Professor: Trond Jacobsen

4.00 credits

CRN 12246: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00-11:20am @ LIB 041

This course teaches students the foundations of effective public speaking, the properties and structures that make oral arguments strong or weak, and the strategies and techniques that make speakers persuasive when engaging varied audiences. The capacity to effectively prepare, present, defend and critique arguments is life-changing and enables the realization of many other opportunities while in college and after graduation. A wide range of studies since the 1940s have identified participation in forensics activities – competitive speaking in the public sphere – better prepares students for academic and professional success than any other co-curricular activity. Students learn how to make their ideas and perspectives count as engaged participants in intellectual conversations in and out of the classroom. Students participate in several speaking activities in class, including impromptu speaking and academic two-person debate. Students have opportunities to apply their knowledge at one or more of three tournaments offered in Fall of 2023.