Pitch Perfect: Unraveling Effective Communication

For Ei ATS Scholars; students in grades 8/9/10 in 2022-23

Why are certain messages or images more potent than others? How do certain songs, speeches or literary masterpieces change how we perceive the world? What makes these extraordinary creations stand tall and apart from every other creation of its time to make waves throughout history?

One such extraordinary creation is Jawaharlal Nehru’s Independence Day speech at the brink of midnight on 14th August, 1947:

Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.

We have several such examples that have stirred the souls of men and women to action. At the heart of these powerful messages is rhetoric. Rhetoric simply means the art of persuasion through thoughtful and reflective activity leading to powerful communication. In the twenty-first century, rhetoric shapes every imaginable dialogue in relation to everything in this world: power, politics, gender, climate, race, ethnicity, and so much more.

Knowing how to present ideas persuasively makes all the difference in a world of information overload. Therefore, in this course, students will be introduced to a wide variety of information sources that are rich and diverse, where they will examine materials from art, popular culture and science and learn how to present their ideas persuasively.

Students will bring different genres together using an interdisciplinary approach where writing will function as the bridge. For instance, while focusing on writing different types of poems, a poet will adapt the writing to music; a photographer with a keen eye for nature will marry design and writing to produce popular science articles.

The program is designed for students interested in deep explorative learning, and willing to push their creative capabilities. Examples of such varied creations include, blogs, podcasts, portfolios of creative expressions such as poems, short stories and articles. More importantly, students will learn to use writing as a medium of expression. This course is cross disciplinary, and hence will be useful to students from a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.

Note: Previous writing experience is not necessary, but a good grasp over foundational grammar is a prerequisite.