Critical Analysis of Communication
Communication Department
University of Colorado Denver
CMMU 4022/5022
Section 01
Spring, 2012
MW 2:00-3:15
Plaza M-206
PROFESSOR
Dr. Sonja K. Foss
Office: 102-J Plaza Building
Office Hours: 12:30-2:00, Mondays and Wednesdays and by appointment
Telephone: 303-556-5526 (office); 303-355-5320 (home)
Fax: 303-355-6325
E-mail: Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu
(For more information on the professor, see the end of the syllabus or go to my Web site:
SonjaFoss.com)
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course surveys research methods used to analyze messages from rhetorical and critical
perspectives. The objectives of the course are:
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To introduce you to the process of rhetorical criticism and to develop an appreciation for its value
in personal and professional life.
To study and practice a variety of critical approaches and to use them to uncover the nature and
function of messages of various kinds.
To develop the capacity for independent, reflective thought.
To foster a healthy sense of skepticism toward the many messages that influence our worldviews,
behaviors, and choices on a daily basis.
To develop excellence in argumentative writing.
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT AND MISSION
Department Web site: communication.ucdenver.edu
Department Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UCDDepartmentofCommunication
The Communication Department's mission is to create a learning environment in which students
develop the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to use communication to create a more civil and
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humane world. Developing skills in critical analysis enables us to understand the nature of the worlds
we create and in which we participate through symbols. As a result, we can make more conscious
choices about these worlds.
TEXTBOOK
The textbook for the course is Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration & Practice, 4th ed. (Waveland Press)
by Sonja K. Foss. Reading assignments are indicated on the course schedule at the end of the syllabus.
A copy of the textbook is on reserve in the library.
ACTIVITIES
Short essays of criticism (undergraduate and graduate students):
These are essays approximately 4-5 pages long in which you analyze artifacts of your choice
using the methods of criticism covered in class: cluster, fantasy-theme, generic, ideological,
metaphor, and pentadic. The essays are due by midnight on: February 15 (cluster), February 29
(fantasy-theme), March 26 (generic), April 11 (ideological), April 25 (metaphor), and May 7
(pentadic). Please attach the artifact or a photograph of the artifact you analyzed to your paper.
Undergraduate students will write their essays in triads. All individuals in a triad will receive
the same grade on the essays. Graduate students may write their short essays individually or in
triads or pairs.
If a student is not contributing appropriately to a triad’s essays, the triad is responsible for
dealing with the student. A low-performing student may be voted out of a group by a majority
vote of the other group members. If this happens, that individual will write his or her essays of
criticism alone. Please let me know if you vote a member out of your group.
Two options are available for selecting the artifacts to analyze. One is to select different kinds
of artifacts to analyze in your essays—speeches, works of art, songs, restaurants, poems, short
stories, films, music, advertisements, memos, architecture, fashion, interior design, etc.—to
give you practice in dealing with different kinds of symbolic experiences. Another option is to
write all of your essays on the same artifact, which clearly points out the different kinds of
conclusions that various methods produce. Americanrhetoric.com is a Web site of rhetorical
artifacts of all kinds that you might want to consult if you need ideas for artifacts to analyze.
The essays of criticism will be graded according to a grading rubric that deals both with the
substance and the writing or form of the essay. Each essay is worth 50 points.
If your essays of criticism do not meet the requirements for the grade you are trying to achieve
in the course, you may re-write the essays once to bring up your number of points on the essay
(except for the pentadic essay of criticism because it is due too late in the semester for re-
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writing). Re-writes of essays are due on by 4:45 on Wednesday, May 2. Please attach the
earlier version(s) of the essay to your re-written essay.
Long essay of criticism (graduate students only):
This is an essay approximately 15 pages long using the generative method of criticism. We will
meet together to cover generative criticism while undergraduates are meeting to work on their
essays during regular class time in Plaza 102-L on these dates: February 15, February 29,
March 26, April 11, and April 25. This essay must be solo authored and is due on Monday,
May 7 (by midnight—please e-mail it to me at Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu).
Notes on sample essays of criticism (undergraduate and graduate students):
Read the sample essay assigned for the unit and take notes on it. (The page numbers of the
essay on which you should take notes are indicated on the course schedule near the end of the
syllabus.) This assignment will be done individually. It is designed to encourage you to engage
other essays of criticism and to use them as models for writing your own essays. Your notes
should consist of answers to the following questions about the essay. You do not need to write
in complete sentences to answer the questions, and you may take notes either on the computer
or in longhand.
 What does the critic want to find out by analyzing the artifact, data, or text? In other
words, what is the research question the critic is asking?
 What are the data being analyzed?
 What are the primary elements, dimensions, or characteristics of the data or text that the
analysis identifies?
 What can I learn about rhetoric or communication from this essay?
 What is particularly useful for me in this essay for writing my own essays of criticism?
 Is there something that doesn’t make sense to me in this essay?
The notes on the essays are due on the first day of each unit on a method of criticism—January
30, February 13, February 27, March 12, April 4, and April 23. (The due dates are also
included on the schedule at the end of the syllabus.) The notes must be submitted in class on
this day; late notes will not be accepted because the point of taking notes on a sample essay is
to help you prepare for the overview of each method. If you are unable to attend class on the
day notes are due, they must be e-mailed to me by midnight on that day. (Please note that not
attending class on this day has ramifications for your grade, as described in the section on
grading below). Notes will be given a grade of check or minus. Notes that receive grades of
minus must be re-written in order for them to count as meeting the requirements for the
assignment. Re-written notes are due no later than 4:45 on Wednesday, May 2.
Attendance
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Attendance will be taken on 7 days during the semester—on the day each critical method is
introduced and on the day when we will have a guest speaker for Communication Days. The
number of these days you must attend depends on the grade you want to earn. (See section on
grading below). The days when attendance will be taken are: January 30, February 13,
February 27, March 12, April 4, April 9, and April 23.
GRADING: UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
You select the grade you want to achieve in the course and then work to meet the requirements for that
particular grade.
To receive a grade of A, you must:
 Complete 6 essays of criticism using the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasy-theme,
generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic.
 Earn between 270 and 300 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on the 6 assigned sample essays
 Attend the 7 classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of A-, you must:
 Complete 6 essays of criticism using the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasy-theme,
generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic.
 Earn between 260 and 269 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 6 of the assigned sample essays
 Attend the 7 classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of B+, you must:
 Complete 5 essays of criticism using 5 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which one to skip).
 Earn between 225 and 250 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 5 of the assigned sample essays
 Attend 6 of the classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of B, you must:
 Complete 5 essays of criticism using 5 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which one to skip).
 Earn between 230 and 239 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 5 of the assigned sample essays
 Attend 6 of the classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of B-, you must:
 Complete 5 essays of criticism using 5 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which one to skip).
 Earn between 220 and 229 total points on the essays
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Complete notes on 5 of the assigned sample essays
Attend 6 of the classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of C+, you must:
 Complete 4 essays of criticism using 4 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which one to skip).
 Earn between 180 and 200 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 4 of the assigned sample essays
 Attend 5 of the classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of C, you must:
 Complete 4 essays of criticism using 4 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which one to skip).
 Earn between 170 and 179 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 4 assigned sample essays
 Attend 5 of the classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of C-, you must:
 Complete 4 essays of criticism using 4 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which one to skip).
 Earn between 160 and 169 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 4 assigned sample essays
 Attend 5 of the classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of D+, you must:
 Complete 3 essays of criticism, using 3 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to skip).
 Earn between 135 and 150 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 3 assigned sample essays
 Attend 4 of the classes when attendance is taken
To receive a grade of D, you must:
 Complete 3 essays of criticism, using 3 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to skip).
 Earn between 125 and 134 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 3 assigned sample essays
 Attend 4 of the classes when a method of criticism is introduced
To receive a grade of D-, you must:
 Complete 3 essays of criticism, using 3 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster, fantasytheme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to skip).
 Earn between 115 and 124 total points on the essays
 Complete notes on 3 assigned sample essays
 Attend 4 of the classes when attendance is taken
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GRADING: GRADUATE STUDENTS
You select the grade you want to achieve in the course and are then required to meet the requirements
for that particular grade.
To receive a grade of A, you must:
 Complete 4 short essays of criticism, using 4 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster,
fantasy-theme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to
skip). Earn between 170 and 200 total points on these essays.
 Complete notes on the 6 assigned sample essays.
 Complete the long essay of criticism using generative criticism. Earn a minimum grade of
A- on this essay. Note: Because it is due during finals’ week, you will not be able to rewrite this essay (unless you turn it in by April 30, which will give me a chance to give you
feedback and you a chance to revise).
 Attend all 7 of the classes when attendance is taken and all 5 of the separate graduate
classes.
To receive a grade of A-, you must:
 Complete 4 short essays of criticism, using 4 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster,
fantasy-theme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to
skip). Earn between 160 and 169 total points on these essays
 Complete notes on the 6 assigned sample essays.
 Complete the long essay of criticism using generative criticism. Earn a grade of at least a
B+ on this essay.
 Attend all 7 of the classes when attendance is taken and all 5 of the separate graduate
classes.
To receive a grade of B+, you must:
 Complete 4 short essays of criticism, using 4 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster,
fantasy-theme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to
skip). Earn between 150 and 159 total points on the short essays.
 Complete notes on 5 assigned sample essays (you may choose which one to skip).
 Complete the long essay of criticism using generative criticism. You must earn a grade of at
least a B on this essay.
 Attend 6 of the classes when attendance is taken and 4 of the separate graduate classes.
To receive a grade of B, you must:
 Complete 3 short essays of criticism, using 3 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster,
fantasy-theme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to
skip). You must earn between 120 and 149 points on these essays.
 Complete notes on 4 assigned sample essays (you may choose which ones to skip).
 Complete the long essay of criticism using generative criticism. You must earn a grade of at
least a B- on this essay.
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Attend 6 of the classes when attendance is taken and 4 of the separate graduate classes.
To receive a grade of B-, you must:
 Complete 3 short essays of criticism, using 3 of the 6 methods covered in class: cluster,
fantasy-theme, generic, ideological, metaphor, and pentadic (you may choose which ones to
skip). You must earn between 120 and 149 total points on these essays.
 Complete notes on 4 assigned sample essays (you may choose which ones to skip).
 Complete the long essay of criticism using generative criticism. You must earn a grade of at
least a C+ on this essay.
 Attend 5 of the classes when attendance is taken and 3 of the separate graduate classes.
GRADING POLICIES: UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
1. Essays submitted to the instructor must be typed and double spaced.
2. If the number of assignments you have completed and the grades you have earned do not fall
precisely into one of the grade categories, you will be given the highest grade for which you have
fulfilled all requirements. For example, if you meet the requirements for number of papers and
number of notes completed for an A, but your attendance does not meet the requirements for a
grade of A, you will be given the lower grade that matches your attendance record.
3. Students within a group may choose to earn different grades. For example, one student may choose
to work with the triad to write 6 essays of criticism, while another may choose to write only 5
essays of criticism. These students would earn different final grades as outlined in the grading
options.
4. Short essays of criticism not turned in on the day they are due will be given 20 points less than the
grade deserved. If you are ill or encounter some other documentable emergency that prevents you
from turning an assignment in on time, please notify me before the paper is due, and it will not be
counted late. If the generative essay of criticism (graduate students only) is submitted late, 40
points will be deducted from the grade.
5. Please be sure, when you submit something to me by e-mail, that I respond. I will always respond
to your e-mail messages. If I don’t respond, that means I have not received your message or paper.
COURSE POLICIES
1. Incomplete Grades: Incomplete grades are not given to students simply because they are
receiving lower grades than they would like. To be eligible for an incomplete grade, you must have
completed successfully 75% of the course at whatever level you have chosen to work (A,B, C, or
D) and have special circumstances outside of your control that preclude completion of the course.
If you do not complete the work for the course within 12 months, your grade reverts to an F.
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2. Attendance: This is a class in which I give you primary responsibility for your learning.
Attendance at a certain number of class sessions is required, depending on the grade you are
seeking to earn. On the workshop days allotted to working on your essays of criticism, you may
choose to work on your essays with your triad however, whenever, and wherever you choose. If
you choose to work in class on these days, I will be able to help you with your analyses, so there is
an advantage to working in class on your essays. Graduate students have additional requirements
for attending separate graduate sessions, which are: February 15, March 5, March 28, April 16, and
April 30. (Days at which attendance will be taken are marked on the schedule at the end of the
syllabus.)
3. Academic Ethics: Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated and will lead to possible dismissal
from the University. You are responsible for being attentive to and observant of campus policies
about academic honesty as stated in the University’s Student Conduct Code. If a graduate student is
found to have engaged in plagiarism, the student may be assigned a failing grade in the course and,
at the discretion of the graduate faculty, may be asked to leave the graduate program. For more on
academic ethics, see the Academic Honor Code and Policies section under “Student Resources” on
the Communication Department’s Web site: communication.ucdenver.edu.
4. Disability Accommodations: To be eligible for disability accommodations, you must be registered
with the UC Denver Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS), North Classroom
Building, room 2514, main phone: 303-556-3450 or TTY/TDD: 303-556-4766. The DRS staff
assists faculty in determining reasonable accommodations and coordinates these accommodations.
If you are given accommodations, they must be followed. If you choose not to accept the
accommodations set forth by the DRS, you must complete all assignments and do all course work
in the same manner as all other students. No exceptions or alternate forms of evaluation can be
used except those mandated by the DRS. I cannot arbitrarily decide to give a student extra time,
extra assistance, or other forms of aid unless they are formally mandated by the DRS.
5. Religious Holiday Accommodations: If you must be absent from classes because of religious
holidays, I will develop course-consistent accommodations for you. Religious holidays are listed at
http://www.interfaithcalendar.org.
6. Communication Portfolio: Some of you may have the opportunity to take the Communication
Department’s Senior Seminar: Transitioning from College to Career (CMMU 4688) before you
complete your degree. In the Senior Seminar, you will be asked to put together a communication
portfolio—i.e., a compilation of the major projects completed in your communication courses.
Major projects include literature reviews, Web sites you have designed, communication journals,
and so forth. The possibility that you may one day take our capstone course means that you should
keep the essays of criticism you complete in this course. Even if you do not intend to take the Senior
Seminar, a communication portfolio can be a valuable asset after you graduate and are looking for a
job.
6. Extra-credit options: There are no extra-credit options in the class.
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7. Cell phones and pagers: The classroom is a learning environment and should be free from pager
and cell-phone interruptions.
Spring 2012 CLAS Academic Policies
The following policies pertain to all degree students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
(CLAS).
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Schedule verification: It is each student’s responsibility to verify online that his/her
official registration is correct: verify before classes begin and prior to the drop/add
deadline. Failure to verify schedule accuracy is not sufficient reason to justify a late add or
drop.
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E-mail: Students must activate and regularly check their official student e-mail account for
CU Denver business: http://www.ucdenver.edu/student-services/Pages/WebMail.aspx.
Those who forward email must check CU Denver e-mail regularly for messages not
automatically forwarded.
Waitlists:
 Students are not automatically notified if they are added to a class from a waitlist.
 Students are not automatically dropped from a class if they never attended, stopped
attending, or do not make tuition payments.
 Waitlists are purged after the 1st week of classes, after which a paper Schedule
Adjustment Form (drop/add form) is required. It is the student's responsibility to get
the form (online or at the Advising Office, NC 4002), have it signed, deliver it to the
Registrar (Annex 100) or the Student Services Center (NC 1003), and verify her/his
schedule online.
Late adds (after 1 February) will be approved only when circumstances surrounding the
late add are beyond the student’s control. This will require a written petition and verifiable
documentation. Petition forms are available in NC 4002. The signature of a faculty member
on a Schedule Adjustment Form does not guarantee that a late add petition will be
approved.
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Late drops (after 1 February) will be approved only when circumstances surrounding the
late drop have arisen after the published drop deadline and are beyond the student’s
control. This will require a written petition and verifiable documentation. The signature of
a faculty member does not guarantee that a late drop petition will be approved.
Tuition: Students are responsible for completing arrangements with financial aid, family,
scholarships, etc. (depending on tuition plan selected) to pay their tuition prior to Census
Date (1 February). Students who drop after that date are (1) financially responsible for
tuition and fees, (2) academically responsible and will receive a "W" grade, and (3) are
ineligible for a refund of COF hours or tuition.
Graduation:
 Undergraduate students wishing to graduate in spring 2012 must complete the online
Intent to Graduate Form and meet with their academic advisor to obtain a graduation
application. This application must be submitted by Census Date (1 February). You can
obtain an application only after meeting with your advisor. There are no exceptions to
this policy.
 Graduate students wishing to graduate in spring semester 2012 must complete the
online Intent to Graduate form and have a Request for Admissions to Candidacy on file
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with the CU Denver Graduate School (LSC 1251) no later than 5 PM, February 1, 2012.
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Important Dates and Deadlines
January 17, 2012: First day of classes.
January 22, 2012: Last day to add or waitlist a class using the UCDAccess student portal.
January 23, 2012: Last day to drop without a $100 drop charge--this includes section
changes.
January 24, 2012: Waitlists are dropped. Students are no longer automatically added from
a waitlist (and names not on the official course roster are not registered for the course).
Adding a course now requires the completion of a Schedule Adjustment Form. This is the
first day an instructor may approve a Schedule Adjustment Form to add a student to a
closed course.
January 24 - February 1, 2012: Students are responsible for verifying an accurate spring
2012 course schedule via the UCDAccess student portal. Students are not notified of their
waitlist status by the University. All students must check their schedule prior to February 1
for accuracy.
February 1, 2012: Census date.
 2/1/12, 5 PM: Last day to add structured courses without a written petition for a late
add. This is an absolute deadline and is treated as such. This deadline does not apply to
independent studies, internships, project hours, thesis hours, dissertation hours, and
late-starting modular courses.
 2/1/12, 5 PM: Last day to drop a spring 2012 course or completely withdraw from all
spring 2012 courses using a Schedule Adjustment Form and still receive a tuition
refund, minus the drop fee. After this date, tuition is forfeited and a "W" will appear on
the transcript. This includes section changes. This is an absolute deadline and is treated
as such.
 2/1/12, 5 PM: Last day to apply for spring 2012 graduation. Undergraduates must
make an appointment and see their academic advisor before this date to apply for
graduation. Graduate students must complete the Intent to Graduate and Candidate for
Degree forms.
 2/1/12, 5 PM: Last day to request pass/fail or non-credit option for a course.
 2/1/12, 5 PM: Last day to petition for a reduction in Ph.D. dissertation hours.
February 13-22, 2012: Faculty can use the Early Alert system.
March 19-25, 2012: Spring break (no classes/campus open).
April 2, 2012 at 5 PM: Last day for non-CLAS students to drop or withdraw without a
petition and special approval from the academic dean. After this date, a dean’s signature is
required.
April 16, 2012 at 5 PM: Last day for CLAS students to drop or withdraw with signatures
from the faculty and dean but without a full petition. After this date, all schedule changes
require a full petition. Petition forms are available in NC 4002 for undergraduates and LSC
1251 for graduates.
May 7 - 12, 2012: Finals Week. No schedule changes will be granted once finals week has
started. There are NO exceptions to this policy.
May 21, 2012: Final grades available on UCDAccess (tentative).
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Wed., Jan. 18
Introduction to the class and to one another
Mon., Jan. 23
Introduction to rhetorical criticism
READING: Chapters 1 and 2 (pages 3-20)
Wed., Jan. 25
Artifact collection: Please use this day to collect some artifacts you would like
to analyze for your papers during the semester—songs, advertisements,
speeches, web sites, etc. Professor will not be in class on this day.
Mon., Jan. 30
Cluster criticism (attendance taken)
Introduction to method
Class analysis of artifact
READING: Chapter 4 (pages 63-96)
DUE: Notes on sample essay of criticism, pages 86-91 (Elliott’s essay on
Enron’s Code of Ethics)
Wed., Feb. 1
Cluster criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essay of cluster criticism
Divide into triads (attendance not taken, but you want to be sure to be here
on this day so you can be assigned to a group of your choosing)
BRING TO CLASS: Artifact your group could analyze for your essay of cluster
criticism
Mon., Feb. 6
Cluster criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essay of cluster criticism
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Wed., Feb. 8
Cluster criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essay of cluster criticism
Mon., Feb. 13
Fantasy-theme criticism (attendance taken)
Introduction to method
Class analysis of artifact
READING: Chapter 5 (pages 97-136)
DUE: Notes on sample essay of criticism, pages 124-27 (Mendoza’s essay on
U2’s “One Tree Hill”)
Wed., Feb. 15
Fantasy-theme criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of fantasy-theme criticism
BRING TO CLASS: Artifact you could analyze for your essay of fantasy-theme
criticism
DUE: Essay of cluster criticism (bring it to me in Plaza 102-L, put it in my
mailbox in Plaza 102-A, or e-mail it to me at Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu)
GRADUATE STUDENTS: Meet in Plaza 102-L to discuss generative criticism
(attendance taken). (Read Chapter 11, pages 387-444).
Mon., Feb. 20
Fantasy-theme criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of fantasy-theme criticism
(Professor won’t be in class to help you—she will be attending the Western
States Communication Association convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Wed., Feb. 22
Fantasy-theme criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of fantasy-theme criticism
Mon., Feb. 27
Generic criticism (attendance taken)
Introduction to method
Class analysis of artifacts
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READING: Chapter 6 (pages 137-208)
DUE: Notes on sample essay of criticism, pages 166-72 (Varallo’s essay on
family photographs)
Wed., Feb. 29
Generic criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of generic criticism
BRING TO CLASS: Artifacts you could analyze for your essay of generic
criticism
DUE: Essay of fantasy-theme criticism (bring it to me in Plaza 102-L, put it in
my mailbox in Plaza 102-A, or e-mail it to me at Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu)
GRADUATE STUDENTS: Meet in Plaza 102-L to discuss generative criticism
(attendance taken)
Mon., Mar. 5
Generic criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of generic criticism
Wed., Mar. 7
Generic criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of generic criticism (professor will not be in class on
this day)
Mon., Mar. 12
Ideological criticism (attendance taken)
Introduction to method
Class analysis of artifact
READING: Chapter 7 (pages 209-66)
DUE: Notes on sample essay of criticism, pages 246-52 (Lacroix and
Westerfelhaus’s essay on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy)
Wed., Mar. 14
Ideological criticism: Workshop
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Work in triads on essays of ideological criticism (professor will not be in class
on this day)
Mon., Mar. 19
Spring Break (no class)
Wed., Mar. 21
Spring Break (no class)
Mon., Mar. 26
Ideological criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of ideological criticism
BRING TO CLASS: Artifact you could analyze for your essay of ideological
criticism
DUE: Essay of generic criticism (bring it to me in Plaza 102-L, put it in my
mailbox in Plaza 102-A, or e-mail it to me at Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu)
GRADUATE STUDENTS: Meet in Plaza 102-L to discuss generative criticism
(attendance taken)
Wed., Mar. 28
Ideological criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of ideological criticism
Mon., April 2
Ideological criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of ideological criticism
Wed., April 4
Metaphor criticism (attendance taken)
Introduction to method
Class analysis of artifact
READING: Chapter 8 (pages 267-306)
DUE: Notes on sample essay of criticism, pages 300-03 (KanengieterWildeson’s essay on the Portland Building)
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Mon., April 9
Communication Days Guest Speaker (attendance taken)
Wed., April 11
Department of Communication’s Communication Days Keynote Event
featuring Dr. Kirt Wilson, Pennsylvania State University, 11:00-12:15, St.
Cajetan’s Center
Wed., April 11
Metaphor criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of metaphor criticism (professor will not be in class on
this day)
BRING TO CLASS: Artifact you could analyze for your essay of metaphor
criticism
DUE: Essay of ideological criticism (bring it to me in Plaza 102-L, put it in my
mailbox in Plaza 102-A, or e-mail it to me at Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu)
GRADUATE STUDENTS: Meet in Plaza 102-L to discuss generative criticism
(attendance taken)
Mon., April 16
Metaphor criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of metaphor criticism
Wed., April 18
Metaphor criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of metaphor criticism
Mon., April 23
Pentadic criticism (attendance taken)
Introduction to method
Class analysis of artifact
READING: Chapter 10 (pages 355-86)
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DUE: Notes on sample essay of criticism, pages 375-80 (Elliott’s essay on the
CRACK Web site)
Wed., April 25
Pentadic criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of metaphor criticism
BRING TO CLASS: Artifact you could analyze for your essay of pentadic
criticism
DUE: Essay of metaphor criticism (bring it to me in Plaza 102-L, put it in my
mailbox in Plaza 102-A, or e-mail it to me at Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu)
GRADUATE STUDENTS: Meet in Plaza 102-L to discuss generative criticism
(attendance taken)
Mon., April 30
Pentadic criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of metaphor criticism
Wed., May 2
Pentadic criticism: Workshop
Work in triads on essays of pentadic criticism
DUE:
Re-writes of essays of criticism
Re-writes of notes on sample essays
(Both are due by 4:45 p.m. Please e-mail to me or put in my mailbox in
Plaza 102-A. Don’t forget to attach the original essay and the original
notes.)
Mon., May 7
DUE:
Essay of pentadic criticism
Essay of generative criticism (graduate students)
(Both are due by midnight; please e-mail to me at
Sonja.Foss@ucdenver.edu)
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ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR: SONJA K. FOSS
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Communication Studies: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1976.
M.A., Speech (Rhetoric and Public Address: University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 1973.
B.A., Romance Languages: University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 1972.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Professor, Department of Communication, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, 1997-present.
Chair, Department of Communication, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, 1997-2003; spring, 2005; and fall, 2007.
Senior Research Associate, Department of Human Communication Studies, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 1996-1997.
Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 1990-1996. Awarded tenure, June, 1992.
Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Communication, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1989-1990.
Associate Professor/Assistant Professor, Department of Speech, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 1986-1989. Awarded tenure and
promoted to Associate Professor, April, 1988.
Associate Professor/Assistant Professor, Department of Speech Communication, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 1980-1986.
Awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor, June, 1986.
Visiting Professor, Department of Speech Communication, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, Spring, 1985.
Instructor, Graduate Program in Communication, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia, 1978-1980.
Assistant Professor, Department of Performing Arts and Communication, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Blacksburg, Virginia, 1977-1978.
Customer Service Representative, Banta West (book manufacturing company), Sparks, Nevada, 1976-1977.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Communication Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1974-1976.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Western States Communication Association Distinguished Scholar Award, 2011.
Feminist Scholar Award of the Organization for Research on Women and Communication (with Karen A. Foss), 2010. Award
recognized the article “Our Journey to Repowered Feminism: Expanding the Feminist Toolbox,” published in Women’s Studies
in Communication, 2009.
Barbara J. Walkosz and Sonja K. Foss. RINGS: Reflecting Imaginatively on National Greatness in Sport, grant funded by the Center for
Faculty Development and the Office of International Education, University of Colorado Denver, 2007, $2500.
Named “Gender Scholar of the Year” (with Karen A. Foss) by the Southern Communication Association for 2005.
Outstanding Book Award of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender for Feminist Rhetorical Theories,
2000.
$1000 Coca Cola Grant for Research on Women, Department of Women's Studies, Ohio State University, 1996.
Francine Merritt Award for contributions to women in communication, Women's Caucus, Speech Communication Association, 1993.
Faculty Member of the Year, Department of Communication, Ohio State University, 1992.
$3000 Faculty Research Award to pursue research project, "Development of a Theory of Visual Imagery as Persuasion," University of
Oregon, Summer, 1988.
Earl Bradley Award for best dissertation written in the area of rhetoric and public address, Northwestern University, 1976.
Teaching fellowship, Northwestern University, 1974-1976.
Four-year Oregon State Scholarship, 1968-1972.
Member, Phi Beta Kappa.
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Foss, Sonja K., Mary E. Domenico, and Karen A. Foss. Gender Stories: Negotiating Identity in a Binary World. Long Grove, Ilinois:
Waveland, forthcoming.
Foss, Sonja K., and William Waters. Destination Dissertation: A Traveler’s Guide to a Done Dissertation. Boulder, Colorado: Rowman
& Littlefield, 2007.
Foss, Sonja K., Karen A. Foss, and Cindy L. Griffin, eds., Readings in Feminist Rhetorical Theory. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage,
2004.
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Foss, Sonja K., Karen A. Foss, and Robert Trapp. Contemporary Perspectives on Rhetoric. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland, 1985;
second edition, 1991; third edition, 2002.
Foss, Karen A., Sonja K. Foss, and Robert Trapp, eds. Readings in Contemporary Rhetoric. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland, 2002.
Foss, Sonja K., Karen A. Foss, and Cindy L. Griffin. Feminist Rhetorical Theories. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage, 1999.
Foss, Sonja K. Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland, 1988; second edition, 1996; 3rd
edition, 2004; 4th edition, 2008.
Foss, Sonja K., and Karen A. Foss. Inviting Transformation: Presentational Speaking for a Changing World. Prospect Heights, Illinois:
Waveland, 1994; 2nd edition, 2003; 3rd ed., 2011.
Foss, Sonja K., and Karen A. Foss. Instructor's manual to accompany Inviting Transformation: Presentational Speaking for a Changing
World. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland, 1994, 2003, 2011.
Foss, Karen A., and Sonja K. Foss. Women Speak: The Eloquence of Women's Lives. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland, 1991.
Foss, Karen A., and Sonja K. Foss. Instructor's manual to accompany Women Speak: The Eloquence of Women's Lives. Prospect Heights,
Illinois: Waveland, 1993.
Articles and Book Chapters
Foss, Sonja K., and Karen A. Foss. “Constricted and Constructed Potentiality: An Inquiry into Paradigms of Change.” Western Journal
of Communication, 75 (2011): 205-38.
Foss, Sonja K., and Karen A. Foss. “Our Journey to Repowered Feminism: Expanding the Feminist Toolbox.” Women’s Studies in
Communication, 32 (2009): 36-62.
Foss, Sonja K. “Invitational Rhetoric.” Entry for Encyclopedia of Communication Theory. Ed. Stephen W. Littlejohn and Karen A. Foss.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2009, vol. 1, pp. 369-71.
Foss, Sonja K., and William Waters. “Completing a Thesis/Dissertation: Transitioning from Reporter to Scholar.” In Getting the Most
from Your Graduate Education: A Student’s Handbook. Ed. Sherwyn Morreale and Pat Arneson. Washington, D.C.: National
Communication Association, 2008, pp. 97-108.
Foss, Karen A., and Sonja K. Foss. “Accomplishing the Mission: Creating a Partnership With Your Advisor.” In Getting the Most from
Your Graduate Education: A Student’s Handbook. Ed. Sherwyn Morreale and Pat Arneson. Washington, D.C.: National
Communication Association, 2008, pp. 59-70.
Foss, Sonja K., and Barbara J. Walkosz. “Definition, Equivocation, Accumulation, and Anticipation: American Media’s Ideological
Reading of China’s Olympic Games.” In Owning the Olympics: Narratives of the New China. Ed. Monroe E. Price and Daniel
Dayan. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2008, pp. 346-74.
Foss, Sonja K., and Barbara J. Walkosz. “Spatial Structuring of Cultural Display Around China’s Olympic Games: Definition,
Equivocation, Accumulation, and Anticipation.” In 2007 Communication Forum: Harmonious Society, Civil Society, and the
Media International Symposium: Collections. Beijing, China: National Center for Radio and Television Studies, 2007, pp. 65070.
Foss, Sonja K., William Waters, and Bernard J. Armada. “Toward a Theory of Agentic Orientation: Rhetoric and Agency in Run Lola
Run.” Communication Theory, 17 (2007): 205-30.
Foss, Sonja K. “Rhetorical Criticism as Synecdoche for Agency.” Rhetoric Review, 25 (2006): 375-79.
Foss, Sonja K. “Theory of Visual Rhetoric.” In Handbook of Visual Communication: Theory, Methods, and Media. Ed. Ken Smith,
Sandra Moriarty, Gretchen Barbatsis, and Keith Kenney. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2005, pp. 141-52.
Foss, Sonja K. “Framing the Study of Visual Rhetoric: Toward a Transformation of Rhetorical Theory.” In Defining Visual Rhetorics.
Ed. Charles A. Hill and Marguerite Helmers. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2004, pp. 303-13.
Foss, Sonja K. “Response” to “Intercollegiate Debate as Invitational Rhetoric: An Offering.” Contemporary Argumentation and Debate,
21 (2000), 95-97.
Foss, Sonja K., Cindy L. Griffin, and Karen A. Foss. “Transforming Rhetoric Through Feminist Reconstruction: A Response to the
Gender Diversity Perspective.” Women’s Studies in Communication, 20 (Fall 1997), 117-35.
Foss, Sonja K., and Eileen Berlin Ray. “Introduction: Theorizing Communication from Marginalized Perspectives.” Communication
Studies, 47 (Winter 1996), 253-56.
Foss, Sonja K. “Re-Sourcement as Emancipation: A Case Study of Ritualized Sewing.” Women’s Studies in Communication, 19 (Spring
1996), 63-84.
Chryslee, Gail J., Sonja K. Foss, and Arthur L. Ranney. “The Construction of Claims in Visual Argumentation: An Exploration.” Visual
Communication Quarterly, 3 (Spring 1996), 9-13.
Foss, Sonja K., and Cindy L. Griffin. “Beyond Persuasion: A Proposal for an Invitational Rhetoric.” Communication Monographs, 62
(March 1995), 2-18.
Foss, Sonja K. “A Rhetorical Schema for the Evaluation of Visual Imagery.” Communication Studies, 45 (Fall-Winter 1994), 213-24.
Foss, Sonja K., and Karen A. Foss. “The Construction of Feminine Spectatorship in Garrison Keillor’s Radio Monologues.” Quarterly
Journal of Speech, 80 (November 1994), 410-26.
Foss, Karen A., and Sonja K. Foss. “Personal Experience as Evidence in Feminist Scholarship.” Western Journal of Communication, 58
(Winter 1994), 39-43.
Foss, Sonja K. “Pauli Murray.” In The Rhetoric of American Women: Critical Studies and Sources. Ed. Karlyn Kohrs Campbell.
Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood, 1994, pp. 319-30.
Foss, Sonja K. “Revisioning the Public Speaking Course.” Women’s Studies in Communication, 15 (Fall 1992), 53-65.
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Foss, Sonja K. “The Construction of Appeal in Visual Images: A Hypothesis.” In Rhetorical Movement: Studies in Honor of Leland M.
Griffin. Ed. David Zarefsky. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press, 1993, pp. 211-25.
Foss, Sonja K., and Cindy L. Griffin. “A Feminist Perspective on Rhetorical Theory: Toward a Clarification of Boundaries.” Western
Journal of Communication, 56 (Fall 1992), 330-49.
Foss, Sonja K., and Marla R. Kanengieter. “Visual Communication in the Basic Course.” Communication Education, 41 (July 1992),
312-23..
Foss, Sonja K “Rhetorical Criticism as the Asking of Questions.” Communication Education, 38 (July 1989), 191-96.
Foss, Sonja K. “Constituted by Agency: The Discourse and Practice of Rhetorical Criticism.” In Essays to Commemorate the 75th
Anniversary of The Speech Communication Association. Ed. Gerald M. Phillips and Julia T. Wood. Carbondale: Southern
Illinois University Press, 1990, pp. 33-51.
Foss, Karen A., and Sonja K. Foss. “Incorporating the Feminist Perspective in Communication Scholarship: A Research Commentary.”
In Doing Research on Women’s Communication: Alternative Perspectives in Theory and Method. Ed. Carole Spitzack and
Kathryn Carter. Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex, 1989, pp. 65-91.
Foss, Sonja K. “Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party: Empowerment of Women’s Voice in Visual Art.” In Women Communicating: Studies
of Women’s Talk. Ed. Barbara Bate and Anita Taylor. Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex, 1988, pp. 9-26.
Foss, Sonja K., and Karen A. Foss. “What Distinguishes Feminist Scholarship in Communication Studies?” Women’s Studies in
Communication, 11 (Spring 1988), 9-11.
Foss, Sonja K., and Ann M. Gill. “Michel Foucault’s Theory of Rhetoric as Epistemic.” Western Journal of Speech Communication, 51
(Fall 1987), 384-401.
Foss, Sonja K. “Body Art: Insanity as Communication.” Central States Speech Journal, 38 (Summer 1987), 122-31.
Radich, Anthony J., and Sonja K. Foss. “Economic Impact Studies of the Arts as Effective Advocacy.” In The Economic Impact of the
Arts: A Sourcebook. Ed. Anthony J. Radich. Denver, Colorado: National Conference of State Legislatures, 1987, pp. 77-103.
Foss, Sonja K. “Ambiguity as Persuasion: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial.” Communication Quarterly, 34 (Summer 1986), 326-40.
Foss, Sonja K. “Women Priests in the Episcopal Church: A Cluster Analysis of Opposition Rhetoric.” Religious Communication Today,
7 (September 1984), 1-11.
Foss, Sonja K. “A Female Perspective on the Research Process.” Women’s Studies in Communication, 7 (Fall 1984), 73-76.
Foss, Sonja K. “Retooling an Image: Chrysler Corporation’s Rhetoric of Redemption.” Western Journal of Speech Communication, 48
(Winter 1984), 75-91.
Foss, Sonja K., and Anthony J. Radich. “Metaphors in ‘Treasures of Tutankhamen’: Implications for Aesthetic Education.” Art
Education, 37 (January 1984), 6-11.
Foss, Karen A., and Sonja K. Foss. “The Status of Research on Women and Communication.” Communication Quarterly, 31 (Summer
1983), 195-204.
Foss, Sonja K. “Criteria for Adequacy in Rhetorical Criticism.” Southern Speech Communication Journal, 33 (Spring 1983), 283-95.
Foss, Sonja K. “Abandonment of Genus: The Evolution of Political Rhetoric.” Central States Speech Journal, 33 (Summer 1982), 36778.
Foss, Sonja K. “Rhetoric and the Visual Image: A Resource Unit.” Communication Education, 31 (January 1982), 55-66.
Foss, Sonja K., and Anthony J. Radich. “The Aesthetic Response to Nonrepresentational Art: A Suggested Model.” Review of Research
in Visual Arts Education, 12 (Fall 1980), 40-49.
Foss, Sonja K. “The Equal Rights Amendment Controversy: Rhetorical Worlds in Conflict.” Quarterly Journal of Speech, 65 (October
1979), 275-88.
Foss, Sonja K. “Teaching Contemporary Feminist Rhetoric: An Illustrative Syllabus.” Communication Education, 27 (November 1978),
328-35.
Foss, Sonja K. “Feminism Confronts Catholicism: A Study of the Use of Perspective by Incongruity.” Women’s Studies in
Communication, 3 (Summer 1979), 7-15.
Foss, Sonja K. “The Feminists: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Radical Feminist Movement.” University of Michigan Papers in Women’s
Studies, 2 (1976), 79-95.