jeanne.hamming
english.dept.
centenary.college
jhamming@centenary.edu
313.JAC
318.869.5082

english.101.b&c|Rhetoric.&.Culture
b: 9:45-11; c: 12:35-1:50|110 JAC
office.hours: TR 8:30-9:40, 11-12, 3:15-4
(and by appointment)

schedule (click here to view)

course.description

English 101: Rhetoric and Culture is a course in rhetoric and cultural understanding. For the purpose of this course, we will concentrate on two aspects of rhetoric. The first is argument. By argument, we mean the art of taking a position and then trying to persuade others to adopt that position. For college writing, argument stresses the rational evaluation of competing ideas, and so argument is also a form of inquiry. We aim to help you explore the ideas of others, discover or invent your own ideas, and then connect them to your audience. Our main vehicle for this exploration will be literary texts, including drama, poetry, non-fiction, and fiction.

The connection to your audience brings us to the second aspect of rhetoric: style, or the manner in which your arguments are presented. On the one hand, this means having a sense that there are various rhetorical devices that you may choose to present your arguments. You will encounter these devices throughout the course and, using them carefully, you can craft your own personal style. On the other hand, since you are trying to persuade others of your position, you need constantly to evaluate the effects of your arguments and rhetorical devices on your audience. This means consciously choosing devices that help you achieve your primary goal, which, again, is compelling others to adopt your position. You have to connect with your audience.

Though we have emphasized the order of ideas and their presentation through rhetorical devices, it is important to realize that good rhetoric is a kind of intellectual game. Good rhetoric is often playful, though it is serious play. Games are structured by rules, and success in a game usually means both knowing the rules and knowing how to take advantage of them. We learn games by playing: we experiment with what does and does not work. Great game players are highly inventive and creative: they discover and show us new ways to play. They strive to win, but winning is a consequence of playing well—and, very often, of playing well in collaboration with others.

Throughout the semester, you will learn many key concepts and terms related to rhetoric, argument, and literary analysis. For a full list of these concepts/terms, click here.

course.goals

All aspects of the course are participatory and interactive. This is not a "lecture" course. Students should come to class prepared to participate.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. analyze a text and recognize how its rhetorical techniques convey a stance toward its subject matter.
2. draw connections among various texts and between the class texts and other cultural elements.
3. discover and develop their own arguments.
4. present their arguments in a persuasive, inventive written form.
5. demonstrate mastery of basic grammar, mechanics, and rhetorical style.

attendance

Please note the English Department Policy on Attendance: to be eligible to pass an English course, a student may miss no more than three times the weekly number of class meetings, regardless of the reason for these absences. This means that for classes like this one that meet two (2) times a week, students who have in excess of six (6) absences cannot pass the course. Frequent absences, even when they fall short of this absolute limit, will adversely affect your grade. Lateness counts as one half of an absence. Occasionally, convocations related to English 101 will be held at times other than our regular class meeting. Required convocations must be attended; not attending will count as an absence from class. Missing a required conference with me counts as an absence.

plagiarism

Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class, and any student suspected of plagiarism will be directed to the Honor Court. Plagiarism is when a student copies words or ideas from others--other students, a professor, or a source from a print or online source--without acknowledgment. If the source is quoted directly, there must be quotation marks and a paranthetical reference. If the source is paraphrased, meaning it is rewritten in the author's own words and sentence structure, acknowledgement and a paranthetical reference are still required. For further clarification on this issue, please consult the St. Martin's handbook or me.

grade.breakdown

Paper #1 (4-5 pp) 15%
Paper #2 (4-5 pp) 15%
Paper #3 (4-5 pp) 20%
Paper #4 (4-5 pp) 20%
Final Exam 20%
Preparation and Participation 10%

*If you have a strong attendance record, prepare for class by doing all readings and assignments, participate in discussions, and generally display a commitment to learning, you will earn a high score. If you have frequent absences, fail to do the assigned work, don't engage in class, and/or generally goof off this grade will negatively reflect this.

papers

Papers are due in class on the dates indicated in the schedule. No exceptions. Late papers will receive an F. Papers must be turned in as printed hard copies. Emailed papers will only be accepted in EXTREME circumstances.

All assignments must be completed in order to pass this course.

Every essay you submit should include a descriptive title and a list of works cited in MLA format.

Keep one electronic and one paper copy of all written assignments, originals and revisions. You may be asked to re-submit material at any time during the semester.

For revised assignments, submit the original paper with my comments along with the revised copy.

cellphones.laptops.iWhatevers

Cellphone use is not permitted or tolerated in this class.. All cellphones are to be turned off (not on vibrate) and stowed (ie. not on your person). The penalty for being caught using your cellphone in class is the loss of 1/2 of your preparation and participation grade.

Bags or purses containing cellphones should be placed beside you on the floor. Laptops and iPads are permitted for the purpose of looking at online course materials (the syllabus, readings, assignments). There is a two-strike policy regarding inappropriate laptop/iPad use. The FIRST time I catch you surfing the web, playing games or otherwise using your laptop/iPad inappropriately I will ask you to put it away and out of sight. The SECOND time I catch you, you will no longer be permitted to use your laptop/iPad during class.

texts

Cathy Birkenstein and Gerald Graff. They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing.
Andrea A. Lunsford. St Martin's Handbook 6th ed.
Alice McDermott. Child of My Heart.
Tim O'Brien. The Things They Carried
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth.

edmodo

We will be using a social networking platform called edmodo to help us communicate and for document storage and delivery. When you sign up for edmodo and join our course group, be sure that you receive emails and/or texts when new content is added. Otherwise, you may miss important announcements or discussions. Edmodo can be found here: http://www.edmodo.com/

schedule (click here to view)