Facoltà di Economia

Course Description
The course is divided into two modules.
- The first module is entitled ‘Communication Techniques and Presenting Yourself’.

The aim of this module is to strengthen each student’s confidence and skills with spoken and written English generally, as well as to build up their communication skills for inter-cultural understanding, academic requirements and working in professional environments. The themes of self-management and team-working will run through all of the course topics.
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Teaching Method
A wide variety of formal, practical and creative teaching techniques and materials will be used in order to support the instruction and guidance of developing skills for clear communication, writing, public speaking, debate and self-expression. Active student involvement is expected in preparation for classes and participating in class exercises and activities

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Students will learn theories of reflective learning, self-reflection, group working, dynamic communication techniques and Public Speaking.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Students will be challenged to apply their knowledge and understanding through interactive exercises practiced in every class. They will use their Reflective Learning skills to show evidence of engagement and progress in the final written assignment.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS: The students will be expected to demonstrate Self-Management skills in the preparation for each class and Leadership and Teamworking skills in each class.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: The aim of the course is to give each student tools, approaches and practice that develop them into confident pubic speakers capable of clearly communicating and expressing personal ideas strongly in small and large, informal and formal, settings.
LEARNING SKILLS: Communication, Pulbic Speaking, Cooperation, Self-Management, Resilience, Decision-Making, Negotiation, Problem Solving, Critiical Thinking, Creativity and Reflection.

The second module is entitled ‘Introduction to Critical Human Rights Thoughts and Social Justice’.
Knowledge of communication skills, inter-cultural understanding, human rights and social justice are essential for understanding the core values of global interactions. The first module by Prof. Brown, Applied English, will strengthen student confidence with communication skills and inter-cultural understanding, as well as encourage self-management and teamwork. This second module will provide the practice for students of such skills from a human rights and social justice lens.
Knowledge is increasing becoming borderless. The world of Algorithms, artificial intelligence, cookies, and Chat Generative AI, e.g. generators, reimaginations, synthesizers, gemini, cluely among others are fast taking center stage in global governance exchanges. At his April 2025 TED Talks, Mr. Tristan Harris suggested that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ultimate test and greatest invitation. Understanding and engaging with global governance is being redefined. Students are likely to come to this module with even greater acumen of the technology companies.
This second module will introduce basic concepts to reinforce blurs between traditional/domestic boundaries in this complex environment where the most powerful private companies through manipulation, profit and control are becoming stateless superpowers, transcending boundaries as non-state authorities, determining our fundamental rights, duties and responsibilities and redefining social justice. Our biosphere is becoming a collection of internally borderless mega-regional consortiums–these amalgamations are emerging as the building blocks of the future world order.
Herein, Human rights and social justice need to encapsulate the essence of the future. As we aspire to understand the future so that our colloquy won’t just be about an idealistic past or the challenging present, we will attempt to measure our mindset from a physical and virtual connectivity, building new and more stable loyalties to a “world that is more geodesic than geographical.”

No formal pre-requisites

The course programme is divided into two inter-related modules as follows.

The aim of the first module is to strengthen each student’s confidence and skills with spoken and written English generally, as well as to build up their communication skills for inter-cultural understanding, academic requirements and working in professional environments. The themes of self-management and team-working will run through all of the course topics.
Knowledge of communication skills, inter-cultural understanding, human rights and social justice are essential for understanding the core values of global interactions. The first module by Prof. Brown, Applied English, will strengthen student confidence with communication skills and inter-cultural understanding, as well as encourage self-management and teamwork.

The second module will provide the practice for students of such skills from a human rights and social justice lens.
Participation, critical reflection on advancing justice; regular class attendance, active participation in discussion, read required readings/watch ahead of classes videos clips in the syllabus, and submission of all assignments.

Course assessment

Course assessment
First Module
Students will be graded by their preparation, attendance and active class participation; also
by assessment of an individual ‘Learning Portfolio’. The Learning Portfolio will be comprised
of a collection of short assignments, which prepare students for the in-class activities, and
short reflections based on the class activities, themes and issues which arise.

The format and due date of the Learning Portfolio will be set in agreement with the class, as
will the penalties for late submission and re-submission.

The final mark will include 20% for participation in class, and 80% for the Learning Portfolio -
to include 40% for the set assignments and preparation for class, and 40% for the reflection.

Students who do not submit by the agreed due date, or fail the written work, will be required to fulfill the exam requirements of non-attending students, and be marked accordingly; or be required to submit an enhanced, supplemented Learning Portfolio, with content as set by the module Professor submit an academic paper on a topic and length set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module. This will depend on the assessed learning needs of the student. The final mark will comprise 60% for the formal written paper and 40% for the Learning Portfolio.
Non-attending students will be expected to read the course material (course files and documents can be found on DIDA, and the set texts in the library). They will submit a Learning Portfolio, with content as set by the module Professor, along with an academic paper on a topic and length set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module, and then take a written or oral final exam.
The final mark will comprise 70% for the formal written material and 30% for the final exam.
• Students are expected to familiarise themselves with the on-line material and books, which cover the themes of the course.
• They are expected to be familiar with the overall content of this material and with the theories of oral and written Communication, Public Speaking, Body Language and Human Resources.
• The final exam will be either written or oral. It will be comprised of a series of questions requiring answers that clearly show familiarity with the themes and theories of the course.


Second Module

Grade Breakdown: Class Participation (20%)
Moot court preparation/participation (30%)
Paper (500 words) (10%)
Final essay (40%)

Non-attending students will be expected to read the course material (course files and documents can be found on the Global Governance home page, and the set texts in the library), submit an academic paper of around 2,500 words on a topic set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module, as well as take a 3-hour final exam.

Final grade: The final grade for the Exam of Applied English is the average of the grades obtained in the two Modules. You won’t be able to keep the results of one of the modules for another round (“appello”): the exam must be completed in the same exam session and same round (“appello”), otherwise you will have to retake both modules’ exams in another round (“appello”) or session.



Minimum score for passing the written test 18 out of 30.
After listening to the presentations, the lecturers communicate the results to the students registered for the examination via the Delphi system.
Students may take the examination on all available dates. there is no roll-call jump.

The examination will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• FAIL: important deficiencies and/or inaccuracies in the knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited ability to analyse and synthesise, frequent generalisations and limited critical and judgemental skills, the topics are set out inconsistently and with inappropriate language;
• 18-20: Barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topics with possible generalisations and imperfections; sufficient capacity for analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgement, the topics are frequently exposed in an incoherent manner and with inappropriate/technical language;
• 21-23: Routine knowledge and understanding of topics; ability to analyse and synthesise correctly with sufficiently coherent logical argumentation and appropriate/technical language
• 24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics; Good analytical and synthetic skills with arguments expressed in a rigorous manner but with language that is not always appropriate/technical.
• 27-29: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the topics; considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis. Good autonomy of judgement. Arguments presented in a rigorous manner and with appropriate/technical language
• 30-30L: Excellent level of knowledge and thorough understanding of topics. Excellent analytical and synthetic skills and independent judgement. Arguments expressed in an original manner and with appropriate technical language.

Course evaluation for attending students:
• In-class presentations (100 %)
• Rules for the presentation: Students can work on their presentations alone or in groups. A group may comprise 2 to 4 students. The students agree on the topic of the presentations with the lecturers, individually or in groups. Each student/group prepares its presentation and emails it to the lecturers at least one day in advance of the day scheduled for class discussion. In the case of group presentations, each group member receives the same final grade.

Course evaluation for non-attending students:
• Final oral exam (100%).
• Rules for the oral exam: the final exam consists of an approximately 20-minute oral test with questions on one of the textbooks indicated above,

Texts adopted
First module
Some relevant publications are difficult to source and others are general in nature, so a number of readings and sources will be supplied by the Professor and other suitable books - on Public Speaking and People Management, for example - can be researched and chosen by students under the guidance of the module professor.

Schedule of Topics
Lecture Number Primary Subject Assignment
01 Artificial Intelligence as our ultimate test and greatest invitation https://youtu.be/6kPHnl-RsVI?feature=shared
(Watch before class)
02 Human Rights & the Earthly community. Achille Mbembe, 2024, Norway. Attached Students to read the attached reading and prepare two minutes of thoughts on:
• Human uniqueness and exceptionalism
• Becoming a human person
• The future of humanity
03 Our Social Dilemma Watch the Social Dilemma documentary, before class and come with questions
04 Making Human Rights Relevant in Global 500 words; Topic: Theory, Politics and Practice of Human Rights – Ready for submission
05 Trap in Transit—immigration and Social Justice Lecture & Conversation
06 Moot Court Reading Attached
07 Hot issues Hot Coffee/Tea Who Wouldn't Cheat? In only two years, ChatGPT has unraveled the entire academic project.
08 Digital Citizenship and Digital Communities Conversation in groups
09 Moot Court Student presentation
10 Moot Court Student presentation
11 Différence, Répétition and Social Justice Radical imagination of Human Rights and Social Justice. Power Point Presentation

12 The Story in us all—Our Human Rights, Our Dignity Retracing our Steps: students to share narratives of their journey—2 minutes each

Additional reading may be handed out during the class time

Textbooks and Materials for Module One

Throughout classes, the Professor will draw material from the following publications:

Topic 1: Heller, R. and Hindle, T., The Essential Manager’s Handbook (2016), DK, Penguin Random House, London.
Topic 2: Rodenburg, P. (2007) Presence, Penguin, London.
Lloyd-Hughes, S. (2011) How to be Brilliant at Public Speaking. Any Audience. Any Situation., Pearson Life, London.
Topic 3: Reid, M. (2012) Report Writing, Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Goodwin, J. ((2019) Planning Your Essay, Macmillan, London.

Topic 4: Bassot, B. (2013) The Reflective Journal, Palgrove Macmillan, London.
Williams, K., Wooliams, M., & Spiro, J. (2012) Reflective Writing, Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Topic 5: Drucker, P. (2007) Management Challenges for the 21st Century, Routledge, London.
Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2000) The Art of Possibility, Penguin, London.

Some of these publications are difficult to source and others are general in nature, so a number of readings and sources will be supplied by the Professor and other suitable books - on Public Speaking (Topic 2) and People Management (Topic 5), for example - can be researched and chosen by students.

The course combines different interactive teaching methods, including lectures, discussions and demonstrations, but mainly uses individual, small group and whole class exrecises to explore public speaking, self-expression and self-confidence.

1st Module


The aim of this module is to strengthen each student’s confidence and skills with spoken and written English generally, as well as to build up their communication skills for inter-cultural understanding, academic requirements and working in professional environments. The themes of self-management and team-working will run through all of the course topics.


2nd Module

Knowledge of communication skills, inter-cultural understanding, human rights and social justice are essential for understanding the core values of global interactions. The first module by Prof. Brown, Applied English, will strengthen student confidence with communication skills and inter-cultural understanding, as well as encourage self-management and teamwork. This second module will provide the practice for students of such skills from a human rights and social justice lens.

Knowledge is increasing becoming borderless. The World of Algorithms, artificial intelligence, robotics, cookies, and Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, (ChatGPT) among others are fast taking center stage in global governance exchanges. Understanding and engaging with global governance is being redefined. Students are likely to come to this module with even greater acumen of the world they aspire to leave for the next generation. This second module will introduce basic concepts to reinforce blurs between traditional and domestic boundaries in this complex environment where the most powerful private companies through surveillance capitalism are becoming stateless superpowers, transcending boundaries as non-state authorities, determining our fundamental rights, duties and responsibilities and redefining social justice. The age of Surveillance Capitalism is intriguing-- our world is becoming a collection of internally borderless mega-regional consortiums–these amalgamations are emerging as the building blocks of the future world order.

Herein, Human rights and Social justice need to encapsulate the essence of the future. As we aspire to understand the future so that our colloquy won’t just be about an idealistic past or the challenging present, we will attempt to measure our mindset from a physical and virtual connectivity, building new and more stable loyalties to a “world that is more geodesic than geographical.

No formal pre-requisites

The course programme is divided into two inter-related modules as follows:

The aim of the first module is to strengthen each student’s confidence and skills with spoken and written English generally, as well as to build up their communication skills for inter-cultural understanding, academic requirements and working in professional environments. The themes of self-management and team-working will run through all of the course topics.

Knowledge of communication skills, inter-cultural understanding, human rights and social justice are essential for understanding the core values of global interactions. The first module by Prof. Brown, Applied English, will strengthen student confidence with communication skills and inter-cultural understanding, as well as encourage self-management and teamwork. This second module will provide the practice for students of such skills from a human rights and social justice lens.

AFirst Module Students will be graded by their preparation, attendance and active class participation; also by assessment of an individual ‘Learning Portfolio’. The Learning Portfolio will be comprised of a collection of short assignments, which prepare students for the in-class activities, and short reflections based on the class activities, themes and issues which arise. The format and due date of the Learning Portfolio will be set in agreement with the class, as will the penalties for late submission and re-submission. The final mark will include 20% for participation in class, and 80% for the Learning Portfolio - to include 40% for the set assignments and preparation for class, and 40% for the reflection. Students who do not submit by the agreed due date, or fail the written work, will be required to fulfill the exam requirements of non-attending students, and be marked accordingly, which will be to submit an enhanced, supplemented Learning Portfolio, with content as set by the module Professor, and include an academic paper on a topic and length set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module; plus, take an oral exam covering the course material. The final mark will comprise 40% for the formal written paper, 40% for the Learning Portfolio, and 20% for the oral exam.Non-attending students will be expected to study the course material (course files and documents can be found on DIDA, and the set texts in the university library), then submit a Learning Portfolio, with content as set by the module Professor, and also an academic paper on a topic and length set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module; plus take an oral exam which will be comprised of a series of questions requiring answers that clearly show familiarity with the themes and theories of the course. The final mark will comprise 40% for the formal written paper, 40% for the Learning Portfolio and 20% for the oral exam. Second Module Grade Breakdown: Class Participation (20%) Moot court preparation/participation (30%) Paper (500 words) (10%) Final essay (40%) Non-attending students will be expected to read the course material (course files and documents can be found on the Global Governance home page, and the set texts in the library), submit an academic paper of around 2,500 words on a topic set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module. Final grade: The final grade for the Exam of Applied English is the average of the grades obtained in the two Modules. You won’t be able to keep the results of one of the modules for another round (“appello”): the exam must be completed in the same exam session and same round (“appello”), otherwise you will have to retake both modules’ exams in another round (“appello”) or session.

Textbooks and Materials for Module One
Throughout classes, the Professor will draw material from the following publications:
Topic 1: Heller, R. and Hindle, T., The Essential Manager’s Handbook (2016), DK, Penguin Random House, London.
Topic 2: Rodenburg, P. (2007) Presence, Penguin, London.
Lloyd-Hughes, S. (2011) How to be Brilliant at Public Speaking. Any Audience. Any Situation., Pearson Life, London.
Topic 3: Reid, M. (2012) Report Writing, Palgrove Macmillan, London.
Topic 4: Bassot, B. (2013) The Reflective Journal, Palgrove Macmillan, London.
Topic 5: Drucker, P. (2007) Management Challenges for the 21st Century, Routledge, London.
Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2000) The Art of Possibility, Penguin, London.
Some of these publications are difficult to source and others are general in nature, so a number of readings and sources will be supplied by the Professor

The course combines different teaching methods: lectures; seminars; student presentations. The lectures will provide the students with the necessary information and reading guidelines on the phenomena under study, while seminars will see students critically engage with this knowledge and encourage/participate in class debates. Students are expected to attend each class, to come to class prepared and to participate in discussions.

Students will agree the topic of their presentations with the lecturers and give assessed Power-point presentations in which they will critically evaluate the content and argument of a chosen topic and introduce related questions for the class discussion.

Course assessment

First Module
Students will be graded by their preparation, attendance and active class participation; also by assessment of an individual ‘Learning Portfolio’. The Learning Portfolio will be comprised of a collection of short assignments, which prepare students for the in-class activities, and short reflections based on the class activities, themes and issues which arise.
The format and due date of the Learning Portfolio will be set in agreement with the class, as will the penalties for late submission and re-submission.
The final mark will include 20% for participation in class, and 80% for the Learning Portfolio - to include 40% for the set assignments and preparation for class, and 40% for the reflection.
Students who do not submit by the agreed due date, or fail the written work, will be required to fulfill the exam requirements of non-attending students, and be marked accordingly, which will be to submit an enhanced, supplemented Learning Portfolio, with content as set by the module Professor, and include an academic paper on a topic and length set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module; plus, take an oral exam covering the course material.  The final mark will comprise 40% for the formal written paper, 40% for the Learning Portfolio, and 20% for the oral exam.
Non-attending students will be expected to study the course material (course files and documents can be found on DIDA, and the set texts in the university library), then submit a Learning Portfolio, with content as set by the module Professor, and also an academic paper on a topic and length set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module; plus take an oral exam which will be comprised of a series of questions requiring answers that clearly show familiarity with the themes and theories of the course.
The final mark will comprise 40% for the formal written paper, 40% for the Learning Portfolio and 20% for the oral exam.
Second Module
Grade Breakdown: Class Participation (20%)
Moot court preparation/participation (30%)
Paper (500 words) (10%)
Final essay (40%)
Non-attending students will be expected to read the course material (course files and documents can be found on the Global Governance home page, and the set texts in the library), submit an academic paper of around 2,500 words on a topic set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module.
Final grade: The final grade for the Exam of Applied English is the average of the grades obtained in the two Modules. You won’t be able to keep the results of one of the modules for another round (“appello”): the exam must be completed in the same exam session and same round (“appello”), otherwise you will have to retake both modules’ exams in another round (“appello”) or session.


Minimum score for passing the written test 18 out of 30.
After listening to the presentations, the lecturers communicate the results to the students registered for the examination via the Delphi system.
Students may take the examination on all available dates. there is no roll-call jump.

The examination will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• FAIL: important deficiencies and/or inaccuracies in the knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited ability to analyse and synthesise, frequent generalisations and limited critical and judgemental skills, the topics are set out inconsistently and with inappropriate language;
• 18-20: Barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topics with possible generalisations and imperfections; sufficient capacity for analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgement, the topics are frequently exposed in an incoherent manner and with inappropriate/technical language;
• 21-23: Routine knowledge and understanding of topics; ability to analyse and synthesise correctly with sufficiently coherent logical argumentation and appropriate/technical language
• 24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics; Good analytical and synthetic skills with arguments expressed in a rigorous manner but with language that is not always appropriate/technical.
• 27-29: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the topics; considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis. Good autonomy of judgement. Arguments presented in a rigorous manner and with appropriate/technical language
• 30-30L: Excellent level of knowledge and thorough understanding of topics. Excellent analytical and synthetic skills and independent judgement. Arguments expressed in an original manner and with appropriate technical language.

Course evaluation for attending students:
• In-class presentations (100 %)
• Rules for the presentation: Students can work on their presentations alone or in groups. A group may comprise 2 to 4 students. The students agree on the topic of the presentations with the lecturers, individually or in groups. Each student/group prepares its presentation and emails it to the lecturers at least one day in advance of the day scheduled for class discussion. In the case of group presentations, each group member receives the same final grade.

Course evaluation for non-attending students:
• Final oral exam (100%).
• Rules for the oral exam: the final exam consists of an approximately 20-minute oral test with questions on one of the textbooks indicated above,

-

**2nd Module - Prof. Ibrahim**

**Date/Time of Lecture Lecture Number Primary Subject Assignment**
- November 7th, 2022, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 01 Introduction: Demythologizing Human Rights and Its Global Dimensions The course syllabus, format, structures, and Q&A - PowerPoint Presentation. Read: Bob Black, The Myth of Human Right (Except) Attached
- November 7th, 2022, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 02 Human Rights & Social Justice in the Age of Borderless Knowledge Watch Conversation with Prof. Sofia Noble
- November 9th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 03 Our Social Dilemma Read - The End of Human Rights: [Attached] Each student to speak for two minutes on the topic
- November 9th, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 04 Making Human Rights Relevant in Global 500 words; Topic: Theory, Politics, and Practice of Human Rights – Ready for submission
- November 16th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 05 Trap in Transit — Immigration and Social Justice We will problematize the problem — Class conversation, see attached reading — Students speak for 2 minutes each
- November 16th, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 06 Moot Court Reading Attached
- November 17th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 07 Hot Issues - Hot Coffee/Tea The Artificial Intelligence Dilemma & Human Rights. Watch... https://www.aspenideas.org/sessions/the-ai-dilemma
- November 17th, 2:00 pm - 6:00 am 08 Digital Citizenship and Digital Communities See attached reading
- November 21st, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 09 Moot Court Student presentation
- November 21st, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 10 Moot Court Student presentation
- November 24th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 11 Difference, Repetition, and Social Justice Radical imagination of Human Rights and Social Justice. PowerPoint Presentation
- November 24th, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 12 The Story in Us All - Our Human Rights, Our Dignity Retracing my Steps (Attached Reading) students to share narratives of their journey - 2 minutes each

Second Module : Additional reading may be handed out during the class time

2º Modulo:
Bob Black, The Myth of Human Right

2nd Module:
Participation, critical reflection on advancing justice; regular class attendance, active participation in discussion, read required readings, and submission of all assignments

Grade Breakdown:
Class Participation (20%)
Moot court preparation/participation (30%)
Paper (500 words) (10%)
Final essay (40%)

Non-attending students will be expected to read the course material (course files and documents can be found on the Global Governance home page, and the set texts in the library), submit an academic paper of around 2,500 words on a topic set by the module Professor, covering a major theme of the module, as well as take a 3-hour final exam.

Final grade: The final grade for the Exam of Applied English is the average of the grades obtained in the two Modules. You won’t be able to keep the results of one of the modules for another round (“appello”): the exam must be completed in the same exam session and same round (“appello”), otherwise you will have to retake both modules’ exams in another round (“appello”) or session.

*First Module - Prof. Brown**
**Topic 1: Communication Skills**
- Group roles and dynamics
- Barriers to effective communication
- Interpersonal, listening, and debating skills

**Topic 2: Public Speaking and Presentation**
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Vocal and physical awareness
- Use of storytelling techniques

**Topic 3: Formal Written Communication**
- Writing styles of essays, reports, and academic papers
- Description, analysis, and conclusions
- Research, citation, and plagiarism

**Topic 4: Writing Skills**
- Reflective and exploratory writing
- Being subjective and objective
- Formality, informality, and creativity

**Topic 5: People Management**
- Self-management
- Working in teams
- Leadership

First Module : A number of readings and sources will be supplied by the Professor and other suitable books.

1st Module :
Topic 1: Heller, R. and Hindle, T., The Essential Manager’s Handbook (2016), DK, Penguin Random House, London.
Topic 2: Rodenburg, P. (2007) Presence, Penguin, London.
Lloyd-Hughes, S. (2011) How to be Brilliant at Public Speaking. Any Audience. Any Situation., Pearson Life, London.
Topic 3: Reid, M. (2012) Report Writing, Palgrove Macmillan, London.

Topic 4: Bassot, B. (2013) The Reflective Journal, Palgrove Macmillan, London.

Topic 5: Drucker, P. (2007) Management Challenges for the 21st Century, Routledge, London.
Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2000) The Art of Possibility, Penguin, London.

1st Module:
A wide variety of formal, practical and creative teaching techniques and materials will be used in order to support the instruction and guidance of developing skills for clear communication, writing, public speaking, debate and self-expression. Active student involvement is expected in preparation for classes and participating in class exercises and activities.