Course Description
The role communication plays in deciding which candidate will run for office, the nomination of candidates, and the election of candidates to office.
Athena Title
POLITICAL CAMP COMM
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in SPCM 4320
Semester Course Offered
Offered every even-numbered year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course investigates the different types of communication that are political and found in campaigns. We will study how political communication works to influence beliefs and behavior. With this in mind, we will survey political events in electoral politics to see what variables are involved in campaigns, and how these variables interact with one another. We will approach campaigns from a rhetorical perspective. Issues and events to be discussed will include: language, public speaking in campaigns, agenda setting, political consultants, the role of the mass media and the new media in campaigns, spot ads, party conventions and public debates. Students write at a minimum equivalent of three 10-15 page papers requiring a synthesis of prior theoretical and academic research, and an application of prior research to advance reasoned and unique theses on topics relevant to the course (topics will vary by semester).
Topical Outline
Week 1 Foundations of Speech Communication Week 2: Symbolic nature of political communication Week 3: Rhetorical nature of political campaigns Week 4: Metaphors in political campaign rhetoric Week 5: Public speaking in campaigns Week 6: Genres of campaign oratory Week 7: Debates in political campaigns Week 8: Debates in political campaigns Week 9: Writing announcement, keynote and acceptance addresses Week 10:October campaigning Week 11:Traditional media use Week 12:The press and national campaigns Week 13:New media Week 14:Political consultants Week 15:Political advertising Week 16:Political humor and satire