Discourse I: Reasoning and Values
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Course Description:
Discourse 100: Reasoning and Values: “Discourse” refers to the language, images, styles, genres,
behaviors and other forms of communication used by specific social and professional groups. The
techniques of discourse analysis and language awareness taught in this course will enable you to
position yourself socially and professionally, helping you understand the reasoning and values,
discourse conventions, and “commonsense” assumptions that create and define academic, political,
professional, and other discourse formations and communities. Students will produce, perform, and
analyze college-level, oral and written texts; and they will learn how written and oral performances
function together in specific discourse communities. This course is associated with Anchor courses
in Reasoning and Values and it prepares students for Discourse II: Culture and Diversity.
Individualized description:
(Instructors will provide a more specific course description, depending on the anchor course with
which their section is connected.)
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate an ability to:
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Explore and analyze their own and others values through the use of multiple strategies that
engage different sources and perspectives in written and oral discourse.
Identify and analyze how cultural context and assumptions play a role in the analysis and
production of discourse.
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Understand basic rhetorical concepts (audience, purpose, genre, convention, logos, ethos,
pathos, logical fallacies, structure, etc.) and apply such concepts to the interpretation,
analysis, and production of written and oral discourse.
Develop an introductory understanding of critical discourse analysis and critical language
awareness.
Use written and oral discourse to develop and present meaningful and interesting ideas that
show the students’ voice, a willingness to take intellectual risks, and an attempt to enter an
academic conversation.
Create academic discourse through a basic process that includes editing, proofreading, and
revising multiple drafts.
Interpret their own and others’ work and reflect on their own development as producers of
discourse.
Construct basic research strategies, use appropriate research resources, learn to identify
scholarly sources, and evaluate and cite those information sources.
Develop an introductory understanding of citation and an ability to appropriately cite
sources using a consistent professional style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
Identify and address personal impediments to discourse production, including speech
anxiety and writer’s block.
Core Assessment
Though there are different sections and instructors of Discourse 100, certain general expectations
apply to every course: Discourse 100 students are required to draft, develop and complete a
minimum of 20 pages of finished writing (5000 words), including at least two essays. Students are
also required to draft, develop and present at least two speeches with a combined minimum total of
ten minutes. Major assignments will engage in direct critical analysis of academic sources with an
emphasis on Human Values and Ethical Reasoning. This work will be presented in a final
summative portfolio at the end of the term. Constructive feedback and opportunities for
comprehensive revision will be provided throughout. All formal work, written and spoken, will be
graded using a rubric that applies the SLO's for Communications Skills.
Educational Philosophy:
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend and participate in classes. Advance notice of attendance policies of
academic units and individual instructors should be given, and such notice should be in writing.
Students should notify instructors of excused absences in advance, where possible. Students who
have an excused absence are expected to make arrangements with instructors for alternative or
make-up work. Such arrangements should be made in advance of the absence, where possible.
Disability Support Services:
To obtain disability related accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must
contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) as soon as possible. To contact
OSSD call 816-235-5696. Once verified, OSSD will notify the course instructor and outline the
accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. For more information go to:
http://www.umkc.edu/disability/.
Discrimination Grievances and Procedures:
http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/collected_rules/grievance/ch390/grievance_390.010
http://www.umkc.edu/diversity/documents/complaintprocess.pdf
Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism is the undocumented use of another’s ideas or words. In this
course, you will learn how to conduct academic research, how to evaluate sources, and document
them appropriately. Failure to adequately cite your research is plagiarism and is a serious offense that
could jeopardize your future academic career. http://www.umkc.edu/provost/policies/academicintegrity-dishonesty-and-plagiarism.pdf
Grade Appeals: http://www.umkc.edu/catalog/Procedure_for_Appeal_of_Grades.html
Writing Center: http://cas.umkc.edu/writingcenter/
A & S Life Coach: For more information regarding this program, please visit the following website:
aslifecoach@umkc.edu<mailto:aslifecoach@umkc.edu.
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