Spring 2010: MW 3:30-4:45 pm, Jac 113
Click here for the calendar.
As the art of effective and persuasive language use, rhetoric requires proficiency in grammar (or words and their structural relationships) and composition (or the arrangement of grammatical elements). In this course, we study grammar and composition to a rhetorical end; we will aim to learn better communication by studying the small pieces that serve great masterpieces. Therefore, we will read much and write much in order to better grasp rhetoric, grammar, and composition. This class focuses on the building blocks of craft.
Our major texts, which you may purchase at the college bookstore, are
Practicing writers ought also to keep the following basic reference works handy:
In this advanced seminar, you should come to class prepared with comments on and questions about the assigned texts: the how-to of grammar and composition along with various essays written by you and your peers as well as published authors. We will occasionally workshop your drafts in class, but always anticipate discussion that focuses on the practical business of writing.
So, be here. Your final grade will reflect lack of participation if you are absent in mind or body: at six absences you fail this course. If you miss a quiz in part (because you are tardy) or entirely (because you are absent) you may not make up what you have missed unless you have an excused absence (official college event, serious illness or emergency) and make arrangements before your absence (if at all possible).
Of particular note: regular quizzes. We will formally study grammar and style this semester so that you can impress your friends or at least ease your future writing and reading. You will convey your understanding of these principles as you write, of course, but you will also enjoy regular quizzes on commas, conjunctive adverbs, complex clauses, etc. Do not, then, plan to catch a case of the Mondays this semester.
It is the policy of Centenary College to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law, and the College's commitment to equal educational opportunities. Any student with a disability who needs accommodations, for example in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform me at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities should contact Disability Services (a division of Counseling Services) to obtain services.
Always building on our class content, the writing assignments in this class will require you to apply the grammatical and rhetorical issues we address in class. Submit assignments on time and in the proper format or else: professional font double-spaced with 1- or 1.25-inch margins on standard paper. Late papers receive one letter grade minus their worth for each day they are late. Unless otherwise indicated, produce all work individually and originally. Collusion (working with others) or plagiarism (using others' ideas, data, or statements without proper citation) violates the honor code (which you must handwrite on all assignments). Additionally, you must produce all work for this class only; no multiple submissions.
Since this course focuses on writing craft, you may revise each original written composition once for a chance at a higher grade. After all, writing is a process; hardly any piece ever becomes so "finished" that it could not benefit from another critical glance. Submit your revision within a week after I return your graded original, and include a one-page description of your revision process and goals. Failure to meet deadlines (unless you receive special dispensation beforehand) forfeits revision opportunities.
This first composition takes the shape of narrative argument, making a claim about personal or group identity. You might consider discussing identifying lines of language, race, social class, religion, politics, etc; or you might consider much more idiosyncratic family or friend distinctions. Choose a particular and individualistic narrative to write 500-1000 words concretely, accurately, and persuasively.
Find a feature essay (more than 3 pages long) published no earlier than 2007 and write 500-750 words assessing its style. This requires close reading of craft more than content. Reference Williams' and Vitto's texts for stylistic categories and discussion. Ask questions that help you focus on the piece's stylistic strengths and weaknesses, like how paragraph divisions aid or hinder stylistic clarity and grace, or how sentence structure affects argument.
You might compare and contrast your essay (treatment of subject matter, compositional style) with one we have read and discussed in The Best American Essays of the Century. You might also comment on media rhetoric: ad placement, font style, page division, etc apparent in the original publication source.
Organize your essay around the stylistic elements you discuss; make an argument that discusses how you see those elements used well and/or poorly, citing your chosen essay (which you also copy and attach to your own essay) and our Williams and Vitto texts wherever appropriate.
In 1000-1500 words, construct an argument evaluating how well a chosen cultural text uses rhetoric to inform or persuade its intended audience.
First, research the rhetorical terms you select by lottery. From scholarly, authoritative sources, learn the terms' definitions, histories, and practical usages in contemporary writing or composition theory. Consider the broadest implications, but feel free to finally drop one or more terms that you receive rather than force their application. In the paper, devote a section to simply presenting the background research.
Second, select a cultural text (film, television program, song/album, website, advertisement, brand item, event, celebrity or other public figure, etc) with verbal and nonverbal elements that allow you to consider rhetoric in linguistic and non-linguistic ways. Though you may make other claims relevant to rhetoric, you should primarily analyze the text's rhetorical strategies relevant to the terms you have researched.
Your final grade (A = 100-90, B = 89-80, C = 79-70, D = 69-60, F = 59-0) is divided into the following categories:
Click here for the calendar.
Click here for the homepage.