Communication Criticism

Catalog description

Communication criticism, a fundamental practice in communication studies, describes, explains and evaluates why messages succeed or fail in achieving their intended purposes. Participants learn to conduct systematic analysis of persuasive messages to describe their key elements: language, organization, content, persuasive communication strategies, visual images, and choice of medium. Analysis is use to explain why particular elements were used in adapting messages to intended audiences and specific cultural contexts of those messages. Participants apply various qualitative methods of communication criticism to significant cultural discourse, such as speeches, commercials, public service announcements, and webpages to evaluate messages for effectiveness, ethical acceptability, cultural impact, and aesthetic value. Prerequisite: CST 190 . Offered Alternate Years.