Persuasive Storytelling: An Oratory Training Lab Today’s neuroscientists confirm what ancient storytellers knew all along: the human mind is hard-wired to absorb and recall vivid narrative. Because stories engage emotion, they are the most powerful tool we have for capturing attention and inspiring action. This is why storytelling is critical to success in business, politics, advocacy, education, and everyday life. In this immersive training experience, we’ll practice the rhetorical arts of pitching, advocating, and interviewing. Our primary focus will be on delivery; how we use the voice and body to captivate an audience and move them to respond. This includes the use of a variety of mind-body techniques to transform performance anxiety into performance energy. Each week, in addition to the 75-minute class meeting, there will be four 25-minute “home workout” assignments, for a total of 3 hours per week, including homework. (This is a half-credit course.)  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.

Very chill class, Genuinely helped my speech giving skills, and can help you develop great habits for how to give persuasive stories. There was a lot of TAs that help with the "exercises" which can be a little silly at times but who care because everyones doing it. The PE credit is also a plus

This is a great class for people wanting to become more confident in their public speaking skills. Every week you present a story to the class. After the first two weeks I saw a huge improvement in my public speaking skills. I became much more confident and started enjoying public speaking. 

This class has a reputation as an “easy A,” but that really misses the point. The work focuses on building skills that translate directly to job interviews and professional life. Many assignments involved recording short videos and learning how to tell clear, compelling stories, which I now use regularly. Hearing classmates’ stories and learning in such an engaging, supportive environment made the course even more valuable. I would absolutely recommend it.