RHETORIC 1302 SYLLABUS — SPRING 2001
Instructor: Fernando J. Contreras
Email: fecontre@utdallas.edu
Office: JO 4.118
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:00-2:00 pm
Telephone: Office 972-883-2018
Rhetoric Website: http://lingua.utdallas.edu/rhetoric
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is as much about critical reading as it is about writing. As a reader, you will explore contemporary issues that compel our attention. In the process of analyzing others¢ arguments, you will deepen your own understanding of the issues. As a writer, you will learn to employ rhetorical strategies in order to mount more effective arguments. Most important, this class is designed to teach you that critical reading and writing are life skills, rather than acts of desperation committed that night before a paper is due.
WRITTEN AND GROUP WORK
You will write four essays during this semester. Each essay will be edited and revised before it is graded. In other words, you will receive feedback on your work in private conferences with me and in writing groups made up of your classmates. The group writing activities are designed not only for you to practice using the rhetorical conventions of argument, but also to sharpen your editing and revising skills through collaboration with a group of your peers. As you read and comment on your classmates' writing, you will learn to edit your own work more effectively.
REQUIRED READING
ATTENDANCE
As this class is based on group participation, it is necessary that you attend class. I realize you may be forced to miss a few classes during the course of the semester; however, if you miss more than 3 classes, your final grade will be affected or you may be encouraged to drop the class. It is your responsibility to check with your classmates or with me about any work you miss. Chronic tardiness will not be tolerated ¾ two tardies count as one absence¾ . Come to class prepared, on time, and ready to join the conversation.
ABOUT GRADING
Your final grade for this class will be based on the four essays, peer reviews and class participation (your number of absences will be averaged into your class participation grade).
* First Essay 10%
* Second Essay 15%
* Third Essay 15%
* Final Visual Essay 20%
* Peer reviews
Quizzes,
Summaries, etc. 20%
* Participation
Attendance 20%
_____
Total 100%
Failure to hand in a First Draft on the date assigned will result in a dock of one letter grade off the Final draft. Credit for the Final Essays will have to be negotiated with me on an individual basis. Absence from class on day when Peer Reviews and/or homework are scheduled will result in a grade of "0". If it appears that the class is not prepared to discuss the scheduled readings, I will investigate weekly quizzes over the assigned reading. No late work will be accepted. Some work will be turned in through e-mail, consequently, make sure you have at least two accounts (and make sure I have them too). Note: Since participation and attendance is essential, it has direct association with your final grade.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is a serious problem and will be confronted according to UTD policy guidelines. If you are unsure about what plagiarism is, the following is the official UTD Rhetoric Department definition of plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's work as your own, whether you mean to or not. Copying or paraphrasing passages from another writer's work without acknowledging that you have done so in plagiarism. Allowing another writer to write any part of your essay is plagiarism.
Plagiarism is easy to avoid. Simply acknowledge the source of any words, phrases, or ideas that you use. If you are not sure how to quote or paraphrase a source, or if you need help with the format of citing your sources, check with your teacher or preferably with the MLA Handbook. Although you can (and in fact you should) seek the help and advice of friends, classmates, and tutors, be sure that your written work is your own.
LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER
Should you require extra help with your writing skills, the Learning Resource Center is located in the room MC3.318 of the McDermott Library. This service is free to all university students. The phone number is 972-883-6707. The hours of operation vary, so you will have to call for an appointment. Don't wait until the last minute. The tutors will not write your papers for you, but they can assist in improving your skills in grammar and organization of ideas.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Essay due dates
WEEK ONE
F January 19: Introduction to class.
WEEK TWO
M January 22: Introduction to computers. Assignment: Send me an email by Wednesday 24 with your personal information (name, degree you seek, phone, other email addresses, concerns, questions, etc.) Reading Assignment: Chapters 1 and 3 of Aims of Argument.
W January 24: In class writing: personal goals and assessment.
F January 26: Discussion of reading. Following through exercises.
WEEK THREE
M January 29: Discussion of Toulmin diagram of May's "Rising to the Occasion of Our Death" (Aims 24). Assignment: Prepare a Toulmin diagram of Young's "Capital Punishment: Society's Self-Defense" to be handed Wednesday, Jan 31. Reading assignment: The New Century Handbook, Chapters 6, 7 and 34.
W January 31: New Century Handbook. Reading Assignment: Chapter 5 of Aims.
F February 2: Introduction to Chapter 5: Arguing to Convince. How to formulate a clear thesis. How to prepare a brief. What counts as evidence? (Aims 98) Reading Assignment: Chapter 12 essays, Marriage and Family section of Aims.
FIRST ESSAY ASSIGNMENT: An argument to convince with a clear thesis, based on 2-3 reasons, each reason supported by evidence. The student is also required to use 2 or more outside sources for this project (Magazines, journals, books. No internet sources). This essay must be written on the subject of Marriage and/or Family. See student sample of an essay to convince by Justin Spidel (Aims 102). The first draft must be submitted in 12 pt font, double-spaced, with MLA citations, and works cited page. You must also submit Xeroxed copies of the pages of books or articles from which you directly quoted or paraphrased. Length: 2-3 pages. First Draft due: February 12. Final essay due: February 19.
WEEK FOUR
M February 5: Discussion on the readings. Assignment: Briefs on two of the "Marriage and Family" readings.
W February 7: Lingua Moo discussion/debate on the Family issue. Assignment: Send me an email TODAY with your claim for the first essay.
F February 9: Discuss MLA. Discuss Peer reviews. Discuss paraphrasing and quoting.
WEEK FIVE
M February 12: First Draft of Essay Project 1 due. Sign up for conferences. Peer Reviews.
W February 14: NO CLASS. Conferences all period.
F February 16: NO CLASS. Conferences all period. Assignment: Complete 1st draft of essay for Monday 19.
WEEK SIX
M February 19: Final draft of Essay Project 1 due. Introduction to Chapter 6. Assignment: Read Chapter 6 Aims. Paper 2 assigned.
SECOND ESSAY ASSIGNMENT: An argument to persuade that draws upon the full range of rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) and targets a specific audience. This argument must be based on a variety of evidence, as well as your own personal experience. It must be written on the subject of News and Ethics (see readings, Chapter 14), either in response to one or more of the readings or to one of the suggestions for writing assignments that appear at the end of each article in Chapter 14. The first draft must be submitted in 12 pt font, double-spaced, with MLA style citations, and works cited page. As with Essay #2, your essay must be accompanied by Xeroxed copies of pages from which you directly quoted or paraphrased. Length: 4-5 pages. First draft due: March 2. Final essay due March 16.
W February 21: Discuss chapter 6. King's "Letter from Briminham Jail." Assignment: read essays chapter 14.
F February 23: Discuss readings. Assignment: Begin research for second essay.
WEEK SEVEN
M February 26: Discuss readings. Assignment: Prepare brief for two of the readings from chapter 14. Send me an email TODAY with your claim for the second essay.
W February 28: In-class writing. Instructor consultation.
F March 2: Peer reviews. First Draft Essay 2 due today. Sign up for Student/ Teacher conferences.
Spring Break March 5-10 No Classes.
WEEK EIGHT
M March 12: Student/Teacher conferences.
W March 14: Student/ Teacher conferences.
F March 16: Final Essay #2 due today. Overview of Chapter 7. Reading Assignment: Chapter 7. Essay 3 assigned.
THIRD ESSAY ASSIGNMENT: Essay to mediate/negotiate. Must employ the rhetorical appeals and techniques and use proper citations. Specific topic will develop from the Immigration readings on Aims, chapter 10, outside readings and class discussion. This is a 4-6-page essay, 12 pt font, double-spaced. First draft due March 26. Final draft due April 2.
WEEK NINE
M March 19: Discuss chapter 7. Read essays chapter 10. Assignment: Begin research for essay.
W March 21: Discuss readings. In-class writing. Assignment: Prepare brief (2 readings Ch. 10).
F March 23: Discuss readings. Instructor consultation. Send me an email TODAY with your claim for the third essay.
WEEK TEN
M March 26: Peer reviews. First draft Essay 3 due. Sign up for Conferences.
W March 28: Conferences.
F March 30: Conferences.
WEEK ELEVEN
M April 2: Final Draft Essay 3 due. Overview chapter 8. Essay 4 assigned.
ESSAY 4 ASSIGNMENT: Essay on arguments in visual rhetoric in which you employ rhetorical appeals and use proper citations. Specific topic will be assigned from Chapter 8 readings, outside readings and class discussion. This is a 4-6 page essay, 12 pt font, double-spaced, with proper citations. First draft due April 20. Final draft due April 30.
W April 4: Discuss chapter 8/ analysis. Visual rhetoric.
F April 6: Continue chapter 8 discussion.
WEEK TWELVE
M April 9: Outside readings. Visuals. Assignment: Begin research for final project.
W April 11: Continue outside readings. Visuals.
F April 13: In-class writing.
WEEK THIRTEEN
M April 16: In-class writing. Instructor consultation.
W April 18: Instructor consultation.
F April 20: First Draft Essay 4 due. Peer Reviews. Sign up for conferences/ presentations.
WEEK FOURTEEN
M April 23: Conferences/ Presentations.
W April 25: Conferences/ Presentations.
F April 27: Conferences/ Presentations.
WEEK FIFTEEN
M April 30: Final Essay 4 due.
W May 2: Final comments. Presentations
*SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.