Shifting Rhetorical Norms and Electronic Eloquence

Abstract

Advances in digital media have made an impact on traditional rhetorical culture, thus shifting expectations and norms associated with orality and public presentation. Technology, entertainment, and design (TED) talks represent a new genre of presentation characteristic of Jamieson’s notion of electronic eloquence in that presenters weave together an engaging narrative complete with a strong visual presence. This study applies Bandura’s social cognitive learning theory to explore how students make sense of TED talks. Students responded to two questionnaires in two different classes: a basic public speaking course and a technical communication course. The results suggest that students learn vicariously through viewing mediated presentations, thus shaping their view of public speaking as a coproduced, networked, and engaging narrative. The authors offer recommendations for communication practitioners related to electronic eloquence and the rhetorical tradition.

TED Talks in EFL Context: An Alternative Way for Teaching and Improving Student’s Speaking Skills

“…The vocabulary obtained also increased while students watched the video. Also their courage to speak in public also proved positive (Kedrowicz & Taylor, 2016). In short, TED Talks works successfully in motivating students both in language learners and a better public speaker.…”

Whose ideas are worth spreading? The representation of women and ethnic groups in TED talks

“…Regarding scientific coverage, only few studies investigated TED talks. One study examined presentation characteristics of TED talks and concluded that they can be a valuable source for teaching and communicating ideas to students (Kedrowicz and Taylor 2016). Other scholars found that women gave fewer TED talks than men .…”

When Is a Solution Not a Solution? Wicked Problems, Hybrid Solutions, and the Rhetoric of Civic Entrepreneurship

“…Our rhetorical analysis of +POOL is not meant to be generalizable across all entrepreneurial ventures; rather, we situate crowdfunding as an exemplary model of civic entrepreneurship, one that foregrounds the deeply rhetorical work involved in developing and soliciting financial and social support for a hybrid solution. That is, like others (Bracken Scott, 2016; Dorpenyo, 2015; Kedrowicz & Taylor, 2016; Rice, 2016; Salvo, Pflugfelder, & Prenosil, 2010), we ground our discussion in +POOL as a rhetorical artifact, specifically examining how +POOL provides a generative way of understanding the role that rhetoric plays in the day-to-day work of civic entrepreneurship. Moreover, by bringing to light the vast array of rhetorical activities involved in +POOL, we further demonstrate the vital role that rhetoric and technical communication play in civic entrepreneurship—beyond that of delivering a persuasive pitch to investors or a proposal to stakeholders.…”