RHETORICAL CRITICISM--CS 58
TTH 10:30-12:20 -- FAC 323

 

 

Dr. Leila Brammer -- FAC 324 -- 933-7372

Office Hours -- TTH 1:30-2:30, 4:30-5:30 and by appointment

Email -- Lbrammer@gac.edu

 

 Materials: Foss, Sonja K. (1996). Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice (2nd Ed.). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland.

Reserve Materials at Library.

 

 Course Philosophy: The objective of this course is to provide the student with experience in rhetoric and rhetorical criticism. During the semester, we will examine a number of critical approaches. Readings, lectures, and papers will focus on the skills and concepts necessary understand, analyze, and evaluate discursive acts from a rhetorical perspective.

 

 Attendance: Since this is not a read-and-take-a-test class, attendance is CRUCIAL for understanding and utilizing rhetorical criticism; i.e. attendance is directly linked to success in this class.

Attendance is expected on all days. NO late assignments or makeups will be accepted, except in cases of EXTREME DOCUMENTED EMERGENCY.

Attendance is MANDATORY on ALL presentation days. Those not in attendance will have 2.5 points deducted from their grade.
 

  
Grading System: Grading Scale:
Participation/Quizzes   15 100-93 = A           76-73 = C
Article Critique   10   92-90 = A-         72-70 = C-
Situational Analysis   10   89-87 = B+        69-67 = D+
Descriptive Analysis   20   86-83 = B          66-60 = D 
Critical Perspective     5   82-80 = B-          59-0 = F 
Final Paper   40   79-77 = C+
100
 
 

Assignments:

Participation: Participation is a large part of this class. Points will be assigned for activities and participation in class discussion. Points will be deducted for missing presentation days. Throughout the semester, short quizzes will be given.

Article Review: Each person will be responsible for a ten-minute presentation of a scholarly article.

Project: A three-part assignment--Situational Analysis, Descriptive Analysis, and Final Paper--in which one rhetorical artifact will be analyzed. More later on this assignment.

 

 Notes: Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. The borrowing of ideas without credit or the borrowing of papers, speeches, exams, and so forth will result in failure of this course.

Come see me in my office for help. If the hours are inconvenient, make an appointment. Since I will be grading you, my input may be important to you.

If the situation warrants, this syllabus may be subject to change at my discretion.

 
 
DAILY SYLLABUS

 

Day    Topic Readings

Feb 9 Introduction to Course

Feb 11 Rhetoric Ch. 1

Feb 16 Rhetorical Criticism Ch. 2, Lib1

Feb 18 Situational and Descriptive Analysis Lib 2

Project Proposal Due

Feb 23 NeoAristotelian Criticism Ch. 3

Feb 25 Close Textual Analysis Lib 3

Mar 2 Metaphoric Criticism Ch. 9

Mar 4 Flex Day

Mar 9 Descriptive Analysis/Application Day

Situational Analysis Due

Mar 11 Narrative Criticism Ch. 10

Mar 16 Dramatistic Criticism Ch. 11

Mar 18 Dramatistic Criticism

Mar 23 Fantasy-Theme Analysis Ch. 5

Mar 25 Fantasy-Theme Analysis

Apr 6 Generic Criticism Ch. 7

Apr 8 Ideological Criticism Ch. 8

Apr 13 Choosing a Critical Perspective

Descriptive Analysis Due

Apr 15 Feminist Criticism Ch. 6

Apr 20 Feminist Criticism

Critical Perspective Due

Apr 22 Psychosocial Criticism Lib 4

Apr 27 Social Movements Lib 5

Apr 29 Lab Day

May 4 Presentations & Critiques

Rough Draft Due

May 6 Application Day

May 11 Presentations

May 13 Presentations

May 18 Presentations

 

May 25 Final Papers Due at Noon