Speaking Center News
Agnes Scott Speaking Center’s Rhetoric: Voices to move an audience
What is "Voices of Rhetoric?" It is a program that attempts to show college students that rhetoric is not solely political or a formal presentation, but that rather it is everywhere and can involve anyone or anything.
Why start it? "Rhetoric" often has a negative connotation, but as Speaking Center tutors at Agnes Scott College we wish to change that idea among college students. How? By starting a "Voices of Rhetoric" program on our own campus, hoping that message will spread to many others schools.
"Voices of Rhetoric"
During spring orientation for the speaking center we read a moving chapter by Gerard Hauser, "Rhetorical Democracy and Civic Engagement." This article focuses on the power of speaking to promote change in the world, essentially the need for civic engagement. With the idea of civic engagement in our minds we attempted to spread the necessity and power of rhetoric throughout the campus. People who speak well, who communicate better, become better citizens. The process was broad at first. We defined rhetoric on our own terms and brainstormed examples of it. The results amazed us—rhetoric is truly everywhere. In movies, music, pictures, comedy skits, and even on t–shirts. With this discovery in mind, the Agnes Scott College Speaking Center launched its first ever "Voices of Rhetoric" program.
What have we done?
When deciding a date in February to present our new idea to the student program we discovered that a movie is the easiest way to attract college students. We chose to show "Malcolm X" to illustrate the power of one man’s rhetoric. Not many people showed up for the event, but those who did were astonished by his words. Seeing people’s shock at the power of words fueled our desire to share more moving examples of rhetoric. So, in March we held a joint event with the Feminist Majority Leadership Association and showed "Iron Jawed Angels." After the movie a discussion was held and people shared how the movie moved them. They were influenced by rhetoric, proving to the center that this small "Voices of Rhetoric" event is a success. We are also planning a big event in the upcoming fall semester, which will encompass many forms of rhetoric. We will turn our focus from movies onto comedy skits (like Dane Cook), music videos, logos, advertisements, lyrics—all forms of rhetoric we come into contact with daily.
Hannah Alley is a junior at Agnes Scott College and is a tutor at the Speaking Center.