Topic outline

  • LC-1120 Online Persuasive Presentations Skills 1 ECTS

    Instructor: Anya Räsänen
    email: anya.rasanen@aalto.fi,
    tel.+358 50 597 4455 (WhatsApp, Telegram or text)

    Aalto University Language Centre, Otakaari 1.

    Workload
         27 h (independent online study 21 h, small group meetings 6 h (face to face)
    During this course, you will construct and deliver one specific type of persuasive presentation in English, an elevator pitch (EP).  The 1-2-minute talk will be on a topic related to your field of study and aimed at non-expert audiences of a client or funding organisation.  The course familiarises you with the elements of persuasion, and you will practise your talk in small groups, giving and receiving constructive feedback, before creating the final version of the pitch.

    You will progress through the course by working mainly independently and online on weekly assignments, which are to be completed by the deadlines posted. As we apply a process approach to learning,  it is important that you commit to working regularly and reserve enough time for completing the assignments on schedule each week.

    During this course, you will interact with the teacher and fellow students 1-3 times: possibly on-site for 1-2 times or through Zoom 1-3 times; a combination is also possible. N.B. These contact sessions are obligatory, not optional.

    When meeting in Zoom (at least for the Kick-off session), we have a course Zoom room. When we meet on Zoom, please ensure that you have a working webcam and microphone to be seen and heard during those online contact sessions.

    Kick-off meeting + Assignment 1 (attendance expected)

    The first meeting is the Kick-off meeting during Week 1. During this time, you will get to meet each other, the teacher and carry out Assignment 1 on Tuesday 24 October 12:30-14:00 in our Zoom room. You will also be added to a calendar invitation set up by the teacher.


    First elevator pitch practice and second (final) elevator pitch practice

    Later on during the course after the Kick-off, you will attend two (2) practice sessions: one will be a rehearsal (first practice) during Course Week 4, and the other will be the final (second and final practice including Q&A) during Course Week 6.

    The practice sessions will all be offered in just one possible mode (on-site in Otaniemi) as students seem to benefit the most from easily seeing 'all' of their audience when presenting this type of special speech.

    Please note that this course's 'Weeks' each begin on a Tuesday and end on a Monday (23:59), unless there are special holidays which force the teacher to adjust the timetable. However, please keep in mind that the deadlines for the assignments can be any time between Wednesday to Monday of a particular Week!

    Whether meeting on Zoom and on-site, the classroom or Zoom room will usually be open and the teacher present already at quarter to/ ten minutes to the hour (Morning session at 9:45/9:50, Afternoon session at 13:45/13:50) for carrying out video and sound checks. We will start each session on the hour in case there are any technical issues during our time online.

    The on-site and online practice sessions are alternately offered in the morning and/or the afternoon.

    Elevator pitch first practice: Thursday 16.11. 10:00-12:00 (On-site) or 14:00-16:00 (On-site)

    AND

    Elevator pitch final practice: Thursday 30.11. 10:00-12:00 (On-site) or 14:00-16:00 (On-site)

    Please note that the final practice time might be limited to one longer session and of only one type (on-site) if there are 8 students or less in the course.

    A more detailed schedule will be confirmed later for each student: the final number of practice sessions and pitching sessions will depend on the total number of course participants.

         See also Syllabus for the general course description and info on content as well as learning outcomes.