This course from Harvard University introduces the fundamentals of rhetoric by analyzing famous speeches, exploring their use of rhetorical devices, and teaching students how to adapt the lessons learned for their own arguments.

Often defined as the art of persuasion, rhetoric is an important tool for democratic societies.

In a democracy, people must be able to persuade others and often use persuasion on many people at once.

Writers and public speakers study rhetoric to better understand the structures and strategies that make arguments more convincing.

James Engell is an English and comparative literature professor at Harvard University. He has an extensive teaching background and has given numerous university lectures on rhetoric.

In this edX course, Engell explores the study of rhetoric and the most crucial strategies used in persuasive speech and writing.

The course guides students to analyze and apply rhetorical devices observed in the words of some of the most prominent speakers in American history.