Rhetoric and Communication in the Social Context 3301-JS1812
The course is intended for the MA programme. The departure point for the course is selected notions of classical rhetoric, such as types of arguments and logical fallacies. Then experimental research is presented on the effectiveness of persuasion carried out in the 20th century. Subsequently H.P Grice’s theory of conversation is introduced with emphasis on rationality and cooperativeness underlying this theory, with these characteristics enabling the speaker to predict and manage the outcome of the interpretation process. Another topic to be discussed is the foundations and implications of post-Gricean cognitive pragmatics for the effectiveness of communication and argumentation. The role of explicit and implicit communication and of cultural assumptions is analysed in gleaning the speaker’s intentions and in persuasion. The role of selected psychological effects, such as confirmation bias is also mentioned. All notions discussed during the course are illustrated with authentic examples culled from various types of discourse (political discourse, social campaigns, literary works). Students will be also given opportunities to deploy the theoretical concepts in their own texts.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The student is able to
- Identify and characterize on an advanced level the place and status of linguistics, especially cognitive rhetoric, within the humanities
- Describe on an advanced level the current trends in linguistic research on communication and argumentation within English studies
Th student is able to
- Apply advanced terminology and notions pertinent to the studies of communication and argumentation;
- Apply knowledge obtained during the course of studies to account for and solve a problem, thereby completing a research task related to communication and argumentation;
- Analyze communicative and cultural phenomena and draw generalizations on their basis in the context of societal, historical and economic factors on an advanced level.
- Discern alternative methodological paradigms within communication studies;
- Participate in group projects, collaborate with others and be a team leader in conducting collaborative research, presentations and other tasks included in the curriculum;
- Present knowledge in a coherent, precise and linguistically correct manner in English on level C2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, ensuring an appropriate register and form
Kompetencje społeczne:
The student is ready to
- Apply knowledge and skills obtained during the course to undertake lifelong learning, as well as personal and professional development
- Take responsibility for performing one’s professional duties, with due respect for the work of others, obey and develop the ethical norms in professional and academic settings related to the course;
- Assess critically one’s own knowledge and skills related to the course.
Assessment criteria
Active participation, submission of 4 short home assignments and a final presentation.
3 absences are allowed.
The same conditions apply to the retake session.
Bibliography
Ajdukiewicz, K. (1965) Klasyfikacja rozumowań Język i poznanie, vol. 2. Warszawa: Wyd. Naukowe PWN.
Arystoteles (2015) Retoryka, Retoryka dla Aleksandra, Poetyka, trans. H. Podbielski.Warszawa: PWN.
Cacioppo, J.T., Petty, R.E., Kao, C., Rodriguez, R. (1986) “Central and peripheral routes to persuasion: An individual difference perspective”. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 51/5; 1032–1043.
Evans, J. St. B.T. (2007) Hypothetical Thinking: Dual Processes in Reasoning and Judgment. New York: Psychology Press.
Gigerenzer, G., Todd, P.M., ABC Research Group (1999) Simple Heuristics that Make us Smart. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Grice, H.P. (1975/89) “Logic and conversation”. In: Studies in the way of words. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 22–40.
Hołówka, T. (2006) Kultura logiczna w przykładach. Warszawa: Wyd. Naukowe PWN.
Kahneman, D., Tversky, A. (1974) “Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases”. Science, New Series, 185/4157; 1124–1131.
Nickerson, R. (1998) “Confirmation Bias: a Ubiquitous Phenomenon in Many Guises”. Review of General Psychology 2(2). Educational Publishing Foundation; 175–220.
Petty, R.E., Cacioppo, J.T. (1986) Communication and Persuasion: Central and peripheral routes to attitude change. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Sperber, D. (1995) “How do we communicate?”.In: How Things Are: A Science
Toolkit for the Mind, ed. by J. Brockman, K. Matson. New York: Morrow; 191–199.
Sperber, D., Clément, F., Heintz, Ch., Mascaro, O., Mercier, H., Origgi, G., Wilson, D. (2010) “Epistemic vigilance”. Mind & Language 25; 359–393.
Sperber, D., Wilson, D. (1986/95[2011]) Relevance: Communication and Cognition.
Oxford: Blackwell.
Tokarz, M. (2006) Argumentacja, perswazja, manipulacja. Wykłady z teorii komunikacji. Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: