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2015/16 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

COMM3165 Politics, Performance and Rhetoric

20 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Professor Stephen Coleman
Email: s.coleman@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module explores political communication from the perspectives of rhetoric (strategies of persuasion) and performance (techniques of enactment) It asks how politicians display authority, sincerity and expertise – and how these communication strategies sometimes fail. As well as studying how politicians attempt to capture public attention and support, the module explores how citizens talk to each other about politics; how protest movements adopt dramaturgical communication strategies; and the methods by which political commentators attempt to appeal to mass publics. As well as studying examples of political rhetoric and performance, and engaging with relevant theoretical works (including Bakhtin, Schechner, Turner, Goffman and Butler), students will be encouraged to develop their own rhetorical and performative skills.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- illustrate and critique the role of rhetorical and performative strategies in political communication;
- analyse and evaluate theory and practice of rhetoric, with a particular focus upon political persuasion;
- analyse and evaluate theory and practice of performance, with a particular focus upon political dramaturgy and techniques of social enactment;
- enable students to engage in rhetorical and performative practices.

Learning outcomes
- Knowledge of political communication, including power structures and strategies of exercising power
- Knowledge of theory and practice of rhetoric
- Knowledge of theory and practice of performance
- Experience in analysing and producing rhetorical performances.

Skills outcomes
Through a process of theoretical analysis of political texts (including written material and sound/film archive) and practical enactment, students will learn about the construction of rhetorical political performances.

They will become more critical of political texts and strategies; better able to critique and challenge them; and capable of enacting their own rhetorical performances.

This knowledge would be particularly useful for students hoping to pursue careers relating to political communication, but would also provide a more sophisticated perspective to students pursuing more general work on the analysis of academic texts and claims.

Syllabus

The module will cover a range of themes in the area of political rhetoric and performance, including: being persuasive and meanings of rhetoric; performing politics; addressing voters and the UK Televised Leaders’ Debates; how people talk about politics (through analysis of BBC 'Question Time' footage and research interview transcripts); hate speech; political miscommunication; and the restyling of politics. Students will also participate in workshops to develop rhetorical and performative communication strategies.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	7	1.00	7.00
Practical	3	2.00	6.00
Seminar	7	1.00	7.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will be required to:
- read two set texts
- read specific texts before each class
- prepare and rehearse rhetorical and performative political communication strategies.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

All students taking this module will be expected to attend ALL classes, unless there is an exceptional reason for not doing so. A register will be taken.

Students will:
- be expected to participate in weekly discussions and those failing to do so - or exhibiting confusion when they do contribute - will be met with out of class to discuss any problems
- be expected to read in advance of classes. Those who fail to do so will be encouraged
- participate actively in the workshop sessions and will receive constructive and encouraging feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,700 - 3,300 words	40.00
Essay	1,400 - 1,600 words	20.00
Group Project	Group Project: exercise in rhetorical performance - 20 minute presentation in groups of 2 or 3, with individual marks	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Group Project: Exercise in rhetorical performance - 20 minute presentation in groups of 2 or 3, with individual marks

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 09/03/2015

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