Communicating thoughtfully and ethically for, with, and among others is vital to becoming the leaders Gonzaga hopes students will become. This course introduces students to the theory and practice of rhetoric—how we use symbols to create meaning and understanding between people—with the goal of helping students continue to grow into responsible and thoughtful communicators. Students will learn how communication (including oral, visual, and aural symbol use across personal interactions, media, our bodies, physical spaces, and other material phenomena) shapes our identities, ideas, policies, society, and all aspects of our lived experiences. The course develops skills and ways of thinking about communication needed to analyze, construct, and deliver messages that enrich civic and cultural life. Three central concepts—rhetoric & symbolic action, civic engagement, and audience—provide a common thread throughout the class as we explore the Core Curriculum Year 1 question: “How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?” The course supports the University mission through alignment with eloquentia perfecta, a Jesuit tradition that references excellence in speaking and writing for the common good to create a more just world.
About
Gonzaga’s Jesuit, Catholic, Humanistic education will challenge and inspire you.