ENGLISH 505 - RHETORICAL THEORY
COURSE POLICIES AND INFORMATION
Winter 2014
Monday/Wednesday – 5:15 pm – 7:20 pm
CB 103
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
OFFICE PHONE:
OFFICE HOURS:
E-MAIL:
Web ADDRESS:
Emerson D. Case
Faculty Towers 204B
661-654-6281
Monday and Wednesday 4pm – 5pm
ecase@csub.edu
http://www.csub.edu/~ecase
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the history of rhetoric, as well as an introduction to recent
research on written composition, the most current theories of rhetoric, and the implications of
these theories for the teaching of writing.
After finishing this course, you should be able to:
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Define rhetoric and rhetorical theory
Describe the major developments in the study of rhetorical theory
Identify major theorists and historical periods
Evaluate the effectiveness and implications of the rhetoric that surrounds you
Explain the influences of such things as culture, gender, and technology on rhetorical
theory
Make sense of personal, professional, and civic worlds
Materials
Herrick, James A. The History and Theory of Rhetoric: An Introduction (5th Edition).
Various materials will also be made available at appropriate times.
Evaluation and Grading
Responses:
Term Project:
Midterm Exam:
Final Exam:
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
10%
30%
30%
30%
Responses should be saved and handed in with the final exam.
Specific information about the Term Project will be made available at the appropriate
time.
Due dates for the Term Project and exams can be found in the tentative schedule below.
Grading Policy
100% - 94% = A
93% - 90% = A89% - 87% = B+
86% - 84% = B
83% - 80% = B79% - 77% = C+
76% - 74% = C
73% - 70% = C-
69% - 67% = D+
66% - 64% = D
63% - 60% = D59% - 0% = F
Late Work
Any assignment not handed in by its due date will be docked one letter grade for every class
period that the assignment is late. For our purposes, an assignment will be considered late if it is
not handed in by the end of the class period in which it is due.
Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism is not only unethical, it falls under the definition of Academic Dishonesty (Cheating),
as given in the Undergraduate Catalog. For the purposes of this class, plagiarism is defined as
"presenting the ideas, information, or written expression of another person without giving proper
and due credit. Plagiarism includes failure to document the ideas, information, and wording of
published sources. Plagiarism also pertains to presenting as one's own ideas, information, or
written expression of another person (e.g., a friend, classmate, roommate, etc.) or other
unpublished source." In this class, plagiarism will result in a grade of F for the course.
Miscellaneous
Exams/due dates can only be rescheduled if the need is due to a school-sanctioned event.
If you have any special requirements that need to be addressed, please let me know as soon as
possible. Together, we can make anything work.
Tentative Schedule
Week One - January 6 (1)/ January 8 (2)
Chapter One: An Overview of Rhetoric
Chapter Two: The Origins and Early History of Rhetoric
------------------------------------------------Week Two - January 13 (3)/ January 15 (4)
Chapter Three: Plato Versus the Sophists
------------------------------------------------Week Three - January 20 / January 22 (5)
No Class on Monday, January 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Chapter Four: Aristotle on Rhetoric
------------------------------------------------Week Four - January 27 (6)/January 29 (7)
Chapter Five: Rhetoric at Rome
------------------------------------------------Week Five - February 3 (8)/ February 5 (9)
Chapter Six: Rhetoric in Christian Europe
------------------------------------------------Week Six - February 10 (10)/ February 12 (11)
Chapter Seven: Rhetoric in the Renaissance
Midterm Exam due by the end of class on February 12
------------------------------------------------Week Seven - February 17 (12)/ February 19 (13)
Chapter Eight: Enlightenment Rhetoric
------------------------------------------------Week Eight - February 24 (14)/February 16 (15)
Chapter Nine: Contemporary Rhetoric I
------------------------------------------------Week Nine - March 3 (16)/ March 5 (17)
Chapter Ten: Contemporary Rhetoric II
------------------------------------------------Week Ten - March 10 (18)/ March 12 (19)
Chapter Eleven: Contemporary Rhetoric III
------------------------------------------------Week Eleven - March 17 (20)
Finish up
Term Project due by the end of class on March 17
------------------------------------------------Other areas to be covered:
Style, delivery, and rhetorical theory
Rhetoric, science, and argumentation
Rhetoric and meaning
Dramatism
Rhetoric and gender
Non-western rhetorical theories
Rhetoric, media, and technology
Rhetoric and culture
Final Exam/Responses due by noon
Friday, March 21st