Persuasion and Influence

The ability to write and speak in a persuasive manner is often the difference between success and failure. In this hands-on course, students learn to 1) recognize persuasive activities; 2) develop skills in persuading others; and 3) develop skills in defending themselves against unwanted persuasive activities. In this course, students will examine a variety of concepts, techniques, and tools designed to improve the persuasiveness of written and spoken interactions. Students will discuss persuasion both in the sense of how people behave and in the sense of how people use language. Students will also discuss how people argue and how persuasive techniques can be used not so much to "win" an argument but to gain agreement with others. Throughout the course, students will learn to use persuasive techniques in an ethical manner.