Fall 2011
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Department of English
Gary Lim
EN 102.9
Telephone: 334-5477
Class hours / location: MWF 9.00–9.50 in Foust
Office / hours: McIver 112 / MWF 1.00111
2.50
Email: g_lim@uncg.edu
ENG 102.1: Composition II—Arguing with Animals
"Animals utter different voices; none can speak—for this is the characteristic of man, for all that
have a language have a voice, but not all that have a voice have also a language." (Aristotle, The
History of Animals)
This speaking-intensive composition course focuses on animals and "animal-issues." Over the
course of the semester, we will read diverse texts that feature animals in a range of rhetorical
contexts. The first section of the course, "Animal Encounters," invites you to think about how
various authors use language to describe encounters with all manner of non-human animal life.
Next, in "Animal Rights," we will examine how rhetoric has been used to petition on behalf of
and against animal welfare. The third section of the course, "Topical Animals," will allow us to
practice using animals in argument in a series of debates. Finally, we will think about how animal
depictions have often been used to govern the boundaries of what we call "the Human." Through
informal speaking activities, debates, formal presentations, and writing projects, we will speak
and write about what it means to interpret animal voice and silence through human language.
Course Objectives
To advance and extend students' knowledge of oral argumentative discourse, and apply this
knowledge as a mode of learning how to write, do research, and engage in inquiry.
To advance and extend students' appreciation for writing and speaking as public and communitybased processes through the activities of drafting, peer review, and revision, as well as individual
and small group oratory exercises.
To introduce students to the principles of invention, arrangement, styles, memory, and delivery in
oral presentations.
To help students to develop the habit of synthesizing, versus reporting on or simply summarizing
source information in both oral and written communication.
Texts
The following text must be obtained from the UNCG Bookstore
 Babb, Jacob et. al. Techne Rhetorike: Techniques of Discourse for Writers and Speakers
(ISBN 9780738046693)
I have uploaded all other readings to Blackboard. Make sure that your university computer
account is active so that you can access these materials. You should download or print each
article BEFORE class, bringing the relevant ones to class according to the schedule. You will be
penalized in the class participation category for not having (electronic or paper) copies of the
articles. Do not wait for the night before or during the day of class to download articles. Create a
folder for this course on your laptop so that you can download and organize the readings well
ahead of each class session when you have a reliable access to Blackboard.
Attendance Policy
You are allowed three absences without any penalty to your final grade. With the fourth absence,
your final course grade will drop by half a letter grade (e.g. a B becomes a B-). With six or more
absences, you will fail the course. No distinction is made between excused and unexcused
absences. In the event that you have a genuine crisis (such as serious illness or a death in the
family), you should notify me and contact the Office of the Dean of Students (336 334-5099).
This office will work with you (and your instructors) so that you receive the academic support for
continued enrollment. You are, by state law, allowed two excused absences due to religious
holidays, which do not count toward your total. If you plan to miss class because of religious
holidays, you must notify me in advance of your absence.
Assessment and Grading
Attendance and participation (7.5%)
Quizzes (7.5%)
Speaking
30-second words (5%)
Two-minute talks (5%)
Debates (10%)
Formal presentations (12.5%)
Writing
Paper One—Reflecting on animals—3 pages (7.5%)
Journal entries—4 x 400 words (10%)
Paper Two: On debate topic—4 pages (10%)
Paper Three: Cultural uses of animals—5 pages (12.5%)
Peer-review
Of 30-second words / Two-minute talks (2.5%)
Of debates (5%)
Of presentations (5%)
Detailed assignment prompts containing instructions and guidance will be distributed as the
semester progresses.
Academic Integrity
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust,
fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse
of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be
gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit
and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution
and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you
understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of
violations at <http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>. I expect you to abide by the Academic
Integrity Policy. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy. Assignments that violate
the Academic Integrity Policy will receive an F.
Disabilities
Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about accommodations as
soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you must first
register with the Office of Disability Services on campus before such accommodations can be
made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite
215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail:
ods@uncg.edu.
Laptop Policy
Laptops may be used in class only to take notes pertaining to our class or to view documents on
our Blackboard website. Any student who uses a laptop for any non-classroom activity during
class time will not be allowed to use a laptop in class again. To be perfectly clear: one violation
means no laptop use.
Course Schedule
Date
Lesson
Preparation for this lesson
M 8/22
Introduction
W 8/24
Animal Encounters 1
Analyzing animals
Read Caxton, "The Feast of Tongues"; Dodson,
"Understanding the Rhetorical Appeals" [TR 3]
F 8/26
Animal Encounters 2
Using detail, making notes
Read Zacharias, "Buzzards"; Shook, "Reading
for the Rhetorical Appeals" [TR 11]
M 8/29
Animal Encounters 3
Learning to listen
Read Goodall, "Chimpanzees"; Adams, "Meeting
a Gorilla"; Kortlandt, "Spirits Dressed in Furs?"
W 8/31
30 sec words /
Peer reviewing speech:
Speaker's Delivery
Essay one assigned
Review Zacharias, Goodall, Adams, and
Kortlandt
Read Ensor, "Viewing Peer Review as a
Rhetorical Process” [TR 111]; Benson, “The
Writing Center: Where Writers Meet” [TR 144]
F 9/2
Animal Encounters 4
Structuring writing
Read Gladwell, "What the Dog Saw"
M 9/5
Animal Encounters 5
Speaking with detail
Read Raffles, "Cricket Fighting"
W 9/7
Animal Encounters 6
Writing workshop for Essay one
Read Haraway, from The Companion Species
Manifesto
Bring rough draft of essay one in hard copy
F 9/9
Animal Encounters 7
Peer reviewing speech:
Speaker's Delivery
Read Carter, "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon" &
"The Tiger's Bride"; Duncan "Evaluating
Presentations"
M 9/12
30 sec words
Essay one due
Review Gladwell, Haraway, Raffles, and Carter
Print out and bring the "30 Sec Words Peer
Evaluation" form
W 9/14
Animal Rights 1
Read Aristotle, from The History of Animals;
Date
Lesson
Preparation for this lesson
Reasoning with animals
Ovid, "Life of Pythagoras"; Augustine, from The
Literal Meaning of Genesis
F 9/16
Animal Rights 2
Adopting a discourse
Journal entry one due
Read Pliny, "Combats of Elephants"; Benthem,
"Principles of Morals and Legislation"; Murrow
"Thinking Animal Thoughts"
M 9/19
Animal Rights 3
Read Singer, "All Animals Are Equal"
W 9/21
Animal Rights 4
Engaging arguments
Read Foer, from Eating Animals
F 9/23
Animal Rights 5
Two minute talks; Peer review
Journal entry two due
Read Cohen, "If Animals Had Rights," "Why
Animals Do Not Have Rights," & "The Moral
Inequality of Species"
M 9/26
Animal Rights 6
Questioning assumptions
Read Hearne, "What's Wrong with Animal
Rights"
W 9/28
Animal Rights 7
Making connections
Journal entry three due
Read Nussbaum, "The Moral Status of Animals"
F 9/30
Animal Rights 8
Speaking controversy
Read Coetzee, "The Philosophers and the
Animals"
M 10/3
Two minute talks; Peer review
Journal entry four due
Review Hearne, Nussbaum, and Coetzee
W 10/5
Debate Workshop 1: Format, roles of
proposition and opposition /
Researching the topic
Read Duncan, "Determining Your Purpose" &
"Adapting Your Ideas and Evidence."
F 10/7
Debate Workshop 2: Structure,
strategy, rebuttals
Begin researching the topic that you have drawn
for debate and for essay two.
Organize group meetings for debate preparation.
M 10/10
Fall Break – No Class
W 10/12
Informal Debate Practice
Essay two assigned
F 10/14
Instructor away at conference – No Class
M 10/17
Topical Animals 1
Debate: "Factory Farming Should be
Outlawed"
Read Pollan, "An Animal's Place"
Read Mason & Finelli, "Brave New Farm?";
Stenholm, "The Animal Agriculture Industry";
Kopperud, "Modern Farming Is Humane."
Date
Lesson
Preparation for this lesson
W 10/19
Topical Animals 2
Debate: "Hunting Has No Place in
Modern Society"
Read "The Case Against Sport Hunting";
"Hunting Can Be Humane"; "Hunting Animals is
Wrong."
F 10/21
Topical Animals 3
Debate: "Using Animals for Medical
Research Is Absolutely justified"
Read Haraway, "Sharing Suffering"; Osbourne,
"Fuzzy Little Test-tubes"; "Introduction to
Animal Experimentation."
M 10/24
Topical Animals 4
Debate: "Zoos Do More Harm Than
Good"
Read Maple et. al., "Defining the Good Zoo";
Regan, "Are Zoos Morally Defensible?" and
Jamieson, "Zoos Revisited."
W 10/26
Peer review essay 2
Debate Evaluation due
Bring rough draft of essay two in hard copy
F 10/28
Topical Animals 5
Film: "30 Days" Season 3 Ep 3
Essay 2 Due
Read Laminack, “Rhetorical Analysis and Visual
Media” [TR 131]; Burns, "Rhetorical Analysis
and Film" [TR 138]
M 10/31
How to Make a Human 1
Analyzing animals in culture
Read Fudge, "Visible and Invisible: Questions of
Recognition"
W 11/2
How to Make a Human 2
Speaking satire
Read Swift "A Voyage to the Land of the
Houyhnhnms" [Chaps 1–6]
F 11/4
How to Make a Human 3
Essay three assigned
Read Swift "A Voyage to the Land of the
Houyhnhnms" [Chaps 7–11]
M 11/7
How to Make a Human 4
Read Fudge "Real and Symbolic: Questions of
Difference"; Begin to research and draft
presentation.
W 11/9
How to Make a Human 5
Presentation Workshop
Read Adams, from The Sexual Politics of Meat
Duncan, "Organizing Your Presentation,"
"Developing Effective Introductions …" &
"Practicing, Polishing and Delivering"
F 11/11
How to Make a Human 6
Read Tuan "Dominance and Affection"
M 11/14
Mandatory Conferences
W 11/16
Mandatory Conferences
F 11/18
Mandatory Conferences
Research, draft, and write essay three.
Bring rough draft of essay three / outline of
presentation to conference.
Read Leuschen, “Asking Questions to find a
Starting Point” [45]; Wooten, “Finding a
Conversation to Research” [TR 89]; Benson
“Researching Rhetorically” [TR 94]
Date
Lesson
Preparation for this lesson
M 11/21
Formal presentations 1 Peer Review
1. Post abstract of your own talk online.
2. Read abstracts and prepare questions for
presenters.
3. Review readings from "Animal Rights"
section of the course.
W11/23
F 11/25
M 11/28
Thanksgiving – No Class
W 11/30
Formal presentations 3 Peer Review
F 12/2
Formal presentations 4 Peer Review
Complete Instructor Evaluation form
Formal presentations 2 Peer Review
M 12/5
(Last Day of
Class)
Essay Three due
Formal presentation evaluations due
1. Post abstract of your own talk online.
2. Read abstracts and prepare questions for
presenters.
3. Review readings from "Animal Rights"
section of the course.