Uppsala - Stanford || Cross-Cultural Rhetoric Video Conference || April 22, 2009
Activity: Exchange of International Perspectives on Speeches focused on ethnicity, gender and religion.
I. 18:10- 18:20 / 9:10- 9:20am (10 Minutes)
Getting to Know Teams in a Cross-Cultural Context
Location: Rooms A, B, C, D, E & F at http://switchboard.stanford.edu.
Activity: Introduce yourselves by name, age, course of study, place of origin. Type names and emails on
the whiteboard; Ask each other the questions you have based on your rhetorical analysis of each website:
Uppsala University (http://www.uu.se/en/) & Stanford University (http://www.stanford.edu)
II. 18.20-19.00 / 9.20-10.00 am (40 minutes)
Rhetorical Analysis of Rhetoric in Speeches
Activity: In your globally-distributed team, rhetorically analyze the speeches assigned to your group. Have
the discussion together, exchanging perspectives on some of all the following focus questions:

Think about rhetorical situation: persona, audience, context.
o How does she or he embody the persona of a leader in the use of oral rhetoric as well as in
physical appearance, gesture, voice, etc?
o What rhetorical strategies does the speaker use to address a specific audience (appeals to
ethos, pathos, logos, kairos) in his/her speech?
o Finally for the rhetorical situation: How do the context and moment seem to affect the
content and delivery of the speech?
o How do your group members react to the rhetorical choices? What works or not for you?
o Which strategies would work or not in your community for a speech on this topic?
o How would your group members respond (if giving a speech) to this rhetorical situation
differently than the speaker did – and why?

Think about cultural identity factors: ethnicity, gender, religion. How does the speaker address
issues of ethnicity, gender, and religion? How do factors like ethnicity, gender and religion affect
the rhetoric of this leader (choice of language, stories, metaphors, allusions or even assumptions)?
o What do you learn about how leaders address ethnicity, gender, religion?

Think about cultural values: doxa and nomos. How does the speech reflect or construct particular
cultural values (doxa)? Through what word choice, allusions, jokes, historical references? How
might other audiences respond to these parts of the speech? How do the speaker’s choices help
shape cultural values as well (nomos). What new vision is the speaker trying to communicate?
o What do you learn about doxa, or cultural values, concerning this issue?
o How does this model correspond or not to YOUR idea of an ideal global leader?
As you discuss the speeches, or after you are done with your discussion, please feel free to analyze
or discuss any other videos you want to examine together. Also, you can ask each other questions
about your future research projects – this is a chance for you to exchange ideas with students from
across the globe in small teams!
Note: All speeches are linked at http://ccr.stanford.edu/workshops/042209.html Tech tip: You cannot open
speeches to watch simultaneously through Marratech; it will crash the system. If you want to re-watch part
of the video, watch separately on an Internet browser on each side, and then discuss it together.
 continued
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CCR Video Conference: April 22, 2009
III. 19.00-19.15/ 10.00-10.15 (150 minutes)
Collaborative Group Work
Activity: Prepare a statement from your team to present to the other groups on the following:
What conclusions have you reached about how a leader or speaker would have to change his
or her persona/speech/delivery to communicate effectively across global audiences? Answer
using rhetorical terms and also be as concrete as possible; revise one line of at least one
speech for a different audience to share as evidence
Instruction:
Choose 2 speakers (1 speaker from each side) from your group who will deliver your statement &
evidence. Develop 1 sentence answering the question above. Prepare one revised line from at least one
speech. Practice presenting with your team members. Time limit: 2 minutes per group.
IV. 19.15-19.30/ 10.15-10.30 (15 minutes)
Presentation of Team Statements and Closing Remarks
Activity: Presentation of knowledge; teaching other students about cross-cultural learning
Goals: To learn effective communication across cultures and as mediated through technology; to develop
active listening expertise; to teach others about persona and cultural values; to learn from others
Location: In Marratech, switch back to Room A, at http://switchboard.stanford.edu
(Stanford students, wait for tech assistants to come into your room to help you switch in Marratech – thanks!)
Instructions:
1. Each Team will present its statement of learning and a revised line from at least one speech as evidence.
2. Listeners can type into the chat words of praise or feedback.
3. If we have time at the end, we will have an open forum for any last comments/questions.
4. Closing Remarks by Professors Patrik Mehrens and Alyssa O’Brien.
VI. After the Video Conference
1. Debrief at Individual Universities:
What did you learn about intercultural communication and global rhetoric across cultures?
2. Please post a reflection on today’s video conference as a comment on the CCR blog at
http://ccr.stanford.edu – click on Blogging, then “Read the Blog”
3. Keep in touch on Facebook! Join the Group “Cross-Cultural Rhetoric”
** Thank you for your active participation! We hope you enjoyed this opportunity to for
speaking and writing with real audiences across the globe.**
-- Patrik, Alyssa, and the whole CCR team