Rhetorical Foundations
COMM 3300
Summer “B” Term 2012
Meets M-F 9:15-10:50 a.m., CHEM 145
Instructor: Chris Ingraham
Office: Hellems 10
Email: chris.ingraham@colorado.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Required Materials
For this course, you will need regular Internet access for D2L, access to a reliable printer,
and note-taking materials. All readings will be provided on D2L.
Course Description
Rhetorical Foundations of Communication will introduce you to the art and theory of
rhetoric—a 2,500 year old tradition and practice that has served many purposes over its
history. Developed as an art of oratory and embodied speech (logos) in ancient Athens, what
the Greeks called rhetorikē has guided politics, religion, commerce, and public performance
for more than two millennia. It cuts across all modes and media of human (and perhaps
non-human) communication, from face-to-face gesture to the internet, birth to death. It
extends its reach from love notes to psychological warfare, text-messages to Presidential
speechmaking, spontaneous thought to agonizingly composed speeches for difficult
situations. Rhetoric is both an art that we use to produce things (e.g. speeches, letters,
performances, identities) and a conceptual framework for understanding, interpreting, and
living in the world around us.
Over the course of the term, we will explore rhetoric’s classical roots and modern
manifestations, focusing on key ideas, practices, questions, and thinkers. In the process, the
course is structured to allow students to develop the following skills and abilities:
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to read and engage with theoretical texts through both writing and speaking
to apply theoretical concepts to practice and real-life examples
to understand and interpret communication from rhetorical perspectives
to compare ideas and thinkers, and engage in other independent thought with
rhetorical concepts
to work productively in small groups
to produce better rhetoric and lead more reflective communicative lives
Exams, Assignments, and Grading Breakdown
Grading is based upon a point system with the final grade determined by the total points
earned. Course letter grades will be based upon this breakdown of percentages:
B+
C+
D+
F
87.7-89.9%
77.7-79.9%
67.7-69.9%
0-59.9%
A
B
C
D
93.3-100%
83.3-87.6%
73.3-77.6%
63.3-67.6%
Exam #1
Exam #2
Exam #3
Paper and Presentation
Effort
TOTAL
ABCD-
90.0-93.2%
80.0-83.2%
70.0-73.2%
60.0-63.2%
200 points
200 points
200 points
200 points
200 points
1000 points
Exams will be administered on the second, third, and fourth Fridays of the term. Expect
them to be challenging. These exams may differ in format from test to test, making multiple
choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, true/false, short answer, and longer essay questions all
possible. Generally, these tests ask students to define terms, apply concepts to original
examples, discuss and compare ideas and authors, and consider rhetoric in both
contemporary and historical contexts. Material covered in class is likely to appear on
each test—even if it was never assigned as reading. Students should expect to do
significant independent thinking and re-reading of notes and assignments to score
an ‘A’ or a ‘B’ on the exams.
The paper will be due the last day of class. It will ask you to identify and make an argument
about “The Rhetoric of…” something interesting to you. Some time will be afforded in class
throughout the semester to develop and work on this assignment, but expect the majority of
work to be done at home on your own. We’ll talk more about this paper as the class
progresses. As the last assignment of the term, though, I will expect it to reflect your
comprehensive understanding of the course material and your own original and critical
thinking. Plan for the paper to be no more and no less than six pages, double-spaced.
To conclude the course, over the last two days of class each student will also give an
informal five minute presentation of their paper, followed by a short Q&A.
Effort is the portion of your grade traditionally devoted to “attendance and participation.”
This class has no attendance or participation policies, as such. Come to class or not. Talk or
not. BUT, your effort grade does not start at 100% and drop from there if you miss class or
don’t participate. Instead, your effort grade will start at 0% and you will have to earn points
by demonstrating a commitment to the course and a steadfast effort to work hard at
understanding its material. This can be done in any number of ways: by attending daily; by
participating in our discussions; by contributing to group work; by asking questions; by
seeing me in office hours; and, generally, by showing a real and deliberate effort to read and
think about the course material. I reserve the right to make a subjective assessment of
your effort. This is a difficult class, unlike (m)any you have taken before. A concerted
effort is necessary to pass. And it is your imperative to show me your effort.
Week One – Rhetoric’s Ancient Origins
Tuesday, July 9 – Course Introduction
Wednesday, July 10 – Tekhnē and Canons
Readings:
Silva Rhetorica, http://rhetoric.byu.edu/ — “Canons of Rhetoric”
Janet Atwill, Intro & Ch. 1 from Rhetoric Reclaimed
Thursday, July 11 – The Sophistic Origins of Rhetoric
Readings:
Gorgias, “The Encomium of Helen”
Kennedy, “Rhetoric Before Aristotle”
Poulakos, “Toward a Sophistic Definition of Rhetoric”
Friday, July 12 – Protagoras and Isocrates
Readings:
Billig, “On Protagoras” (Including “Fragments”)
Schiappa, “Protagoras and Logos”
Isocrates, “Against the Sophists”
Isocrates, “Panegyricus”
Isocrates, “Antidosis”
Week Two – Philosophy and Rhetoric
Monday, July 15 – Socrates and Plato
Readings:
Plato, excerpts 1 & 2 from Gorgias
Plato, excerpts 1 & 2 from Phaedrus
Tuesday, July 16 – Aristotle
Readings:
Aristotle, Chapter 1 from On Rhetoric
Wednesday, July 17 – Aristotle
Readings:
Aristotle, Chapter 2 & 3 from On Rhetoric
Thursday, July 18 – Review: The Quarrel of Philosophy and Rhetoric
Readings:
Nancy Struever, “The Quarrel of Philosophy and Rhetoric,” p. 10-23
Henry Johnstone, “The Relevance of Rhetoric to Philosophy…”
Friday, July 19 – UNIT ONE EXAM (200 points)
Week Three – Key Concepts from the 20th Century
Monday, July 22 – Introduction to 20th Century Rhetoric
Readings:
Aune, “Coping with Modernity”
Lucaites & Condit, “Introduction” to Rhetorical Theory
Tuesday, July 23 – The Rhetorical Situation
Readings:
Bitzer, “The Rhetorical Situation”
Vatz, “The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation”
Wednesday, July 24 – The Public Sphere
Readings:
Habermas, “An Encyclopedia Entry”
Jasinski, “Public Sphere”
Thursday, July 25 – The Public Sphere (Continued)
Readings:
Hauser, “Civic Conversation and the Reticulate Public Sphere”
Warner, “Publics and Counterpublics”
Friday, July 26 – UNIT TWO EXAM (200 points)
Week Four – Rhetoric and its Scope
Monday, July 29 – How Many Rhetorics?
Readings:
Herrick, “An Overview of Rhetoric”
Booth, “How Many Rhetorics?”
Tuesday, July 30 – Argumentation and Defining Reality
Readings:
Jasinski, “Argument”
Scott, “On Viewing Rhetoric as Epistemic”
Schiappa, “Definitions Matter” (including “Preface”)
Wednesday, July 31 – Identification
Readings:
Burke, excerpts 1 & 2 from A Rhetoric of Motives
Thursday, August 1 – Constitutive Rhetoric & Feminist Rhetoric
Readings:
Charland, “Constitutive Rhetoric”
Foss & Griffin, “Invitational Rhetoric”
Friday, August 2 – UNIT THREE EXAM (200 points)
Week Five – Varieties of Rhetoric
Monday, August 5 – Animal Rhetorics, Body Rhetorics
Readings:
Kennedy, “A Hoot in the Dark”
Butterworth, “Football at the University of Colorado”
Tuesday, August 6 – Visual Rhetorics, Monumental Rhetorics
Readings:
Hariman and Lucaites, “Accidental Napalm”
Blair & Michel, “Civil Rights Memorial”
Wednesday, August 7 – Digital Rhetorics
Readings:
Bogost, “The Rhetoric of Video Games”
Ingraham, “Toward an Algorithmic Rhetoric”
Thursday, August 8 – Paper Presentations
Friday, August 9 – Paper Presentations
Students with Special Needs
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please give me a letter from
Disability Services as soon as possible so that your needs may be addressed. Disability
Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-4928671, Willard 322, and www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices.
All paperwork must be submitted one week prior to an exam. Make-up exams will not be
administered if documentation is received post-exam. Only accommodations expressly
articulated in the DS letter(s) can be afforded, so please ensure the letter(s) includes all
necessary provisions related to extended time, reduced distraction environments, notetakers, attendance flexibility, etc. It is the student’s responsibility to work with DS to
establish accommodation guidelines. Please do not bring me medical documentation.
Maintaining a Civil Classroom Environment
We will be talking a great deal this semester about controversial subjects. To do that well, we
need to be respectful of one another. We all have that responsibility. Students who fail to
adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the
professional responsibility to treat all students with understanding, dignity and respect, to
guide classroom discussion, and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which they and
their students express opinions. Should you feel the classroom environment is intolerant or otherwise
detracting from your learning, please immediately contact me.
Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor
your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. The University of
Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment
(http://www.colorado.edu/policies/discrimination.html), and the University of Colorado
policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous
Relationships applies to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member
who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race,
color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should
contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office
of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH and the campus resources
available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at
http://www.colorado.edu/odh.
Plagiarism and Other Cheating
We take cheating seriously and will not tolerate any level of plagiarism. All students
are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution.
Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty,
fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct
shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (303-725-2273; honor@colorado.edu).
Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to
both academic sanctions from the instructor/faculty member and non-academic sanctions
(including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other
information can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html &
http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/.
If you are found to be cheating on an exam, you will receive a zero for the exam and
reported for an Honor Code violation. If a second instance of academic dishonestly occurs,
you will receive an “F” in the course and be reported for an Honor Code violation.
Religious Observances
In accordance with University policy, the instructor will make every effort to deal fairly and
reasonably with students who have conflicts with course assignments and exams due to
religious obligations. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor at least one
week in advance of any potential conflict and work together to make reasonable
accommodations which may include, but are not limited to: taking an exam early/late,
alternative assignments (if appropriate), or turning in work on an alternate date. To review
the University’s policy on religious observance, visit
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/observance-religious-holidays-and-absences-classesandor-exams