LS1364 Rhetoric- the Art of Persuasion 7.5 credits

The course devotes most time to oral activities but the writing is also important.

This is treated in the course:

• rhetorical strategies, layout and structures
• the fundamental concepts of rhetoric
• rhetorical figures
• dealing with an audience
• stage fright
• text and sentence structure
• the connection between oral and written rhetoric

Oral assignments:

• an informative speech of no more than five minutes about a general subject
• an argumentative speech of no more than fifteen minutes about a subject related to the student's studies
• an oral rhetorical debate on a controversial subject
• an unprepared speech of no more than three minutes about a subject selected at random from an agreed list

Written assignments:

• two descriptions for two different lay readers of something complicated within technology or the natural sciences
• an argumentative text
• a short written analysis of a speech

Working method: peer review and process writing The students receive feedback on their presentations and texts from both their classmates and the teacher. Opportunities for both individual and group work

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• talk before audience in a well-formulated, structured and convincing way

• have knowledge of the most common features and persuasive devices of classical rhetoric and be able to apply these both in speech and text
• adapt the contents, structure and language of a speech or text according to the speech or text type, the audience and the aim of the communication
• analyse the persuasive and argumentative techniques used in both classical and modern speeches and texts
• speak and write in formal, clear, concise and correct Swedish
• work with speech and writing as a process; give and make use of constructive criticism to inform subsequent speeches and texts

General entry requirements.

Retorik – konsten att övertyga, kompendium

Rekommenderad referenslitteratur och e-resurser anges i kurs-PM eller på liknande sätt

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• KONA - Assessment, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
• TENA - Oral Proficiency, 4.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• TENB - Written Assignments, 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

All examination parts passed

Attendance requirement: 75%

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.