Persuasive Storytelling: An Oratory Lab Imagine a gymnasium designed to increase, not your physical health, but your fitness as a speaker. The Ancient Greeks called it “progymnasmata,” a progression of fourteen exercises that began with storytelling, advanced through reasoning and ceremonial speechmaking, and only then, in lesson 14, allowed students to argue a thesis. This classical approach aligns with modern brain science: the most essential tool of persuasion is story. Like the progymnasmata, each class session in Persuasive Storytelling will feature a new speaking exercise building on the previous one. We’ll practice the rhetorical arts of pitching, advocating, and interviewing, but our primary focus will be on delivery; how we use the voice and body to captivate an audience and move them to respond. This course meets the Transformation Skills Requirement of the Conflict Transformation Academic Cluster./

Oratory in Action  How do humans use speech to make change? How can we connect more meaningfully with others through speaking and writing? In this entry-level course we will practice oratory first as speakers, then as peer coaches, and ultimately as partners collaborating with Vermont organizations that make an impact in our community. Group work is a core component of this course, giving students regular opportunity to apply and develop oratory skills. We will use practices developed at Middlebury in Oratory Now’s coach training program, the physical education course, OratoryX, and the Remote Oratory Coaching service for live and recorded presentations. Short readings and viewings support this immersive, engaged learning project. Students with 19+ credits may register with instructor approval.

Ben Powers

Reviews and ratings for Ben Powers at Middlebury College.Ben Powers teaches Persuasive Storytelling, Oratory in Action and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Ben Powers good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

The course was both fun and interesting, despite the almost daily homework. The skills learned really help improve one's ability to public speak. Daily assignments are not too difficult, just a log and a video recording.

This course was very helpful for my public speaking skills and really improved my confidence and articulation! The homework every day was to write a log and film a speech/story which sometimes was tedious but overall helped my skills improve a lot.

This class is fun and easy but we have homework almost everyday for it. The homework is locked until the day it's due but it takes like 10 minutes total to complete. Honestly, it's a very fun class and i feel more confident in my speaking skills!