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Strengthen public speaking and present a capstone speech in this three-week rhetoric course for elementary and middle school students on Cornell University’s campus.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 for course experience by students surveyed across the broader program in 2026.
Instructor:
Course Description
A two-minute story can hold a room’s attention. The words, pauses, and way a speaker moves all help the message land.
In this course your child will try different ways to inform, persuade, entertain, and mark a special occasion. Students examine professional speeches and advertisements, practice impromptu storytelling, and notice how evidence, tone, pacing, and visuals affect an audience. Short speaking exercises give them a place to try an idea before developing a longer speech.
The capstone is a ten-minute speech about a topic each student cares about. It may take the form of a demonstration, dramatic reading, persuasive speech, debate, or congressional-style argument. Students research the topic, prepare a written outline, rehearse, and revise using workshop and peer feedback. They make choices about what they want the audience to think or remember.
This three-week course for elementary and middle school students is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca, New York. Beyond class, students take part in campus activities, make new friends, and build confidence and independence in a college setting.
What You Will Do
• Compare speeches written for different purposes
• Spot persuasive choices in speeches and advertisements
• Tell an impromptu two-minute story
• Turn research into a clear speech outline
• Give and use feedback in speaking workshops
• Rehearse and deliver a ten-minute capstone speech
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain how words, evidence, and delivery affect an audience
• Organize researched ideas into a clear message
• Use feedback to improve a speech’s language and delivery
You’ll leave with your speech outline, a capstone presentation, and a certificate of completion.
Is This Course Right for You?
For students who have completed 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Your child might enjoy telling stories, making a case in a debate, performing, or finding the words for an idea they care about. Short speaking exercises and rehearsal give students room to practice before their final presentation.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page.
Your Summer at Cornell
Cornell’s Ithaca setting gives elementary and middle school students an adventurous first experience of campus life, surrounded by Finger Lakes gorges, waterfalls, and a landscape shaped by research, agriculture, and invention. The setting makes learning feel different from an ordinary school day and gives students plenty to notice and explore.
The program combines active academics with friendships, campus activities, clear routines, and support as students become more comfortable in a new environment. Students can try challenging ideas, share interests with peers, and enjoy the fun of living and learning on a university campus. For families, Cornell offers a structured elementary and middle school experience that balances learning and discovery with community, support, and growing independence.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification of completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive