Speech Comm

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

101
I think it's time to work on elocution. In order to have a little fun with it, and because we are such a small class, we will be reading Fox in Socks alloud until it rolls off the tongue like a State of the Union address. Open your books...


301
Continuing our discussion of the week, we've addressed sex and violence, but now I want to focus on the more subtle means of persuasion...things a cynical person may call "manipulation." You've all read, or at least opened, your book, so who'd like to chime in first?

Comments

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I definitely agree with that. My point was just that if it can be a valuable skill in the hands of someone who will use it correctly."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

But is it actually manipulation if it's used correctly, or does it become something else, such as persuasion, or social influence?

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It's the same skill, no matter what you call it. A rose by any other name and all that."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

That is true, but the negative connotations around the word "manipulation" may also lead to a negative impact on things. If I said that I was going to, say, manipulate Professor Cregg into giving me an A for this class, it would sound bad. But if I said I was going to persuade her, the whole idea of it sounds less... threatening

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"That's true. I definitely agree with that."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth grins at Rory.

"Now all we have to do is persuade the student body to elect us to the council!" she laughs

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory returns the grin. "Indeed - our campaign would never, ever be run on manipulation."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth laughs. "I'm not adverse to bribery though. Knew a girl who campaigned with cookies once... won her the crown!" She winks at Rory

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Oh, of course - food's a great motivator. And don't forget that we have one of the most popular restaurants in town on our side..."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"It is... that's why Lisa and I agreed that it should be one of the focal points of the campaign. I think she spoke to the owner of the Perkolator as well... we need to get together in the next couple of days to hash out a few more points"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"We are so going to win," Rory says, a tad cockily.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth didn't look so sure. "We have an excellent chance at winning, but we must never underestimate our opponents. A single debate can sway even an almost assured victory"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Right, right...I don't even know about our opponents, though. I've barely heard anything. We definitely have the best-publicized campaign."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"My guess is that they're waiting for us to reveal our strategies, so that they can combat with the most effectiveness.

Either that, or they have no clue how to campaign for an election"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I'm hoping for the latter," Rory says, a touch grimly.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth nods slowly. "Parker suggested that Malfoy only really knows how to run a smear campaign. There's not much he'll be able to get on myself or Lisa, so anything said is likely to be libellous, and we should be able to hit back at that easily enough."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yeah..." Rory says, rapidly running through any possibilities of a smear campaign against her. There wasn't a whole lot to get her with, really - the only thing that came to mind was something everyone knew about already anyway.

"Well...Draco's my lab partner for Geology, and he seems to like me for some reason," she says, thinking. "And as far as I can tell, the only thing he has against all of us is that we're non-magical - and really, he's hte only person I've enountered who cares about that."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth thinks. "He can't run with that for the election; there aren't enough magical students for it to be worth it. Which makes me wonder if he's got something else up his sleeve"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Well...from what I've heard - and this is just hearsay from the magical students - he's associated with some really bad people." Her voice drops to a whisper. "Sort of like a wizard...mafia, I guess. I don't think there are any others from it here, though."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth leans in closer to Rory. "Well, that could be... bad, to say the least. Who knows what sort of influence they could have over people."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. But the upside of it is that everyone else I've met from that magical school is totally infuriated by the whole idea of it. I mean, if Draco tries to pull something using them, he's going to have to use outside forces, and he'll be caught like *snaps fingers* that."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth nods. "You're right. They'll just have to try and win this election the old fashioned way!"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"'Try' being the operative word," Rory says with a grin.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth laughs. "Indeed it is. I really need to sit down in HQ with lists and the like, and see where we are."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Well, Parker's off...somewhere, but she said we can use HQ if we want. And I guess Logan's taking over managing while she's gone?" she asks, the slightest trace of a blush visible when she mentions Logan's name.