ENGLISH 102
Special Topics in Writing and
Speaking
First Week Orientation
Course Objectives
• The overall goal of English 102 is to develop
students‘ understanding of, and facility with
practices of critical reading and writing in
academic communities in a way that would
enable them to deal with complex abstract
notions, high level philosophical concepts, and
sharpen their composition and rhetoric skills.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
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Learn to develop original arguments (based on readings) for a range of
academic purposes.
Understand and respond appropriately to the critical elements that
shape written
communication situations, such as audience, purpose, and genre.
Demonstrate critical and evaluative thinking skills in locating, analyzing,
synthesizing, and using information in written communication.
Can effectively and critically speak about the opinions and ideas of
others using proper argumentation skills & persuasive skills
Practice and refine technical skills in areas such as grammar, mechanics,
and the documentation of source materials.
Can effectively moderate a class seminar using appropriate techniques
and strategies
Can actively participate in class seminars using discussion etiquette
Develop new vocabulary and word skills.
Expanded his/her grammar, syntax and sentence mechanics;
Expanded paragraph formulation to handle detailed analysis
Course Requirements and Grading
 Project 1: Analyzing ad campaigns (5%)
• Project 2: Analyzing a literary text (10%)
• Project 3: Annotated Bibliography (10%)
Project 4: Critical Research Essay (10%)
• Self-evaluated presentation (10%)
• In-Class Writing, Homework, and Quizzes (10%)
• Weekly group presentation and discussion
facilitation (10%)
• Daily Participation in group discussions (10%)
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This is not a lecture course. It is expected that you will come to class ready to
discuss the assigned readings and will participate fully in any in-class
activities.
• Final exam in writing & speaking: (20%)
What is Expected of students
• Attendance and Participation
• As this is a class based on seminar approach ,attendance
and active participation are crucial to passing this course.
• Absence for personal reasons allowed is 4 times. Any
absence thereafter will result in a 3% deduction from
your final class grade. If you manage to be absent no more
than 3 times for the semester, it will be taken into
consideration when issuing final grade and you’d be eligible
for a grade boost
• 6 or more times of absence will result in failing the course.
• Absence in the assigned days of class seminars counts as
double absence in addition to losing the class seminar
points
• Being late for class more than 10 minutes will be
considered as half absence .
• This is a highly collaborative course. There is an assigned
reading and a group presentation every week.
• In case of missing a class, it is your responsibility to contact
a classmate, and refer to the class mate to find out what
you missed prior to the start of the next session.
Respect to class mates and
instructor
• Respect and Classroom Conduct:
• It is a shared responsibility between
students and instructor to create a safe
class room environment that is conducive
to productive activity and thinking.
• Disrespectful language of any kind either
to class mates or instructor is absolutely
unacceptable in this class and will not be
tolerated.
• Showing respect to others’ opinions during
seminars is mandatory
Plagiarism
• Plagiarism and cheating are serious
matters. At minimum you will receive a
ZERO for plagiarized work. Remember that
lifting or cutting and pasting work from
the Internet—even from unsigned sources
or sites—constitutes plagiarism as much
as does copying passages or essays from a
published book or another student.
• ENG 102 student is expected to do all
assignments in this class without cheating.
Please do all your own work: it is the only
way to improve your writing and critical
thinking abilities.
Group work
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Every week, a random group of students (assigned by the
teacher) will asked to collaborate together on a group
presentation (based on an argumentative article)
This will be a group effort, combining a presentation with
leading class discussion. Y
You will work in groups of three to prepare a presentation for
the class that will involve leading your classmates in a
discussion about the argument you have been assigned.
Your classmates, then, are your audience, and they’ll be a
knowledgeable audience, since they will have all read the
article/ argument assigned for the week .
Your group will be responsible for roughly 25 minutes of the
class period. You will prepare a brief introduction, plan a set of
discussion questions or interactive presentation that engages
your classmates to respond, and (optional) provide a one-page
hand-out that coordinates with your presentation .
Or: Prepare an interactive PowerPoint presentation with the
same introduction
Analyzing Ad campaigns assignment
Objective:
• Identifying Propaganda Techniques in ads
• Understanding and indentifying the logical appeals
(ethos, pathos, and logos) in print and video ads.
• Presenting a critical response to the whole class
• For this assignment you will write a detailed rhetorical
analysis on a single print or video advertisement selected
from those on our course wiki or chosen freely from the
internet. Then you’re requested to write a short critical
analysis that addresses the following questions:
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• How does the advertisement attempt to persuade its
audience? Applying (ethos, pathos, logos appeals
• What cultural assumptions are embedded in these
rhetorical techniques?
Responding critically to a literary text
For this assignment, you are going to write an essay •
interpreting some aspect of a short story. Aim to convince
readers that your understanding is insightful and can be
supported by an imaginative reading of specific passages
from the story.
You are asked to write a critique on a short story because •
writing about literature will give you insight into both the
ways writers use language and the ways readers interpret
meaning from language.
• Suggested short stories:
• O'Connor's “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”
• Martin Amis, “The Last Days of Muhammad Atta”
• Alice Walker “Roselily” :
• Andre Dubus' “Killings”.
Writing analytical essay‫س‬
• The critical essay is an important academic
tool that allows your knowledge to develop,
because rather than being a personal opinion,
the critical essay requires an in-depth analysis
of a topic.
• A critical review of a text is a special type of
critical essay where you analyse the
fundamentals of a text and discuss and
evaluate both the positive and negative
features of it. In this assignment, you will
apply the basic concept of the rhetorical
situation.
Annotated Bibliography
• Your annotated bibliography will help you
prepare to write your critical research essay.
• To complete your annotated bibliography, you
will research and write about 6 sources that
help you support a thesis text and to extend
your knowledge of the rhetorical theory or
practice you will investigate in your final
essay. Your annotated bibliography should
follow the example below. In each annotation
you should (1) cite the text of your choice in
perfect MLA format; (2) summarize the text or
article; and (3) discuss how the text will help
you to compose your reflective essay.
students.
What is rhetoric?
• Rhetoric is the Art of Persuasive
Language
• Writers and speakers use Rhetoric to
convince readers and listeners to do
something or to think something.
• Think of every time you want to get
your way. You are using rhetoric
without knowing it!
Examples
– When a lawyer tries to move a jury,
she is using rhetoric.
– When a government produces
propaganda, it is using rhetoric.
– When an advertisement tries to get
you to buy something, it is using
rhetoric.
– When a scientist presents theories or results,
she is using rhetoric.
– When you write your mom or dad an email,
you are using rhetoric.
– When a teacher explains an abstract
concept, he/she is using rhetoric
Introduction to persuasive appeals
• Watch this video
• What do ethos, pathos, and logos
refer to?
Rhetorical Triangle
Writer/Speaker
Appeal to Ethos
(Credibility of
Writer)
Purpose/Message
Appeal to Logos
(Facts, Research, Data)
Audience
Appeal to Pathos
(Emotions, Beliefs,
and Values)
Introduction to Rhetoric Class
Activity (pair work)
• http://mrgunnar.net/files/Rhetoric
%20%20introduction%20activity.pdf