Study of the rhetoric and argumentative techniques of jurists and lawyers, with a comparison between ancient and modern.
Study of the language of law and the role of classical rhetoric for a correct and effective communication.

Rhetoric: origins and development.
The organization of speech. Logos, pathos and ethos.
The parts of persuasive discourse.
Argumentation. Enthymemes.
The research of the arguments. The technique of loci or commonplaces.
The organization of the arguments.
The linguistic and expressive form.
Ciceronian forensic rhetoric.
The rhetorical skills of the ancient and modern forensic orator.
Applied figures and rhetorical schemes. Rhetorical artifices, amplification techniques and involvement techniques.
Argumentative fallacies.
Visual argumentation and its role in contemporary forensic rhetoric. Visual rhetorical tools in the American and Italian criminal process.
The language of law. Necessary technicalities and collateral technicalities. Syntactic and lexical problems. The classical rhetorical discipline for the organization of contemporary forensic discourse.

It is recommended to pass the exams of "Fundamentals of European Law" and "Criminal Law".

A) knowledge and understanding (knowledge and understanding):
The student must demonstrate that he possesses knowledge and skills
understanding of the subject, such as to elaborate and apply original ideas, too
in a research context.
B) knowledge and understanding skills applied (applying knowledge
and understanding):
The student must demonstrate that he is capable of applying his own
knowledge, ability to understand and skills in solving related problems
to the subject even within broader or interdisciplinary contexts.
C) autonomy of judgment (making judgments):
The student will have to demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and manage the
complexity and to make judgments based on information
limited or incomplete, including reflection on social responsibilities and
ethics related to the application of his knowledge and judgments.
D) communication skills:
The student will have to demonstrate that he / she is able to communicate clearly and without
ambiguity their conclusions during group work, seminars,
laboratories, interloquendo correctly with the teacher and his colleagues in
working class context.
E) ability to learn (learning skills):
The student must demonstrate that he has developed those skills
learning that will allow him to continue to study in a mostly way
self-directed or self-employed.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Activities organized by the School of Rhetoric directed by Gianluca Sposito on Retorica-mente and Visiones YouTube Channel.

Teaching

Frontal lessons and seminars. Forms of supplementary teaching will allow in-depth study of the program, with the assignment of additional credits.

Course books

G. Sposito, The Keys of Legal Rhetoric: A Handbook for Lawyers, Intra, Pesaro, 2020

Assessment

Oral test, to assess the student's communicative and language skills.
Expected learning outcomes will be assessed by formulating three or more questions. The assessment criteria and scores are determined according to the following scale:
- less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the candidate does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
- 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
- 21-23/30 - fully sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes foreseen under 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding';
- 24-26/30 - good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes under "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding" and "autonomy of judgement";
- 27-29/30 - very good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes foreseen in the points "knowledge and understanding skills"; "applied knowledge and understanding skills"; "autonomy of judgement" and "communication skills";
- 30-30 cum laude - excellent level: the candidate fully achieves the learning outcomes foreseen in the points "knowledge and understanding skills"; "applied knowledge and understanding skills"; "autonomy of judgement"; "communicative skills" and "ability to learn". 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Frontal lessons and seminars. Forms of supplementary teaching will allow in-depth study of the program, with the assignment of additional credits.

Course books

G. Sposito, The Keys of Legal Rhetoric: A Handbook for Lawyers, Intra, Pesaro, 2020

Assessment

Oral test, to assess the student's communicative and language skills.
Expected learning outcomes will be assessed by formulating three or more questions. The assessment criteria and scores are determined according to the following scale:
- less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the candidate does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
- 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
- 21-23/30 - fully sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes foreseen under 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding';
- 24-26/30 - good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes under "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding" and "autonomy of judgement";
- 27-29/30 - very good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes foreseen in the points "knowledge and understanding skills"; "applied knowledge and understanding skills"; "autonomy of judgement" and "communication skills";
- 30-30 cum laude - excellent level: the candidate fully achieves the learning outcomes foreseen in the points "knowledge and understanding skills"; "applied knowledge and understanding skills"; "autonomy of judgement"; "communicative skills" and "ability to learn". 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The international (English) edition of the G. Sposito, Forensic Rhetoric Handbook, Intra, 2020 is forthcoming.