I teach a number of CAS courses at the College. I teach two
100-level courses, Effective Speech (a basic course in public speaking)and Message Evaluation
(a course in public address and media literacy).
Feminist Theory is a course cross-listed with Women's Studies and focuses
on learning about feminist theory through an analysis of the primary texts of the First, Second, and Third waves of feminism.
I teach a number of courses a the 400-level. Gender
and Communication (CAS 455) focuses on how our ideas about gender impact things like our language, relationships,
workplace, education, media, politics, healthcare.
One version of my Rhetoric of Film (CAS
415) course considers films rhetorically and considers the role of social, political, and economic context in the production/construction
of films and the stories they tell, including the characters they construct.Through a study of American film this course will
address some of the stories that are told about the United States, its history, and its people. Examples
of films analyzed include Shaft, Star Wars, Towering Inferno, Deer Hunter, Fatal
Attraction, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Alien and The Lion King.
Another version of the course investigates the specific genre of horror throughout American
history and analyzes the ways horror films address and navigate issues of hope, fear, science, disease, gender, race,
war, etc. for audiences. Examples of films analyzed include Night of the Living Dead, Rosemary's Baby,
The Exorcist, and slasher and science fiction films.
A final version focuses solely in the rhetoric of the undead in films. Thus, we focuses on
the messages and ideology present in film genres that deal with vampires and zombies.
Contemporary American Political Rhetoric (CAS 478) focuses on presidential
and political rhetoric during presidential election years. The course covers various types of political speeches, such as
apologia, war speeches, and inaugural addresses, as well as analyzing political advertising and its impact on politicians,
policy, and U.S. citizens.
When it is not a presidential election year, the course focuses on special topics.
In fall 2006 the focus of the course was on Black American Rhetoric, which traced the unique rhetorical history and style
of Black Americans from the times of slavery to present day events like Hurricane Katrina. Future versions might focus on
the Women and public address and social movements.
Conflict Management focuses on the elements of interpersonal conflict,
as well as how we can recognize and use various styles and stratagies to manage conflict in interpersonal and work relationships.
Freedom of Expression focuses on the protection of freedom of
expression in the First Amendment. Students read court opinions and other texts to investigate issues such as flag burning,
student speech, obscenity and pornography, religious speech, and action vs. speech.
