English 305-01
Introduction to Rhetoric: Rhetorical Power in Reading and Writing
2:00 TR; Humanities Bldg.2206
Hephzibah Roskelly, Hum. 3323
334-3280; roskellh@uncg.edu
Office Hours: TR 10-11:30; and by appt.
Welcome to our course in rhetoric, designed to complement your major in English by
developing writing skill and interpretive abilities through the study of rhetoric—how
people persuade and communicate.. You’ll learn rhetorical theory, investigations of how
voice gets heard, how evidence gets used, how audience gets addressed. You’ll evaluate
rhetoric, analyzing the way arguments function in all kinds of communication. And,
most important, you’ll practice rhetoric by creating your own oral, written and visual
arguments. We will read a variety of texts, visual as well as linguistic, and we’ll examine
the role of rhetoric in art. You should finish the course with a clear sense of the power of
rhetoric in the world around you and with a set of strategies for making your own rhetoric
more effective and persuasive.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: To read critically in a variety of genres
To write with awareness of persuasive intent
To revise with understanding of aim and effect
To use rhetorical terms and concepts
To understand the role of audience in writing
To produce stylistically sophisticated and substantive
analytical prose
To read visual and written texts with interpretive and
evaluative skill
REQUIRED TEXTS: +Richard Lanham, A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms
+1 Graphic novel, selected by you; approved by me
+Articles and essays on Blackboard. Please be sure to print out
readings for use in class.
+Notebook for a Commonplace journal
REQUIREMENTS: 3 4-6 page essays, revised and one posted to the class
3-5 inclass or shorter writings
1 speech
1 group project
final portfolio
ATTENDANCE AND EVALUATION: Consistent attendance is expected as is
engaged participation. We’ll do much work in class and in small
groups; therefore, you need to be an active class member. More
than three absences during the semester will compromise your
grade.
Final grades determined by quality of written and oral work,
participation in class and small group activities, commonplace
book and final portfolio.
The Commonplace Book
In ancient times, students of rhetoric kept what was called a commonplace book. A
place for recording thoughts, observations, quotes, good words and reflections, the
commonplace book became for students a primary place to practice rhetoric by playing
out ideas and a source of ideas for published (that is, with an audience in mind) pieces.
As modern students of rhetoric, your commonplace book will serve this function too.
You’ll write about the rhetoric you see around you, online and in the media, in
conversations and in art. You’ll respond to the readings in the course, speculating,
arguing and reacting to the rhetoric you see employed. You should plan to write at least
twice a week, and I will take up commonplace books to evaluate and comment on several
times during the semester.
Longer essays
Essays will analyze some aspect of rhetoric or theory that we are studying, or will
practice rhetoric in the formulating of an argument. Essays will be shared in draft form in
groups, and should be revised thoughtfully, with an eye toward final effectiveness.
Do take advantage of the University Writing Center for help with ideas and revision. The
Writing Center is located in the Humanities Bldg. Room 3211.
Short inclass or out of class tasks
Typically these respond to particular items of discussion or ideas that come up during
class. They will sometimes be shared in group or read aloud.
Group presentations
Each group will present on one text or one rhetorical moment in the news, analyzing it,
discussing strategies, and evaluating effectiveness.
Week 1:
Aug. 21,23
How we practice rhetoric
Group work: introductions to the class
Short writing task
Week 2:
28, 30
Definitions of rhetoric: the triangle at work, Ch. Everyday Use. Bb
Practice with the visual, Bb
Assignment #1: observation notes, the rhetoric of art at UNCG
Week 3:
Sept. 4, 6
Week 4:
Sept. 11, 13
Week 5:
Sept. 18, 20
Week 6:
Lanham, 163-166. Examples. Bb political cartoons
Invention. Lanham, 166-171. Everyday Use, Ch. 2. Bb
Arrangement: Lanham, 171-180
Drafts: Essay #1: group work
Essay #1 DUE Th: Presentations Lanham. 44
Effective oral speech. Lanham, Repetitio, Exordium, Appeals
Florence Kelley, Bb. Appeals, use of rhetorical figures.
Assignment #2: Analysis of speech
Sept. 25, 27
Week 7:
Oct. 2, 4
Week 8:
Oct. 9, 11
Analysis of campaigns, Bb:group work
Crowley on kairos, Bb
Commonplace Books due
Drafts: Essay #2 Effective (or not) speech past or present
Essay #2 DUE: analysis of effective speech
Speeches on film
Conferences, Mid term letters and evaluation
Proposal for group presentation: rhetoric in news: following election
Week 9:
FALL BREAK
Week 10:
Oct. 16, 18
Week 11:
Oct. 23, 25
Week 12:
Oct. 30, N.1
Week 13:
Nov. 6, 8
Week 14:
Nov. 13, 15
Week 15:
Nov. 20
Week 16
Nov. 27, 29
Freidman and Mandelbaum, That Used to Be Us. Bb
Response. Commonplace Book Due.
Group presentation work
Group presentations and evaluations
Doonesbury; Persepolis, Bb
McCloud on comics, Bb
Use of visual in graphic novel: outline and oral presentations DUE
Essay #3: Argument with evidence: topics generated together
Group work: visual from issue. Use of rhetorical figure
other media and rhetoric: blog, social networks sites
Lanier, Bb
Drafts of Essay #3: workshop:argument role of media
Essay #3: DUE
Commonplace book DUE
Final portfolios workshop
DUE Nov. 29
Famous last rhetoric! I moment to remember: oral speech
Final portfolios DUE