Year One

GHU403X
THEORY AND METHODOLOGY: UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC ARGUMENTATION
This course examines the fundamentals of argument theory and applies them to contemporary public deliberation in order to teach students the process of constructing and evaluating argument in a public social sphere. The discourse on which the course focuses includes: product and political commercials, network news, political speeches and debates. Applications include political, commercial, and public service advertising; government and official agencies propaganda; community facilitation; and communication campaigns.

GHU404X
SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICAL RHETORIC
This course deals with the field of political and public argumentation in South Africa. The course is divided into three units. The first unit studies the rhetorical forms that characterize election campaigns, the second examines the forms of deliberation that characterize South African parliamentary and presidential rhetoric, the third examines the ways in which technology and the media alter public deliberation.

GHU402X
HONOURS RESEARCH PROJECT
An appropriate research paper, chosen in negotiation with the Head of Department, of approximately 15000 words in length. Preference will be given to topics related to South Africa's democracy.

Year Two

GHU500X
RHETORIC OF SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL MEMORY
This course considers the fabrication of "rhetorical events" in order to construct public values and social memory. It considers cases of collective memory as part of public deliberation, and particular applications of those theories in the media. It will consider a variety of issues including journalistic practices and ritual processes of group maintenance, with specific reference to major South African public sphere events such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission or sporting debates on integration.

GHU503X
RHETORIC OF ADVERTISING
The emergence of democracy influences the economy and motivates a new style and a fresh approach towards advertisement. New sectors are involved, and new targets for the growing market are opened. Advertisement reflects the political and economical developments. The question is how. How the advertisement industry approaches the product. Hence, a look at the advertisement from a rhetorical perspective examines the effect of the advertisement. Rhetoric explores the mutual relationship between the product, the customer and the text/picture. This examination enables the students to look at the effect of the advertisement given the rhetorical tools that they learn in this course. The course analyses selected examples, thus it integrates practicality and theory/method.

GHU502X
MINOR DISSERTATION
A dissertation of approximately 25 000 words under supervision.

ELECTIVE COURSES

GHU503X
RHETORIC OF ADVERTISING
The emergence of democracy and its influence on the advertisement. How the advertisement industry approaches the product. The effect of the advertisement from a rhetorical perspective. The mutual relationship between the product, the customer and the text/picture.

GHU503Z
Rhetoric and Development
Major topics in development rhetoric: formulations of the role of public deliberation in the development of Third World countries, with specific reference to South Africa; international flow of news and entertainment programmes; role of advertising media; international agencies; rhetorical, educational, and informational uses of communication technology.