For this extra credit opportunity, I watched the first Republican debates of the 2016 campaign. Given that this assignment is for an advanced public speaking course, I focused most of my attention on the nonverbal communication of the debaters and their use of rhetorical devices, two qualities that distinguish advanced public speakers. During the course of the debate, several candidates showed strengths and weaknesses in these areas. Every candidate appeared to understand the importance of being a lively public speaker, as demonstrated by their use of kinesics (an important method of nonverbal communication comprised of body movements). Each of them, at some point in the debate, used hand gestures to enhance their verbal message, for example.
