Speaking

Courses with an emphasis on speaking help students develop the ability to speak effectively in a variety of situations, including small discussion groups, formal debates, public meetings, and lecture halls. Some courses may offer formal training in public speaking; all will involve a significant amount of oral expression. Courses with a speaking emphasis will offer one or more of the following features:

• Regular opportunities to present, develop, and advocate ideas orally in such formats as debates, classroom panel discussions, informal presentations, and scripted speeches.
• Instruction on how to speak effectively, including:

•  how to engage, inform, and persuade an audience
•  how to choose appropriate levels of discourse
•  how to lead, facilitate, and summarize discussions
•  how to use evidence, logic, imagery, and rhetoric
•  how to enhance oral presentations with audiovisual aids
•  how to listen attentively and respond constructively.