Rhetoric and Civic Life

Rhetoric and Civic Life is a two semester sequence for first year students in the Schreyer’s Honors Program at Penn State offering extensive hands-on training in oral, written, visual, and digital communication. Under the umbrella of rhetorical education, students unite these modes of communication to strengthen their skills and confront the challenges of each rhetorical mode. The course is cross listed in Communication Arts & Sciences and English, fulfilling both the freshman composition requirement and public speaking credit.

RCL I focuses on the capacities to analyze and contextualize. Students learn to engage with the civic rhetoric around them, compellingly present their findings to different audiences, and thoughtfully contextualize their research.

RCL II focuses on the creation of persuasive and public discourse through practical community application. Communicative processes such as deliberation, policy brief writing, and advocacy are lenses through which students tackle the pressing issues of their civic lives.