You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, they won't get you anywhere.
Lee Iacocca

Corporate Oratory

Description: When the President of the U.S. is remembered for uttering "Is our children learning," we may rightly despair over the quality of oratory in our times. But if politicians seem to have given up on public address, corporate executives continue to practice and refine the art that was perfected in 5th century Greece. This course will help students to explore the practice of public speaking in corporate settings. In particular, they will learn techniques in rhetorical criticism to analyze corporate oratory as it is found in:

Objectives: If you successfully complete this course, you will be able to:

• Identify specific persuasive uses of rhetoric in a variety of corporate speeches
• Describe the exigences that confront speakers in corporate settings
• Analyze and criticize corporate speeches with a variety of approaches to rhetorical criticism

Text: All readings are journal articles that are available to Drexel students via Hagerty Library's on-line resources. See bibliography. In addition to readings, this course requires the viewing of examples of corporate oratory for analysis. See sample corporate speeches.

Grading: Your final grade will be computed on the basis of the following components:

• 10% = participation in class discussions
• 30% = presentations (3)
• 60% = projects (2)

Assignments: Each class meeting will require you to prepare a reading, speaking, or writing assignment. All readings are on-line. Click on the author names in the Reading Due column of the Assignment Schedule for study guide questions to help you focus on key terms and concepts. Expect in-class oral questions on the assigned readings to show your understanding of their content. Most speaking and writing assignments are opportunities to apply the perspectives and principles described in the readings to your own examples of communication. Click on the items in the Writing Due column of the Assignment Schedule for specific details. Late assignments will be penalized one letter grade increment for each class day late. In addition to the ongoing reading and writing assignments, each of you will give two formal presentations at some point in the course. Click on the link to Presentations for details.

Assignment Schedule

Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes. Attendance is important to your progress and your classmates'. Much of what you learn will come from discussions and interactions with your fellow students. A formal presentation for which you are absent will be graded as an F. If an emergency prevents you from attending class (such as a personal illness or family emergency), please contact me in advance of your absence. You may miss two classes without penalty; any additional absences will reduce your final grade.

Punctuality: You are expected to be on time for all classes. Late arrivals are disruptive to the instructor and your fellow students.