What makes a political speech “good”? Why are some advertisements more effective than others? This course focuses on the crucial role of rhetoric in cultural communication: the mysterious mechanisms by which language is mobilized to persuasive ends. Students will learn a critical vocabulary for discussing argument and will explore historical and contemporary examples from philosophy, art, science, film, and politics, in order to understand how language achieves its most powerful effects. Lect: 3 hrs. Prerequisites: (ENG 108 and ACS 103) or ENG 208 Course Weight: 1.00 Billing Units: 1
