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. 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.

I loved this course! Every day, we had a simple assignment that would usually involve recording a video of ourselves telling a story. This class was very helpful, and I use these skills daily. It was also interesting to get to hear other people's stories. Everyone in the class, as well as the professors, was super engaging and kind. Would definitely recommend!

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.