling arguments in support of a guiding thesis.
• listen critically to provide constructive criticism to peers.
• discover, critically examine, and use supporting materials from primary and secondary sources for credibility, accuracy, and relevance in speeches.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• critically evaluate reasoning and evidence.
• develop research questions for presentations.
• arrange and organize ideas.
• prioritize main points and distinguish these from subordinate ideas.
• support claims with logic and reasoning.
• identify fallacies of reasoning.
• debate convincingly with clarity and impact.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify key principles of ethical interpersonal communication.
• devise strategies for increasing interpersonal effectiveness.
• diagnose issues relating to the success or failure of interpersonal relationships.
• detect the impact of the self, others, and perception on interpersonal communication.
• produce and process competent verbal and nonverbal messages.
• evaluate the relative merits of various interpersonal conflict managment strategies.
• understand how physiological, social, and psychological experiences impact communication patterns.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess the major areas of cultural diversity and their impact on communication.
• analyze the effects of cultural variance on the selection and interpretation of verbal and nonverbal cues.
• formulate strategies for interacting successfully across intercultural communication barriers.
• distinguish between cultural practices and universal human communication behaviors.
• describe how culture affects perceptions, values, norms, and roles.
• resolve conflict arising from cultural differences.
• critically examine own cultural identities.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• operate as an effective member of small task-oriented groups.
• judge benefits of group work.
• generate and persuasively express critical thought which contributes positively to group decision making.
• devise solutions by using structured problem-solving techniques.
• evaluate the benefits of conflict.
• assess the appropriateness of various conflict-management techniques.
• use effective conflict management techniques.
• choose productive approaches to leadership.
• examine the impact of group roles and norms.
• manage verbal and nonverbal behavior to increase communication effectiveness in the small group setting.
• prepare for, organize, and deliver presentations effectively within small group settings.
• discover, critically evaluate, and accurately report information.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess and manage communication apprehension.
• design and employ effective listening strategies.
• generate effective verbal and nonverbal messages applicable to a variety of communication situations.
• manage group interactions productively.
• organize and orally present information using effective public speaking strategies.
• predict and recognize sources of conflict.
• demonstrate behaviors that contribute to respectful communication of diverse ideas.
• analyze communicative impact of media messages.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• understand the theoretical foundations of creating and sharing knowledge in a mediated communication context.
• demonstrate active listening and effective feedback in online interactions.
• manage issues related to communication apprehension.
• use appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication techniques when delivering oral presentations through mediated channels.
• critically evaluate mediated discourse.
• exhibit productive behaviors as a member of a group.
• apply ethical communication practices as both senders and receivers of mediated oral communication.
• utilize telecommunications applications to transmit messages through text, video, audio, and images.
• demonstrate rhetorical sensitivity fostering equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility for diverse audiences.
• construct compelling arguments to support a guiding thesis utilizing appropriate sources.