ECTS course syllabi
Faculty of Philology
Module 18
ECTS code
Persuasion and Rhetoric – Practice
Hours
30
1.2.2-D1-M18
ECTS points Final requirement
3
graded credit
Year
II
Semester
4
Organization
Full time
Profile
Academic
Form
obligatory
Language Prerequisites
English
Module 13
Provider
University of Opole / Faculty of Philology
Studies
Subject
English in Public
Communication
Degree
BA
Major/Specialty
Courses in the module
Course name
ECTS code Form
Hours
ECTS points
Persuasion and Rhetoric –
Practice
1.2.2-D1PRP
30
3
class
Instructor
Forms of evaluation of effects (see below for types of effects)
A series of practical assignments (written and orally presented): (1) analysis of rhetorical devices in a selected text from the
public domain; (2) three short exercises assessing the use of ethos, logos and pathos in argumentation (one delivered orally,
two in writing); (3)identifying fallacies – project in pairs; (4) a speech delivered publicly arguing for a given proposition
relevant in current public debate; (5) a written persuasive text propounding a given solution to a problem/issue/dilemma in the
public sphere- 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Methods of instruction/ forms of classroom activity
ECTS points in relation to student’s duties
In-class activities:
Analysis of rhetorical texts: demonstrations
Exercises (individual, pair-work) delivered orally and in
writing connected to the aspects of persuasion covered in
class
Peer-review of oral presentations and written assignments
1 ECTS – 30 h of class participation
2 ECTS – 15h of consultations and 45 h of preparation of
exercises
Course description
The course is a continuation of instruction given in Module 13. It applies students’ knowledge of categories and procedures of
Western rhetorical traditions. It gives students the elements of classical rhetorical training and develops their skills of effective
persuasion
Course objectives
The course aims to give students rigorous practice in the use of persuasive resources and rhetorical categories acquired in the
preceding semester. A variety of short practical assignments is assessed according to the following criteria: correct reasoning
and appropriate argumentation, organization and composition relative to written or oral mode, lack of fallacies, stylistic
diversity and appropriateness, a range of figures.
Course content
1. Ethos: personality and stance
2. Pathos and emotional engagement
3. Logos: the resources of argument
4. Reasoning: Choice and Judgment
5. The persuasive process
6. The persuasive repertoire
7. Fallacious argument
8. Putting together a persuasion
Reading list
A. obligatory reading (to get a credit):
A.1. used in class
Cockcroft, R. and Cockcroft, S. (2005) Persuading People: An Introduction to Rhetoric. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Perelman, Ch.and Olbrechts-Tyteca, L. (1969) The New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation. Notre Dame: University of
Notre Dame
Walton, D. (2005) Fundamentals of Critical Argumentation. Cambridge University Press.
A.2. used for self-study
Aristotle (2010) Rhetoric. Translated by W. Rhys Roberts. Electronic Classics Series. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania University.
Burke, K. (1950). A rhetoric of motives. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Burke, K. (1966). Language as symbolic action. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Cicero (1969). Orator. Translated by H.M. Hubbel. London: Heinemman.
Quintilian (1920-2). Institutio Oratoria. Translated by H.B. Butler. London: Heinemman.
B. supplementary reading
Effects
Knowledge
Students:
1. have basic knowledge about the significance of the study of language and communication within the
discipline of philology, about their research subjects as well as their methodological specificity
(K_W02)
2. have a systematic detailed knowledge of the theory and practice of persuasion and rhetoric, of origins
and development of various traditions and categories of paradigms in public communication
(K_W10)
3. are acquainted with the ethical standards and codes of practice in public communication (K_W17)
Skills
Students can:
4. identify and describe a range of linguistic and generic features of texts used in public communication,
conduct a critical analysis/interpretation of texts in English, with the aid of typical philological
methods, and delimit their potential meanings, social impact and cultural significance (K_U06)
5. make a well-organized presentation in English related to a selected aspect of study(K_U10)
6. collaborate with other students to prepare projects, presentations or texts in English that can be
publicized out of class (K_U12)
Social competences
Students:
7. shape their opinions in relation to the gained general and detailed knowledge gained in the
course(K_K03)
8. are aware of the significance of public communication for a democratic dialogue in the public sphere
(K_K13)
Contact
molekk@uni.opole.pl