Writing and Public Discourse 132 - Public Speaking: Presentation of Self, Rhetorical Choices and Agency

Public Speaking

Spring
2026
01
4.00
Peter Sapira

TU TH 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM

Smith College
WRT-132-01-202603
psapira@smith.edu
History attests that powerful speeches can mobilize a generation, start and end wars, sway elections, elevate ideals--in other words, generally bring about social change. This course covers the process of oral argumentation: picking and researching a topic, staking a position, writing scripts and delivering speeches. Students develop their writing, verbal and nonverbal communications skills, ability to present to an audience and ability to adapt to different speaking contexts. The course aims to help students cultivate their unique voices in the public speaking challenges they face in their academic and professional careers. Enrollment limited to 16.
Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.
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