Dr. Brent Cotton
BA, BEd, MA, PhD
Professor, Honours Bachelor of Counselling Psychology
Biography
Dr. Brent Cotton received his PhD from Laurentian University with a focus on rhetoric and environmental communication. Through his research, Brent explored the use of melodramatic rhetoric in the industrial wind turbines controversy in Ontario. Using the insights gained from this research, he continues to explore the intersections between rhetorical melodrama and public controversies.
In addition to teaching in the research stream of the Honours Bachelor of Counselling Psychology degree program at Georgian, Brent also teaches film studies, including courses on cinema genres and documentary film. In his documentary film course, Brent works with students to create short documentary films (i.e., films under five minutes in length). Through this work, Brent continues to research the rhetorical dynamics of short documentaries and how they can be used as a form of advocacy in a variety of contexts, including public controversies.
Presently, Brent is exploring the dynamics of rhetorical analogies within the context of counsellor and client conversations about mental health.
It is inspiring to support students on their scholarly journey. As we explore the conventions of academic discourse, the nuances of research questions, and potential methodological approaches, students in the HBCP program influence my research and challenge me to think critically about doing scholarly work. It is a pleasure to help students shape their undergraduate thesis projects and guide them through the process to completion. Additionally, since counselling is inherently a communicative act, by exposing students to the nuances of rhetoric, I hope to enlighten and challenge students’ understanding of this complex communicative situation.
Dr. Brent Cotton
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Laurentian University of Sudbury, Sudbury ON, 2018
- Master of Arts (MA), University of Windsor, Windsor ON, 2005
- Bachelor of Education (BEd), University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON, 2002
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), Western University, London ON, 1998
- Designing and delivering courses in the Honours Bachelor of Counselling Psychology (HBCP) degree program at Georgian College
Research interests
- Rhetorical analogies
- Rhetorical melodrama
Research projects
- IPAC (Infection Prevention and Control) Digital Training Program and Accompanying Toolkit for Development
- Year funded: 2022-23
- Role: Communication Advisor
- Funded by: Empower Simcoe
- Amount funded: $160,000
Featured publications
- Cotton, B. D. (2018). A rhetorical analysis of wind concerns Ontario’s use of melodrama to promote online opposition to industrial wind turbine developments. Doctoral dissertation, Laurentian University of Sudbury. https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/bitstream/10219/3124/1/Brent%20Cotton%202018%20Dissertation%20Submission%20Final.pdf