Deanna D. Sellnow

The "Illusion of Life" Rhetorical Perspective: An Integrated Approach to the Study of Music as Communication.

–The illusion of life rhetorical perspective increases our understanding about how discursive linguistic symbols and non-discursive aesthetic symbols function together to communicate and persuade in didactic music. We argue that lyrics and music work together to offer messages comprised of both conceptual and emotional content through the constructs of virtual experience (lyrics) and virtual time (music). Both virtual experience and virtual time must exist for music to function rhetorically. For songs without lyrics, virtual experience must be derived from some other source. Emotional content is progressively articulated in music and is understood by considering intensity and release patterns both individually and contextually. Musics rhetorical significance lies in the degree of congruity or incongruity that exists between virtual experience and virtual time. Congruent messages make the meaning more poignant, but could come at the expense of listener appeal. Incongruent messages transform the message in some way, making the holistic message more than, and perhaps different from, the message depicted in the lyrics alone. Incongruity could result in misinterpretation, an emotional message devoid of conceptual content, or subtle and systematic persuasion.

Textbook Technology Supplements: What are They Good for?.

Technology supplements to college textbooks, such as self-guided quizzes and exercises available over the Internet, have become commonplace. The current study examined student perceptions regarding the utility of technology supplements that accompanied a public speaking fundamentals textbook. At semesters end, students reported the supplements to be less useful than they had expected. The supplements were perceived to be more useful by females than by males. The supplements were reported to be more useful when they were required than when they were not. Students perceived technology supplements to be most helpful as study aids and speech preparation tools, but only when they worked properly, were required, and were related directly to course objectives. Instructors are ultimately responsible for ensuring that technology supplements function properly for their students.

John Corigliano's "Symphony No. 1" as a Communicative Medium for the AIDS Crisis.

This study examines the communicative potential of music void of lyrical content. Specifically, John Coriglianos Grammy award winning “Symphony No. 1” is analyzed to explicate its communicative value for the AIDS crisis. This essay contends that music void of lyrical content can serve as, or contribute to, an argument by functioning as a form of enthymeme. Based on this study, musical works can communicate nondiscursively as enthymemes when they are associated with a previously articulated premise, when they serve to embellish that message with emotional expression, and when they are delivered to a sympathetic audience.

Fostering Critical Thinking and Teamwork Skills via a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Approach to Public Speaking Fundamentals.

This PBL approach to the Public Speaking Fundamentals course was developed and assessed as part of Dr. Ahleldts dissertation under the direction of Dr. Sellnow Objective: The objectives are to foster critical thinking and teamwork skills, which result in more depth and breadth of content than is typically observed in beginning speakers Course: Public Speaking Fundamentals

Rhetorical strategies of continuity and change in the music of popular artists over time

This essay analyzes certain aspects of the music of Bruce Springsteen to determine the impact of rhetorical strategies of continuity and change on musical artists’ appeal over time. Three general observations emerged from this analysis. First, Bruce Springsteens musical stories and styles have undergone several disjunctive shifts during the course of his career. In making these shifts, Springsteen has remained true to himself as a maturing adult without sacrificing listener appeal. Second, musical score strongly impacts the ultimate message conveyed depending on whether it emotionally reinforces or contradicts the lyrical message. Finally, other musical performers should be mindful of the effect of their rhetorical choices regarding (a) the intensity and release patterns they use within a musical score and (b) why, when, and where they might allow their stories or styles to shift, and what effect those shifts are likely to have on the integrated messages they are attempting to communicate.

A Little Bit Can Go a Long Way: An Examination of Required Service in the Basic Communication Course

This study examines the utility of service-learning pedagogy in the general education basic communication course to meet service-learning outcomes, with an emphasis on civic engagement. Results of the data suggest that students in both a one-time service site and multiple-site condition indicated that the service experience enhanced three of the four service-learning outcomes: (a) personal and interpersonal development, (b) ability to understand and apply knowledge, and (c) sense of citizenship. The service-learning outcome of perspective transformation was not a frequently mentioned theme but did emerge in intensity in the multiple-visit condition. Findings of the study extend experiential learning theory as well as civic engagement theory and support the inclusion of a service-learning basic communication course in the general education curriculum to promote the LEAP initiative.