Speech Writing

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Speeches can be powerful tools not only of persuasion but also of inspiration, hence the work of speech writing is often seen as daunting. Yet speech writing is only another form of professional writing: it is subject to organization and is a function of critical thinking. Speech writing can be one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable kinds of writing given the very public employment of the work product, but perhaps the greatest satisfaction comes from the act of mixing subject expertise, critical analysis, arcane knowledge, wordplay, personality, and the ability to impose new structures on familiar ideas. In this course, students will learn the classic elements of speeches and will explore traditional and alternative formats for speeches and oratory. Through lectures, in-class workshops of assignments, and discussion, students will significantly enhance their ability to produce speeches matched to speaker, occasion, and subject.