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 Syllabus  

Course Description

            Studying that process in its various manifestations can improve our ability to succeed at work, participate in civic endeavors and critically consume the messages of others.

            Class Culture.  Your active participation is essential for this class to work.  Please come in with questions from the readings: What does it mean?  What does it look like?  How does it apply?  How do we do it?  These are all good questions and will help make the class meaningful for you.  You will also be engaging in some writing outside of class that will help foster class discussion.  The more you come prepared with questions, examples and issues, the less I’ll lecture.

 Course Objectives

            This course is intended to:

1.      enhance awareness of the rhetorical dimensions of social reality and the issues raised by these dimension;

2.      provide students with tools to assist in the study and critique of rhetorical artifacts;

3.      promote application of these tools and concepts through the critical construction and analysis of symbolic activity and artifacts.

4.      increase critical thinking and enable you to become a critical consumer of rhetoric and culture

5.      improve your writing ability through descriptive and critical essays

 Course Competencies

            After completing this course the successful student will be able to:

1.      demonstrate familiarity with major approaches to rhetorical criticism;

2.      identify worthy problem statements/research topics in a scholarly manner;

3.      apply course vocabulary in the examination of rhetorical activities and artifacts.

 Course Policies

            Attendance.  You are expected to attend every class period.  However, since life happens, you are allowed two “personal days.”  Use them wisely if at all. 

If you are planning to miss more than six classes go ahead and drop now please.  If you must be absent, handle it responsibly: communicate me and other classmates so that you are prepared for the next class session.

            Participation.  There is no formal class participation grade.  However, your participation in class discussion and activities as well as your attendance may influence the assignment of a plus or minus to your final grade.  Absenteeism, tardiness, sleeping and apathy will negatively impact your grade. 

            Assignments.  All work must be handed in on time unless prior arrangements have been made. No make-ups will be given unless there are extreme circumstances—and such circumstances are handled responsibly by the student.  Do not wait until you are out of school to begin behaving professionally.

 Honor Code and Academic Statement

             “It shall be the responsibility of every faculty member, student, administrator and staff member of the university community to uphold and maintain the academic standards and integrity of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington” (1997-1998 Student Handbook and Code of Student Life, p. 91).  All student work and conduct must be in accordance with the academic honor code and other codes informing the university community.

 In choosing UNCW, you have become part of our community of scholars.  We recognize that the UNCW learning experience is challenging and requires hard work.  It also requires a commitment to make time available to do that hard work.  The University expects you to make academics your highest priority by dedicating your time and energy to training your mind and acquiring knowledge.  Academic success in critical thinking and problem solving prepares you for the changes and challenges you will encounter in the future.  Our faculty and academic support resources are readily available as partners in this effort, but the primary responsibility for learning is yours.

 Required Text

            Foss, S. K. (1996).  Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice (2^nd ed.).  Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland.

There may also be readings on reserve in the library and independent readings for your own course projects

 Assignments and Grading: There are 400 points available for the course.  I will be using a modified plus/minus system.  92% (460 pts.) and above is an A.  90-91% is an A minus.  87-89% (435 pts.) is a B plus, 84-86% is a B, 80-83% (400 pts.) is a B minus.  77-79% (385 pts.) is a C+, 74-76% is a C and 70-73% (350 pts.) is a C-.  You should keep up with your final grade by dividing the points available so far by the points you’ve earned.  The result will be a number corresponding to your percentage.  For instance, after three graded probes, you have had the opportunity to earn 75 points.  Let’s assume your actual scores add up to 66.  When you divide 66 by 75, you get .88 which is a B-plus.  The assignments are as follows:  

Schedule of Sessions

Be prepared for class.  I reserve the right to dismiss students who are habitually unprepared for class.  Actively read the material and come with questions, connections and examples. 

Course Assignments 

 All work, unless otherwise noted, must be typed and adhere to the APA style guide.  Writing clearly and error-free is a big part of your success in this class—mange your time accordingly!

I reserve the right to modify the schedule and assignments as needed.

 Assignment Descriptions

I offer this overview of assignments all at once not to overwhelm you but so that you can manage your time accordingly.  I realize that this is not the only course you are taking and want you to be able to take the lead in owning your education and managing your coursework.  If you have questions about any of these assignments be sure to ask them.  Really, go ahead and ask.

Quizzes—100 points

I have found that discussion goes better when everyone has read the book.  To strongly encourage that behavior we will have ten quizzes that quickly assess whether you have done the reading or not.  The quizzes are not designed to be tricky—though some material is hard—but to reward you for actively reading the text.  Some of the exam questions will be taken directly from the quizzes.  As Mark Twain has said, “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man that cannot read.”

Critical Essays

We will be learning specific vocabulary that function a lot like tools in a woodworker’s shop or in the hands of a trained physician.  However, we must practice using these tools.  To do so we must think critically and write clearly and persuasively.  You will write three critical essays defined below which may be independent of your term project or perhaps be an initial effort toward the final project.  The key is to use these essays to refine your thinking and writing skills and your ability to use the concepts of the course to assist your efforts at both of these endeavors!  The concepts should take you places in your thinking and writing that you otherwise would not have gotten to. 

1)      Essay One:  You will take the tools that emerge from the neo classical scholarship and use them to analyze a piece of traditional public address.  This speech should come from Vital Speeches of the Day or perhaps the Great Speeches video collection.  I must approve the artifact prior to your analysis.  It should be 3-5 pages and incorporate 1-2 sources on the artifact and the method/concept that is central to your analysis.

2)      Essay Two:  We live an increasingly visual culture.  This essay requires that you analyze a predominantly visual artifact such as an advertisement or building, or perhaps even the interior of a store or restaurant for its rhetorical dimensions.  You must make specific use of one or more of the rhetorical approaches we will have discussed in your analysis.  It should be 3-5 pages and incorporate 3-4 sources on the artifact and method/concept that is central to your analysis.

3)      Essay Three:  Film and TV have significant influence on our culture and are often significant expressions of our culture.  You must analyze a film that makes an argument using one or more of the methods we’ve discussed.  You may not use a method you have used in your previous essays.  It should be 3-5 pages and incorporate 3-4 sources on the artifact and method/concept that is central to your analysis.

Final Paper—100 points

This paper should be 10-12 pages of very polished writing.  I highly recommend that you share your drafts with one another, with the Writing Center, or anyone else you trust as an editor/proof reader.  This is a term project, not a weekend project and will be graded accordingly.  A minimum of 12 quality sources should be integrated into your paper and cited appropriately according to APA style. 

Your paper should make a discernible argument and not simply offer a collection of information.  Take a stand, clarify it and defend it.  Hint: START THINKING SOON about this project.  You will analyze a significant artifact using concepts raised in the course.  You may analyze artifacts from a special interest group such as PETA, Operation Rescue, Promise Keepers.  You may choose to analyze a significant ad campaign.  You may analyze single artifacts, for example: Bill Gates’ book on technology, any of the Aliens movies, a specific piece of architecture or a speech or speaker you find noteworthy from Vital Speeches, the Great Speeches videos or similar sources.  Your essay should include analysis of both intrinsic and extrinsic features and factors.

The paper should make clear and specific application of course concepts to the analysis of your artifact.  For instance, if you decide that metaphors are a key feature of the artifact, then discuss metaphors briefly, cite sources that help your reader understand how you are using metaphors, and offer some analysis of the metaphors in the artifact.

Let’s Enjoy the Pursuit of Excellence Together.