Developing agile communicators for a digital world.
Writing to Discover | | Develop critical thinking and writing skills through classical and digital rhetorical approaches. Course Details. |
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Communicating to Influence | | Master persuasive communication across multiple platforms and audiences. Course Details. |
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The Crossover Experience | | Transform your ideas across three modalities to reach diverse audiences effectively. Learn More. |
Develop your communication skills through our integrated course sequence. Learn to craft compelling stories and arguments through critical thinking and research-based writing.
Learning Outcomes
- Practice writing as an inquiry-driven, audience-centered process of drafting and revising
- Develop a central claim in an organized structure using effective writing strategies
- Engage with texts from multiple perspectives, evaluate and contextualize appropriate evidence
Key Assignments
- Formative assignments: Rhetorical and critical analyses
- Personal narrative or story
- Crossover Assignment Part 1: Argumentative professional essay
- Scholarly analysis using research and guided AI usage
Required Rhetorical Exemplars
- Aristotle
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Malala Yousafzai
Develop your communication skills through our integrated course sequence. Master the art of persuasive communication across multiple platforms and audiences.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply classical rhetorical strategies effectively for a specific audience
- Create polished, persuasive messages adaptable for various mediums
- Evaluate and apply rhetorical communication techniques in new media platforms
Key Assignments
- Formative assignments: Analysis of speeches and media campaigns
- Informative Speech and Social Media Adaptation
- Crossover Assignment Parts 2 & 3: Persuasive Speech and Social Media Campaign
Required Rhetorical Exemplars
- Aristotle
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Malala Yousafzai
The theoretical approach of POWERS states that every rhetorical act should demonstrate skill in critical thinking, process and structure, awareness of audience, utilization of research, and the revision and polish of the argument. Each step of the Crossover Assignment helps a student develop new expressions of these skills.
Assignment Iterations
- Writing to Discover, 1st 8 weeks: An argumentative, professional essay to an informed citizenry.
- Communicating to Influence, 2nd 8 weeks: Radically revise the argumentative essay into a speech to a specified audience with visual elements (and expanded research).
- Final Iteration: Revise the speech to create a social media campaign targeting a specific agency or institution.
Our Vision
POWERS prepares students to become confident and effective communicators across multiple platforms. Through the integration of classical rhetoric and digital literacy, students develop the skills needed to thrive in today's rapidly evolving communication landscape.
Our Purpose
We equip students with transferable communication skills that meet the needs of both our students and the evolving workforce. Our program bridges traditional rhetorical foundations with modern digital communication strategies.
