Rhetoric 1302-008 Spring 2003 Instructor: Kyle Boudreaux
Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00-11:50
Office JO 4.118 Phone: 972-883-2038 E-mail: kyleboudreaux@sbcglobal.net
Office hours: Wed 4:45—6:30, and by appointment
URL for Rhetoric Website: http://lingua.utdallas.edu/rhetoric
Required Texts
Crusius, Timothy W. and Carolyn E. Channel. The Aims of Argument Fourth Edition. California: Mayfield, 2003.
Hult, Christine A. And Thomas N. Huckin. The New Century Handbook Brief Edition. Boston, Allyn-Bacon, 1999.
This course focuses on critical thinking. It takes an integrated approach to writing by teaching you various rhetorical strategies for reading arguments in the humanities, social sciences, and for constructing your own argumentative essays in response. You will learn to read texts critically according to key components in argumentative discourse (claims, reason, evidence, explicit and implicit assumptions, fallacies, etc…). Throughout the course several methods are used to help you learn: notebook observations, reading essays, class discussions, summaries, peer work groups, and conferencing with instructors. You will write three papers and do one project based on issues and controversies raised in the various texts we read and ideas we discuss. The assignments will give you practice in reading critically and writing according to the rhetorical conventions of and argumentative essay. You will submit work electronically by using the LRO (Learning Record Online).
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Your participation is necessary not only for your grade but also for your personal progress. Notify the instructor prior to conflicts. Over three unexcused absences will result in a grade reduction per absence. Tardiness counts as half an absence.
Grading
Grades are given only at the midterm and end of the semester. Grades are based upon the five dimensions of learning (confidence and independence, skills and strategies, knowledge and understanding, the use of prior and emerging experience, and reflectiveness), as described on the LRO. Grades are determined upon progress and development based on sound evidence in the learning record. Details of what constitutes each letter grade are as follows, as found on the LRO:
You must complete all assigned work to earn credit for this course.
Your Learning Record will provide a much richer and clearer
picture of your learning, but we do need to provide the University with a
grade. What do grades represent in this class?
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A: Represents outstanding
participation in all course activities; all assigned work completed, with very high
quality in all work produced for the course. Evidence of significant development across the five dimensions of learning and five course strands. |
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B: Represents excellent
participation in all course activities; all assigned work completed, with
consistently high quality in course work. Evidence of marked development across the five dimensions of learning and five course strands. |
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C: Represents good participation in
all course activities; all assigned work completed, with generally good quality overall in course work. Evidence of some development across the five dimensions of learning and five course strands. |
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D: Represents uneven participation in course activities; some gaps in assigned work completed, with inconsistent quality in course work. Evidence of development across the five dimensions of learning and five course strandsis partial or unclear. |
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F: Represents minimal participation
in course activities; serious gaps in assigned work completed, or very low quality in course work. Evidence of development is not available. |
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Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s work as your own, whether you intend it or not. Copying or paraphrasing another person’s work without documenting that you’ve done so is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense but is easy to avoid. Simply acknowledge, or cite, the source of any words, phrases or ideas that you use. While the MLA style of documentation is typical in this class, you may use another as long as you are consistent.
Mon Jan 13—Intro. Assignment : Give e-mail addresses to instructor
Wed Jan 14—Using the LRO. First Major Assignment: LRO interview and reflection
Fri Jan 17—Ch 1 discussion. What is rhetoric? How do we use it every day? Using New Century Handbook.
Mon Jan 20—No Classes for Martin Luther King Holiday
Wed Jan 22— Ch 2 discussion. Reading an argument. How are arguments composed? Analyzing style, form, structure. France Borel, “The Decorated Body.”
Fri Jan 24—Due: LRO interview and reflection. Ch 3 discussion. Reading arguments critically. Toulmin method. How to break down an argument’s logic. Young’s “Capital Punishment: Society’s Self Defense.” Also locate your own copy of Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
Assignment two: A 2-3 page essay to convince written in the style
of Swift’s essay.
Mon Jan 27—Ch 7 discussion. Convincing. What is convincing? What goes into making a convincing case as opposed to other forms of argument? Forman essay.
Wed Jan 29—Cont. Ch 7 discussion. Convincing. Analyzing audience, developing thesis, reasons, evidence, style, and structure.
Fri Jan 31—In-class writing and research. We will also employ oral presentation of work as a means of working through arguments in progress.
Mon Feb 3—In class research and writing. Presentations/peer reviews/moderations on Assignment 2 essay. Sign up for conferences.
Wed Feb 5—Conferences.
Fri Feb 7—Conferences.
Mon Feb 10—Conferences.
Wed Feb 12—Final Draft of Assignment 2 due on LRO. Ch 9 discussion. Negotiation/mediation. Analysis of form, structure, and techniques of arguing to negotiate. We will look at the difference between negotiation and mediation.
Assignment three: Mediation portfolio. Instructions will follow in class.
Fri Feb 14—Ch 7 discussion. Particular focus given to current issues in news. How do we resolve conflicts through negotiation and mediation? Look at current conflicts in news and analyze sides, claims, reasons, evidence, refutations, solutions.
Mon Feb 17—Cont. Ch 7 and current issue discussion. In class research.
Wed Feb 19—Outside readings, discussion/analysis of negotiation in current and historical events. Students will find and bring in examples/analyses of past examples of negotiation and mediation.
Fri Feb 21—Cont. reading, discussion/analysis of past negotiations and mediations.
Mon Feb 24—In-class writing, peer work, and presentations.
Wed Feb 26—In-class writing, peer work, and presentations.
Fri Feb 28—Class work presentation and peer discussion.
Mon Mar 3—Assignment 3 Rough Draft due. Peer reviews/moderations on Assignment 3. Sign up for conferences.
Wed Mar 5—Conferences.
Fri Mar 7—Conferences.
Mon Mar 10— Fri Mar 14—Spring Break
Mon Mar 17—Conferences
Wed Mar 19—Final Draft Assignment 3 due on LRO. Begin discussion of persuasion. What is it? What are its elements, form, style? Suggest examples from current issues.
Fri Mar 21—Ch 8 discussion. Persuasion. King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”
Assignment Four: Web-page project to persuade. Short essay must accompany final project. Must employ the rhetorical appeals and techniques and use proper citations. Specific topic will be assigned from readings and class discussion. Presentations due last week of class.
Mon Mar 24—Ch 8 discussion. How does King, Jr. create an effective persuasive case? What elements are clear and how are they used?
Wed Mar 26—Ch 8 discussion and discuss/analyze outside readings of current events, ads, articles, billboards, and other such persuasive forms.
Fri Mar 28—Cont. to discuss/analyze outside readings.
Mon Mar 31—Form groups for final projects. In class group work: set up, establish meetings, work, structure.
Wed Apr 2—Ch 4 discussion/analysis. Visual rhetoric. What is it? How do we “read” visual rhetoric?
Fri Apr 4—Cont. Ch 4. How do we combine the visual and the textual? Bring in examples of visual rhetoric.
Mon Apr 7—Cont. analysis of outside visuals. Sign up for group conferences.
Wed Apr 9—Conferences.
Fri Apr 11—Conferences.
Mon Apr 14—Conferences.
Wed Apr 16—Research and development of final project.
Fri Apr 18—Research and development of final project.
Mon Apr 21—Class presentation of project synopsis. Discussion.
Wed Apr 23—Writing, research, consultation for final project.
Fri Apr 25— Final presentations.
Mon Apr 28—Final presentations.
Syllabus not only subject to change but quite
likely to as class needs direct it.