Teaching Philosophy and Courses:

COMMUNICATION 360: Rhetoric of Black America

COMM 360: Rhetoric of Black America includes an historical survey of the rhetoric of Black Americans from the colonial period to the present. The course features the study of public discourse by Black Americans in historical context that informs discussions about present issues of racism, political activism, and racial justice. The course content and assignments are designed to guide students on using their communication skills (speaking, writing, digitality) to advance anti-racist solutions. In the process of implementing these goals, the course readings and assignments will provide students with opportunities to hold public dialogues about race, study models of civil rights activism, create materials to advance the public humanities and civic education in support of racial justice, and strengthen students’ digital and social media skills to advance anti-racism activism.

COMMUNICATION 107: Oral Communication

COMM107 explores the foundations of oral communication. In this course, we will focus on preparing for and delivering a variety of presentations, including informative, special occasion, persuasive, and group. Specifically, we will discuss topics that aid in effective presentational speaking such as audience analysis, ethics, topic selection, finding and using supporting evidence, listening, and delivery. 

Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference:

Hardy, Alisa, Daviana Fraser, and Dr. Shawn Parry Giles, “Reimagining the Rhetoric of Black America: Teaching Black History and Anti-racist Principles” presentation at the Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference, in-person, May 2023. 

Alisa Hardy and Daviana Fraser are PhD candidates in the Department of Communication at the University of Maryland. Hardy’s research examines the history of Black women's rhetoric and the implications and possibilities for their discursive practices online. Fraser's focuses on archival research and archival politics as they relate to Black memory and identity. Both candidates teach COMM360: Rhetoric of Black America which is a historical survey of the rhetoric of Black Americans from the colonial period to the present. The Teaching and Learning Transformation Center provided the course with an Experiential Learning grant that was used to redesign COMM360 into a course that aims to advance anti-racism and social justice principles and actions. The course features the study of public discourse by Black Americans in historical context that informs discussions about present issues of racism, political activism, and digital racial justice. Presenters will share their teaching strategies for various scholarships on African American political activism as well as the two major projects in COMM360 were designed to guide students on using their communication skills (speaking, writing, digital messaging) to advance anti-racist solutions.