Excelling at Oral Presentations: History & Practice

Effective public speaking is not just a practical skill; it is also one of the oldest of the liberal arts disciplines, extending back to Plato and Aristotle. In this course we will begin by studying classical rhetoric, the research and arrangement of ideas, style and memorization, and oral delivery of those ideas. We will then learn how to organize presentations and hone public speaking skills, as well as how others have done so in the past. We will also learn how to select content, structure a presentation from beginning to end, and connect with the audience. Students will be exposed to methods commonly used by audiences in the evaluation of oral presentations. Participants in this class will have an opportunity to practice oral presentations with the benefit of video as a feedback tool.