Public Communications and Storytelling

Catalog description

Successful leaders must be able to convey their passion, integrity, goals and their ideas clearly, and their vision and values convincingly in public settings, team meetings, virtually and in-person. By analyzing iconic political speeches and contemporary visionaries, this class affords students to use tools and best practices in their own preparation and delivery of speeches to the class, this course teaches the fundamentals of persuasive public speaking while encouraging students to develop their own voice and also give advice and feedback to one another. This is a performance-based course. Students will gain skill and confidence in their speech writing and public speaking skills through practice, peer feedback, and extensive professional coaching with the instructor. Class lectures and discussions will focus on persuasive strategies, conveying complex information, visual tools, and techniques for handling community meetings, Q and A sessions, and interactions with the media. The course culminates in a favorite Fels experience - the Inspirational Speeches practice, where students deliver "commencement-like" speeches to their class and invited guests.