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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Powerful presentations: Understanding rhetoric and speechwriting with John Yorke

John Yorke.
John Yorke. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

This online workshop is part of our new autumn programme of digital masterclasses that we are offering. To help you go back to school with a fresh perspective, we are offering a very limited supply of introductory tickets for each event, discounted up to 25% – once they’re gone, they’re gone!

When we think about key moments in history – from Martin Luther King Jr addressing 250,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, to President Donald Trump touring the United States wearing a red hat – these moments are imbued in our collective memory by the speeches and rhetorical power that accompanied these political figures. But what makes a speech memorable, powerful, frightening or hopeful – and how can you apply these lessons in structuring your own presentation style?

The lessons of dramatic narrative are critical to understanding how speeches work. In order to write an impactful speech – whether it’s political or not – you need to have a firm handle on the nuances of speech structure and narrative power.

In this impactful workshop with drama producer and writer John Yorke, and using examples of iconic and memorable speeches from recent history, you will be taken through the uncanny similarities between speech and dramatic structure, as well as receiving valuable context into how speeches can – and do – change the world.

John will show you how these narratives are all the products of speech writing and rhetoric, how you can utilise this knowledge to better understand the impacts of rhetoric, and how you can write powerful speeches yourself.

Aimed at not only political enthusiasts and those with intentions to learn speech writing, this is a fascinating and practical workshop that dissects political rhetoric and reveals key lessons in narrative storytelling that can be valuable to anyone looking to utilise the power of rhetoric to achieve their goals at work or at home.

Course content

  • Understanding dramatic structure

  • Applying speech structure

  • Exploring how to incite emotion through rhetoric

  • Understanding the narrative power of all successful political campaigns

  • Looking at concrete examples - the narrative power of Brexit and Trump

  • Applying these lessons to your own work

You will be sent a link to the webinar 1hr before the start time of 6.30pm (BST).

Tutor profile

John Yorke, author of the bestselling book on dramatic structure, Into the Woods, is also a practising speech writer, a drama producer, author and teacher who has spent 30 years studying our insatiable appetite for stories. His long career in TV drama has given him the tools to identify the underlying shape common to all successful narratives. As former head of drama at Channel 4, controller of BBC drama production and managing director of Company Pictures, John has shaped stories that have attracted some of the biggest audiences for drama in the UK’s TV history.

You will be sent a link to the webinar 1hr before the start time of 6.30pm (BST).

Details

Date: Monday 5 October 2020
Times: 6.30pm-9pm (BST)
Price: Back to school discounted price of £38.25 (plus £2.34 booking fee); standard ticket price of £45 (plus £2.65 booking fee)
Event capacity: 60

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Information on Guardian Masterclasses

To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.

All Guardian Masterclasses are fully accessible - but please contact us if you have any queries or concerns.

Returns policy
Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.

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