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Description & Objectives
ENGLISH 5730 offers a fast-paced introduction to the study of rhetoric, from Aristotle to the present, with emphasis on rhetorical and stylistic analyses of essays, stories, speeches, poems, advertisements, and other forms of discourse.

In its broadest sense, rhetoric concerns both the practice and study of effective communication in literature and in social discourse.  Until well into the 19th century, rhetoric was a fundamental area of academic study and a direct influence on the compositional styles of poets, playwrights, and novelists. Thus, an understanding of rhetoric can enrich our understanding of literary works.

In addition, as an innately pluralistic form of criticism, rhetorical analysis may serve as a bridge between the study of literature and the study of other forms of discourse: speeches, advertisements, reportage, debates, television news-- all manner of texts, images, icons, and symbols. Therefore, the skills practiced in the course should be useful not only to students of literature but also to those preparing for careers in law, business, politics, public relations, education, and journalism.

By the end of this course, you should:
(1) have a basic understanding of the history of rhetoric (with a special emphasis on the classical period);
(2) understand and be able to apply the principles and vocabulary of rhetoric as presented in our course text, the online Tool Kit for Rhetorical Analysis, and other course materials;
(3) recognize and appreciate the relevance of rhetorical studies to other academic disciplines, including law, English, mass communication and media studies, political science, speech communication, and others.
(4) be able to compose an extended rhetorical analysis of a text.

Graduate students will also be called on to prepare either (a) a report on an aspect of rhetoric (for example, non-Western rhetorics, women and rhetoric, logic and rhetoric, etc.) that would not otherwise be covered at length in an introductory course, OR (b) a lesson plan detailing how a particular rhetorical principle or concept might be taught effectively to secondary- or middle-school students.  In addition, graduate students will be expected to produce a longer and more exhaustive final project (see below).

Grading, Attendance, and Participation
Final grades will be determined according to the following scale:
--exercises, short reports, study questions, participation: 20%
--midterm exam: 20%
--final paper*: 30%
--final exam : 30%
All work should be turned in on time.  A late assignment will be docked one letter grade per day.  An assignment that is not turned in at all will receive a grade of 0 (the equivalent of a double-F on the grade scale).
*Additional report and longer final paper required of graduate students.

Class begins at 4:30 p.m.: to avoid distracting others, please make every effort to arrive on time.  Because discussion (as a class and in small groups) is the primary form of teaching and learning in ENGL 5730, regular attendance is essential. Though the course web site should serve as an important resource, English 5730 is not an online course, and work on the web is not an alternative to regular class attendance and participation.

Class attendance means arriving and leaving at the scheduled class times.  You're allowed six cuts during the term.  These six cuts anticipate disease, despair, carburetor problems, and other disasters.  In other words, your reasons for taking the cuts are entirely your business: no need for phone calls or letters from the doctor.

If you must miss a class, it's your responsibility to get in touch with a classmate to collect any handouts and to find out what assignments have been given and what changes (if any) have been made in the syllabus.  If you take four or more of your cuts before midterm, I’ll strongly encourage you to drop the course at that time with a W.  If serious medical problems arise during the semester, please consult with the staff in Student Affairs and, if necessary, consider requesting a special medical withdrawal to avoid academic penalties. (See also Disability Services, below.)

Your final course grade will drop a full letter grade (i.e., 10%) for each absence beyond the allotted six absences. 

Disability Services
If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your performance in this class, please contact Ms. Amelia Castilian, Director of Disability Services (MCC 207A) no later than the second week of the semester.  The Office of Disability Services will determine appropriate accommodations based on testing and medical documentation.  Within two weeks of the start of the semester, please let me know (privately, after class or by appointment in my office) if the Office of Disability Services has determined that you need special accommodations.   Notification after the start of an exam or last minute notification on an assignment will not be accepted.

Handouts
I encourage you to purchase a sturdy pocket folder or ring binder to manage the handouts that I'll be distributing throughout the term. If you miss or lose any handouts, please borrow them from a classmate and make photocopies.  In addition, please print out the online Tool Kit for Rhetorical Analysis and bring it with you to class throughout the term.  This Glossary (with links to examples) is, in effect, a third course textbook.

Course Web Site
The course web site (located at www.nt.armstrong.edu/rhetoric.htm) includes an online version of Rhetorical Terms, updates on weekly reading & writing assignments, supplementary class notes (including previews of upcoming class work and postscripts on lectures and discussions), as well as links to numerous other rhetoric-related sites (Rhetorical Resources). To stay current with class activities, please check the NEWS link frequently (at least twice a week): the NEWS page will alert you to updates on any of the other course web pages.  During the term, we will be augmenting these web pages with materials collected and developed by the class.

In addition, because I'm in the process of moving all course materials to a new server, we'll also be relying on some of the information I've posted to About.com Grammar & Composition.

Ethics
In composing reports and essays, you should rely solely on course texts, class discussions, and your own ideas--unless you are instructed otherwise.  Reliance on uncredited secondary sources of any kind (whether direct or indirect) will be treated as plagiarism and a violation of the Armstrong Atlantic Honor Code.

Final Paper
Your final paper (last year's guidelines posted here) will be a careful rhetorical analysis of a short text (e.g., essay, story, speech, poem(s), chapter of a novel) of your own choosing. (Length: 8-10 pages for undergraduates,11-15 pages for graduate students.) Throughout the term, I will provide examples of such analyses. Topics must be submitted for approval by late March.

Exams
The midterm exam will, for the most part, call on you to remember what we have read and discussed.  The final exam will provide you with far more opportunities to apply the strategies that we have been practicing all term.  Tips on preparing for the midterm and final will appear on this web site approximately one week before each exam.

Communications
While working on any course project, please don't hesitate to send me questions via e-mail (engl5730@lycos.com).  You can generally expect to hear back from me within 24 hours during the week or by Sunday evening over the weekend--but keep in mind that I check e-mail only at night.  I'm also available for conferences, but because committee meetings frequently call me out of the office during weekday afternoons, I can’t provide the certainty of formal office hours.  So just send me an e-mail or call the office (921 5991) to arrange a mutually convenient meeting time. 

A Few Key Dates in SPRING 2008
January 10: first class meeting
February 29: midterm (last day to withdraw without penalty)
March 10-15: spring break (no class meetings on May 11 and 13)
April 29: final class meeting of the term                                    
May 6: final exam

Final Reminders

Get an early start and pace yourself so that you have plenty of time to do your assignments well. Take advantage of opportunities for help with revising and editing.  Most important of all, if you’re having problems, don’t moan, don’t weep, don’t gripe in the hallway: whether by fax, phone, e-mail, or a personal appointment, please get in touch with me.  As a great man once sang, "We can work it out."    

English 5730 is taught by Dr. Richard Nordquist
Office of Liberal Studies (Solms 211)
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Savannah, Georgia 31419
912/921 5991

e-mail: engl5730@lycos.com        

                                       

UPDATED
16 January 2008