Public speaking is often cited as one of people’s biggest fears, but this summer, Theo Black, of Cornell's Department of Performing and Media Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences, invites students to embrace the power of effective oratory with his six-week Summer Session course, PMA 3814 Public Speaking: Contexts, Techniques and Analysis.

This four-credit class, which runs June 24 to August 2 on the Cornell campus, is open to Cornell undergraduates and visiting students through Cornell’s School of Continuing Education (SCE). 

“The course will introduce students to public speaking as a pragmatic endeavor,” says Black.  “We’ll also delve into presentational techniques, paired practical exercises and critical analysis.”

SCE asked Black to share more about what students can expect from his course.

How long have you been teaching “Public Speaking: Contexts, Techniques and Analysis?” What inspired you to offer it?
I’ve been teaching public speaking for two decades and this course at Cornell for several years now. It’s essential to me to share effective communication skills with any person who wants to harness their power of self-expression and ensure their messages are well-received.

What are some of the things you enjoy about teaching about this course?
My favorite aspect of the course is hearing students’ unique, impassioned, entertaining and salient ideas–and watching folks grow in confidence, clarity and dynamism.

What do you hope your students come away with by the end of the course?
The ability to quickly take a prompt and organize a clear, engaging message; to speak with a confident, dynamic range and engage with people interpersonally; to hear others’ speeches with an informed point of view; to harness the tools of vocal production, articulation, gestural language and eye contact and to use visual aids to draw in an audience.

What should students know about taking a rigorous, six-week course?
I carefully calibrated the modules to ensure the students receive a depth of preparation without being overly taxed in terms of time. I gradually layer in the skills we’ve learned with practice exercises and a bit of homework to get students more comfortable with their abilities to communicate effectively in public.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your course?
We’ll cover a wide and exciting array of speaking styles and topics. This course allows students to channel what they may already know with increased confidence and stretch their abilities within a safe environment for self-expression.

What activities do you like to do outside of the classroom during the summer?
Hiking, kayaking and outdoor Shakespeare (acting and directing).

Any good summer beach or lake reads you can recommend?
“The Last Ranger” by Peter Heller and “H is for Hawk” by Helen Macdonald.

The deadline to enroll in PMA 3814 is June 10 for visiting students and June 26 for Cornell students. To learn more about Summer Session, visit the Summer Session website.