Rhetoric Recrafted

Description

Are you surprised by your neighbour Karen's political support for the corrupt politician? Do you think Chad, your childhood friend, would really be happier if we all stuck to two genders, had no vaccines for children, and only consumed cow milk?

In this rapidly evolving landscape, individuals equipped with critical thinking, empathetic insight, public speaking skills and flexibility will distinguish themselves, safeguarding democratic principles essential for transformative societal shifts.

Through the application of rhetorical principles – such as recognising the potency of the enthymeme, discerning between practical and theoretical reasoning, navigating modes of persuasion, acknowledging inherent biases, interacting with media, and discerning dialogic structures – during this immersive course, participants will acquire a comprehensive toolkit for fostering proactive citizenship, and embracing their innate capacities for analytical thinking and content creation.

This course will expand your mind and encourage you to embrace (and practice!) your given abilities to think and create. These skills are becoming increasingly crucial in the face of modern-day threats such as fake news, misinformation, propaganda, polarisation, climate change, conspiracy theories, deepfakes, AI, susceptibility to online influencers, and apathy towards civic participation.

In the early days of democracy, rhetoric was developed to help individuals advocate for themselves. Rhetorical education involved reflecting on others' words and expressing one's own thoughts, aiming not only for personal growth but also broader societal significance. Wouldn’t it be great to reclaim that superpower*, tailored to life in this century?

The course consists of two parts: an in-person meeting in July in Utrecht and two online assignments—one before and one after the on-site session. During the in-person session, you will acquire knowledge and information, while also having time to refine your skills and exchange insights with peers. By the end of the course, you will gain a new perspective on media practices, political decision-making and communication, interpersonal relationships and advertising, leaving you forever changed.

The course includes assessments: standardised evaluations and those designed specifically for this programme. You will have the opportunity to compare yourself before and after, and later (whether a day, a week, or at the start of a new academic year), recognise the newfound confidence to change the world.

Are you ready to make a difference? If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate.

Topics we plan to cover:

Day 1 – Communication, Audience, and Dialogue

Day 2 – Persuasion, Reasoning, and Argumentation

Day 3 – Rhetoric and (Social) Media

Day 4 – Rhetorical Citizenship: Argument, Media, and Content Analysis

Day 5 – Now it’s your turn to speak. And self-reflection

*What do we mean by a superpower? It involves the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, grasp the real meaning of words and reasons, understand others' perspectives, recognise fallacious behaviour, and precisely articulate one's own thoughts through speaking and writing.

Good to know: What did a past participant say about the course?

"Ana is a teacher who embraces her students with warmth and generosity. During the Rhetoric Recrafted course at the Summer School of Utrecht University, she offered a fascinating overview of rhetoric and how it's used today—from Big Tech and international politics to populist movements and social media. Her insights helped me rethink political engagement, especially in confronting far-right populism. I realized how powerful visual language can be. (...) Ana’s course wasn’t just informative and cosy—it was transformative, thought-provoking, and helped me unleash my superpower, just as promised in the course description." Janna

"During this time, I have gained a great deal of knowledge, especially in critical thinking within rhetorical situations. Even though I am still in the learning process, I truly appreciate Ana's professionalism and expertise. I have learned concepts and techniques that were previously unfamiliar to me. Attending this programme in Utrecht, far from my home country, has been a unique experience, as such programmes are quite rare where I come from. Once again, thank you very much, Ana, for your guidance." Jo

During this time, I have gained a great deal of knowledge, especially in critical thinking within rhetorical situations.

Lecturers

Ana Vlah is a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of Utrecht University, researching rhetorical contributions to critical thinking. She graduated in Phonetics, Croatian language, and Rhetoric in Zagreb (Croatia), where she works as a speech coach. After working in digital and broadcast media (TV/radio) and as a part-time lecturer at the University of Zagreb, Ana founded Eloquent Minds, a practice focused on polishing the skills of expression. She was a Chair of the International Rhetoric Workshop, and is currently chairing the Department of Phonetics of the Croatian Philological Association.

Target audience

Bachelor and Master students of all disciplines, and young professionals, who want to work on their (critical) thinking and skills of expression.

Study load

One week before meeting in person, you will receive assignments and be asked to complete them online. It shouldn’t take more than two hours of your time. When we meet in Utrecht, each day we will have six to seven hours of programme (with breaks for coffee and lunch included). On Thursday, we will finish earlier so you can prepare a short presentation for Friday. After the course, you might also get a short online assignment.

Tags

• Critical Thinking
• Rhetoric
• Public Speaking
• Argumentation
• Media Literacy