Your final blog post assignment is a reflective post about your experience in this class. Reflective writing enables one to gain a better understanding of the self and the relationship between one’s self and the world, by exploring personal attitudes, experiences, and memories. As you write, you look forward to the goals that you might achieve and backward to see what you have accomplished so far. Writing prompts (such as below) help your thinking in this process.
For this assignment, please respond to the following questions, and post your response to your individual course blogs as soon as you can-- no later than Monday, May 3rd, 3:30 PM (the end of the official exam period for our class). Please title your blog entry as “Reflective Post.”
1) What information did you find useful in this class?
2) What was your favorite part of this class?
3) What do you think was the most challenging aspect of this class?
4) How might you incorporate the knowledge and experiences gained from this class into your life beyond this classroom?
5) Think of a question or issue that is most pressing to you right now. How would you use your knowledge of rhetoric and/or rhetorical criticism to gain perspective on this question or issue?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Blog Post Assignment for Friday, April 16
Your final major essay of criticism for our course is due soon. If you haven't already, please decide what artifact(s) you want to analyze for this essay and which method of analysis you will use to analyze them. Make a post on your individual blogs by Friday, April 16, decribing the artifact(s) and the method of your choosing for the essay. Bring a copy of your post to class, as well as other information/visuals on your artifact(s) that may be possible to bring to class, for discussion and activities on Friday. We will review your selections and do some in-class writing geared toward specific parts of your essays. This will also be a good time to start going through your individual needs or making upcoming appointments for them.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Blog Post Assignment for Mon, April 5
For our class on Monday, April 5:
1) Review the information on the method of "fantasy-theme criticism" and choose an artifact that you could analyze with this method. Make sure that your artifact has some evidence that a symbolic convergence has taken place (people have shared fantasy themes and a rhetorical vision related to the artifact). Popular artifacts, such as an advertisement, a song, a book, a film, etc, can be good examples.
2) Write down a 1-2 paragraph description of the artifact and its context.
3) Examine the artifact carefully and make a list of references to setting, character, and action themes (see the example on page 102 in the textbook).
4) Post your responses to the items above to your individual blogs-- make sure to give a relevant title to your blog post. Come to class prepared to briefly talk about your artifact and the possible rhetorical vision that emerges from the patterns in the artifact.
1) Review the information on the method of "fantasy-theme criticism" and choose an artifact that you could analyze with this method. Make sure that your artifact has some evidence that a symbolic convergence has taken place (people have shared fantasy themes and a rhetorical vision related to the artifact). Popular artifacts, such as an advertisement, a song, a book, a film, etc, can be good examples.
2) Write down a 1-2 paragraph description of the artifact and its context.
3) Examine the artifact carefully and make a list of references to setting, character, and action themes (see the example on page 102 in the textbook).
4) Post your responses to the items above to your individual blogs-- make sure to give a relevant title to your blog post. Come to class prepared to briefly talk about your artifact and the possible rhetorical vision that emerges from the patterns in the artifact.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Film Festival Assignment (Due Mon, March 29)
Festival films will usually be shown at the University Theater or Webb Center, and students should be able to obtain tickets for free or for a student fee (with a valid ODU ID).
It is preferable for this assignment to take the opportunity to attend the OnFilm festival. Note that some of the festival films will be shown during our regular class time; you may choose to attend one of those, should you have any schedule concerns. If for some reason, you cannot see one of the festival films, you are allowed to choose to see another film and do your assignment on that one.
Film Festival Assignment:
*Choose a film that you would like to see. In 3-5 paragraphs (approx. 500 words):
1) Describe the film and its context.
2) Identify a method of criticism discussed in class so far (Neo-Aristotelian, Ideological, Pentadic, Metaphor) that would be appropriate to criticize this film from a rhetorical perspective, briefly describe the method, and say why it would be appropriate for this film.
3) Provide a few examples from the parts of the film, and a possible short analysis of these parts (the characters, the dialogue, the images, the music, etc) through the method of your selection.
*This assignment is due on Mon, March 29th by class time on your individual course blogs.
*The assignments will be graded as part of your overall blog.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
In-class Presentations on Selected Artifacts (February 22-26)
February 22-26, you will give your in-class presentations on the artifacts you selected for analysis in Essay #1. Each presentation should be about 3 to 5 minutes, and should include:
-a brief description of your artifact
-information about what personally interests you in this artifact
-the significance of analyzing this artifact
-the method of criticism you will use to analyze the artifact and why
-any questions you might like to direct at the instructor or your peers
You may post a blog entry to your individual blog including these points (if relevant, including visuals, links, etc), and pull up your blog in class to use your post as talking points.
Presentations will be given in the order of last name:
1) BEDENBAUGH, JESSICA L
2) BORDEAUX, JONATHAN BLAKE
3) BROWN, COURTNEY
4) CAMPBELL, ELIZABETH MARY
5) CASEY, CAITLYN S
6) CLARK, CHRISTA M
7) CARLISLE, SHANE P
8) COPONITI, AMBER L
9) EPHRAIM, JORDAN
10) FISCHER, ASHLEIGH E
11) GRAVES, BRANDON
12) HARRIS, SAM
13) HAUSLER, CHLOE
14) HICKMAN, SHAUNICE
15) HUNTER, KADINE
16) JONES, CHRISTINE J
17) KING, NIKITA SABRINA
18) MONK, BRIANNA N
19) KENNEDY, MICHAEL T
20) MACDONALD, ELIZABETH H
21) ROMINIYI, KRISTAL
22) SAMSELL, ALEXANDRA
23) SAPP, ASHLEY
24) SHAMBLE, DARIA
25) SMITH, ANDREW
26) SMITH, MIKE K
27) SPITLER, CAITLIN M
28) VEGA, BRIANNA
29) WIGGINS, CHANEL
30) WILLIAMS, KARLAA
-a brief description of your artifact
-information about what personally interests you in this artifact
-the significance of analyzing this artifact
-the method of criticism you will use to analyze the artifact and why
-any questions you might like to direct at the instructor or your peers
You may post a blog entry to your individual blog including these points (if relevant, including visuals, links, etc), and pull up your blog in class to use your post as talking points.
Presentations will be given in the order of last name:
1) BEDENBAUGH, JESSICA L
2) BORDEAUX, JONATHAN BLAKE
3) BROWN, COURTNEY
4) CAMPBELL, ELIZABETH MARY
5) CASEY, CAITLYN S
6) CLARK, CHRISTA M
7) CARLISLE, SHANE P
8) COPONITI, AMBER L
9) EPHRAIM, JORDAN
10) FISCHER, ASHLEIGH E
11) GRAVES, BRANDON
12) HARRIS, SAM
13) HAUSLER, CHLOE
14) HICKMAN, SHAUNICE
15) HUNTER, KADINE
16) JONES, CHRISTINE J
17) KING, NIKITA SABRINA
18) MONK, BRIANNA N
19) KENNEDY, MICHAEL T
20) MACDONALD, ELIZABETH H
21) ROMINIYI, KRISTAL
22) SAMSELL, ALEXANDRA
23) SAPP, ASHLEY
24) SHAMBLE, DARIA
25) SMITH, ANDREW
26) SMITH, MIKE K
27) SPITLER, CAITLIN M
28) VEGA, BRIANNA
29) WIGGINS, CHANEL
30) WILLIAMS, KARLAA
Blog Commentary Group Activity- due by the end of class period on Friday, February 19th
You will use the class time on February 19th to review and comment on your peers' blogs. First of all, make sure that the nickname you use on your blog includes your name and last name! We must be able to correctly identify who the comments were made by. Anonymous comments cannot be counted toward the final grade for the blog assignment, therefore will be considered missing. Also make sure that the comment feature on your blog is not disabled. Comments are due on your friends' blogs by 1:50 PM on Friday, Feb 19. So, start reviewing and posting to the blogs by our usual class time (1:00 PM) at the latest.
For this activity, find your group below, and go to each one of your group members' individual blogs (except yours, of course). In each blog, review the following three posts that your friends were to make in the last few weeks:
1-blog post on the identification of the five terms of pentad and the pentadic ratios in an artifact (post originally assigned for Feb 17)
2-blog post on the short essay on an ideological criticism of an artifact (post originally assigned for Feb 8)
3-blog post on the list of three artifacts to analyze through ideological criticism (post originally assigned for Feb 1)
After you have reviewed your group members' posts, make suggestions to each one of your member about his/her upcoming major essay (Essay #1 due by mid-March), by answering the following:
1) Among the artifacts your friend talked about on her/his blog posts, which artifact do you think they should consider analyzing in their Essay #1? Which artifact seems to be more significant to analyze? Why? Which method do you think your friend should use to analyze this artifact? As you make suggestions about these, consider and include your comments about which artifact might reveal a more fruitful application and, at the same time, can be manageable to write about in an essay of ~1000 words in the time frame for this essay.
2) Make suggestions on the steps that might help your friend during the writing process. You can share helpful information provided in the textbook or from other sources.
3) Post your comments that include your answers to the above to your friend's post that includes the artifact of your preference.
BLOG COMMENTARY GROUPS
Group 1:
1) BEDENBAUGH, JESSICA L: http://jessicab11.blogspot.com/
2) BORDEAUX, JONATHAN BLAKE: http://blakebordeaux.blogspot.com/
3) BROWN, COURTNEY: http://courtneybrown106.blogspot.com/
4) CAMPBELL, ELIZABETH MARY: http://ecamp010.blogspot.com/
Group 2:
1) CASEY, CAITLYN S: http://caitlyncasey.blogspot.com/
2) CLARK, CHRISTA M: http://christacomm335.blogspot.com/
3) CARLISLE, SHANE P: http://shanecarlisleodu.blogspot.com/
4) COPONITI, AMBER L: http://critizerhetoric.blogspot.com/
Group 3:
1) EPHRAIM, JORDAN: http://jordancriticism.blogspot.com/
2) FISCHER, ASHLEIGH E: http://ashleighfischerrhetorical.blogspot.com/
3) GRAVES, BRANDON: http://bgraves335.blogspot.com/
4) HARRIS, SAM: http://empoweringcriticism.blogspot.com/
Group 4:
1) HAUSLER, CHLOE: chloehausler.blogspot.com.
2) HICKMAN, SHAUNICE: http://americandreamin-shaunice.blogspot.com/
3) HUNTER, KADINE: http://huntress12.blogspot.com/
4) JONES, CHRISTINE J: http://mszj0nz.blogspot.com
Group 5:
1) NIKITA SABRINA: http://nikitadotcom.blogspot.com/
2) MONK, BRIANNA N: http://sacredconfessions.blogspot.com
3) KENNEDY, MICHAEL T: http://mtkrhetorsworld.blogspot.com/
4) ROMINIYI, KRISTAL: www.stylishthinking.blogspot.com
Group 6:
1) SAMSELL, ALEXANDRA: http://alexandrasamsell.blogspot.com/
2) SAPP, ASHLEY: http://ashleysappcomm335.blogspot.com/
3) SHAMBLE, DARIA: Http://DariaMarie28.blogspot.com
4) SMITH, ANDREW: http://drewsmith1109.blogspot.com/
Group 7:
1) SMITH, MIKE K: http://mikeballer247-realitytvfan.blogspot.com/
2) SPITLER, CAITLIN M: http://thecaitlin.blogspot.com/
3) VEGA, BRIANNA: http://thiswishdothoverflow.blogspot.com/
4) WIGGINS, CHANEL: http://chanel-danette.blogspot.com/
5) WILLIAMS, KARLAA: http://itsmekayvee.blogspot.com/
For this activity, find your group below, and go to each one of your group members' individual blogs (except yours, of course). In each blog, review the following three posts that your friends were to make in the last few weeks:
1-blog post on the identification of the five terms of pentad and the pentadic ratios in an artifact (post originally assigned for Feb 17)
2-blog post on the short essay on an ideological criticism of an artifact (post originally assigned for Feb 8)
3-blog post on the list of three artifacts to analyze through ideological criticism (post originally assigned for Feb 1)
After you have reviewed your group members' posts, make suggestions to each one of your member about his/her upcoming major essay (Essay #1 due by mid-March), by answering the following:
1) Among the artifacts your friend talked about on her/his blog posts, which artifact do you think they should consider analyzing in their Essay #1? Which artifact seems to be more significant to analyze? Why? Which method do you think your friend should use to analyze this artifact? As you make suggestions about these, consider and include your comments about which artifact might reveal a more fruitful application and, at the same time, can be manageable to write about in an essay of ~1000 words in the time frame for this essay.
2) Make suggestions on the steps that might help your friend during the writing process. You can share helpful information provided in the textbook or from other sources.
3) Post your comments that include your answers to the above to your friend's post that includes the artifact of your preference.
BLOG COMMENTARY GROUPS
Group 1:
1) BEDENBAUGH, JESSICA L: http://jessicab11.blogspot.com/
2) BORDEAUX, JONATHAN BLAKE: http://blakebordeaux.blogspot.com/
3) BROWN, COURTNEY: http://courtneybrown106.blogspot.com/
4) CAMPBELL, ELIZABETH MARY: http://ecamp010.blogspot.com/
Group 2:
1) CASEY, CAITLYN S: http://caitlyncasey.blogspot.com/
2) CLARK, CHRISTA M: http://christacomm335.blogspot.com/
3) CARLISLE, SHANE P: http://shanecarlisleodu.blogspot.com/
4) COPONITI, AMBER L: http://critizerhetoric.blogspot.com/
Group 3:
1) EPHRAIM, JORDAN: http://jordancriticism.blogspot.com/
2) FISCHER, ASHLEIGH E: http://ashleighfischerrhetorical.blogspot.com/
3) GRAVES, BRANDON: http://bgraves335.blogspot.com/
4) HARRIS, SAM: http://empoweringcriticism.blogspot.com/
Group 4:
1) HAUSLER, CHLOE: chloehausler.blogspot.com.
2) HICKMAN, SHAUNICE: http://americandreamin-shaunice.blogspot.com/
3) HUNTER, KADINE: http://huntress12.blogspot.com/
4) JONES, CHRISTINE J: http://mszj0nz.blogspot.com
Group 5:
1) NIKITA SABRINA: http://nikitadotcom.blogspot.com/
2) MONK, BRIANNA N: http://sacredconfessions.blogspot.com
3) KENNEDY, MICHAEL T: http://mtkrhetorsworld.blogspot.com/
4) ROMINIYI, KRISTAL: www.stylishthinking.blogspot.com
Group 6:
1) SAMSELL, ALEXANDRA: http://alexandrasamsell.blogspot.com/
2) SAPP, ASHLEY: http://ashleysappcomm335.blogspot.com/
3) SHAMBLE, DARIA: Http://DariaMarie28.blogspot.com
4) SMITH, ANDREW: http://drewsmith1109.blogspot.com/
Group 7:
1) SMITH, MIKE K: http://mikeballer247-realitytvfan.blogspot.com/
2) SPITLER, CAITLIN M: http://thecaitlin.blogspot.com/
3) VEGA, BRIANNA: http://thiswishdothoverflow.blogspot.com/
4) WIGGINS, CHANEL: http://chanel-danette.blogspot.com/
5) WILLIAMS, KARLAA: http://itsmekayvee.blogspot.com/
Friday, February 12, 2010
Blog Post Assignment due by class on Wed, Feb 17
For Wednesday, February 17th, identify an artifact you can analyze through pentadic criticism. Identify the five elements and the ratios in this artifact (see pages 357-364 in the textbook), and post your findings to your individual course blog by the class period.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Blog Post Assignment for Monday, Feb 8
Your blog post assignment for Monday, February 8th is to write a 3-5 paragraph short ideological analysis of one of your artifacts from last week. Based on our class and group discussions, if you have found that your artifacts may not generate the analysis you wish for, you may change your artifact-- if you do, your blog post should include a brief note in the beginning that identifies the change in your artifact and explains why you changed it.
To help you with writing your short analysis of your artifact, review the chapter on ideological analysis again, and follow the steps. Briefly:
*Describe your artifact (you will use this in your introduction)
*Look at observable aspects of the artifact that provide clues to its ideology (i.e., “traces of ideology”). Remember the forms we can find those traces: major arguments, types of evidence, images, particular terms, or metaphors. Note all the major features of your artifact down, and make a list of them.
Keep in mind that, as you do this, if you want to focus on identifying an ideology related specifically to a particular subject (e.g., environment, gender, or any other difference that is often denigrated- race, class, sexual orientation, religion), you are looking for an an ideology of X or the ideology around X. In that case, look at key presented elements related to the X.
*Then identify suggested elements-- ideas, references, themes, allusions, or concepts—- the meanings suggested by the elements that will serve as the basis for your artifact's ideological tenets (see p. 216).
*Transform your findings into an ideology, by grouping them and organizing them into a coherent framework around the major themes that have emerged in your artifact. (The presented elements in the artifact will be your support.) State the major themes in your thesis in one or few sentences (i.e., the core idea of the ideology).
*In 3-5 paragraphs, explain these themes briefly, with examples and support from your artifact.
To help you with writing your short analysis of your artifact, review the chapter on ideological analysis again, and follow the steps. Briefly:
*Describe your artifact (you will use this in your introduction)
*Look at observable aspects of the artifact that provide clues to its ideology (i.e., “traces of ideology”). Remember the forms we can find those traces: major arguments, types of evidence, images, particular terms, or metaphors. Note all the major features of your artifact down, and make a list of them.
Keep in mind that, as you do this, if you want to focus on identifying an ideology related specifically to a particular subject (e.g., environment, gender, or any other difference that is often denigrated- race, class, sexual orientation, religion), you are looking for an an ideology of X or the ideology around X. In that case, look at key presented elements related to the X.
*Then identify suggested elements-- ideas, references, themes, allusions, or concepts—- the meanings suggested by the elements that will serve as the basis for your artifact's ideological tenets (see p. 216).
*Transform your findings into an ideology, by grouping them and organizing them into a coherent framework around the major themes that have emerged in your artifact. (The presented elements in the artifact will be your support.) State the major themes in your thesis in one or few sentences (i.e., the core idea of the ideology).
*In 3-5 paragraphs, explain these themes briefly, with examples and support from your artifact.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Blog Post Assignment for Monday, Feb 1
Review pages 217-220 in the textbook again, and think about three artifacts related to your fields of study or your personal interests that you could analyze using the ideological method of criticism. Make a list of these three possible artifacts and explain for each artifact why you think it might be appropriate for ideological criticism, and post this to your blog. Use full sentences, such as:
“One artifact that I think I could analyze using the ideological method of criticism is … I think X (the first artifact) would be appropriate for ideological criticism, because…
Another artifact that I would be interested in analyzing using the ideological method of criticism is …”
Bring your artifact ideas to the next class on Feb 1st.
Tip: Check out the second model essay in the textbook to see a different sample of criticism. Also check out the list of citations for additional samples on pages 261-266.
“One artifact that I think I could analyze using the ideological method of criticism is … I think X (the first artifact) would be appropriate for ideological criticism, because…
Another artifact that I would be interested in analyzing using the ideological method of criticism is …”
Bring your artifact ideas to the next class on Feb 1st.
Tip: Check out the second model essay in the textbook to see a different sample of criticism. Also check out the list of citations for additional samples on pages 261-266.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Blog Post Assignment for Mon, Jan 25
As you read the chapter on ideological criticism in the course textbook, please answer the following questions in a blog entry, and post it to your individual course blogs.
Chapter 8: Ideological Criticism
1) What is an ideology?
2) What are the primary components of an ideology?
Chapter 8: Ideological Criticism
1) What is an ideology?
2) What are the primary components of an ideology?
Friday, January 15, 2010
Blog Post Assignment (due by class on Wed, January 20th)
Hello, everyone:
Please read the chapter on Neo-Aristotelian criticism in the course textbook (including the two sample essays of criticism), answer the following questions in a blog entry, and post it to your individual course blogs.
1) How does the textbook define "neo-Aristotelian criticism"?
2) What are the three basic steps in analyzing the artifact?
3) What are the five canons of rhetoric?
Please read the chapter on Neo-Aristotelian criticism in the course textbook (including the two sample essays of criticism), answer the following questions in a blog entry, and post it to your individual course blogs.
1) How does the textbook define "neo-Aristotelian criticism"?
2) What are the three basic steps in analyzing the artifact?
3) What are the five canons of rhetoric?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Syllabus
COMM 335W (CRN 25378)/ENGL 395 (CRN 27585): RHETORICAL CRITICISM
MWF @ 1:00-1:50 P.M. in BAL 2070
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
Rhetoric is defined by Aristotle as the use of all of the available means of persuasion. Rhetorical criticism is: 1) a systematic analysis of those tools as they are used by a rhetor, 2) the examination of how those tools help to convey meaning, and 3) an examination of the effects, as far as they can be determined, of the rhetorical artifact under consideration. In Sonja Foss’s words, “developing skills in critical analysis enables us to understand the nature of the worlds we create and in which we participate through symbols so that we can make more conscious choices about these worlds.” To this end, this course will allow you to study various methods of rhetorical criticism and use them to examine examples of rhetoric, which may include the genres of oral and written speeches, film, mediated communication, and popular novels and plays. Class sessions might include discussions, lectures, group activities, and one-on-one conferences.
REQUIRED TEXT:
•Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice by Sonja Foss. Waveland Press, 4th Edition, 2009.
•Readings posted on Blackboard.
OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS:
•A folder with lots of blank paper or a notebook for class notes and in-class work
•MIDAS ID for Student E-mail, Blackboard & campus computer network: It is a university policy for students to activate and use their ODU e-mail accounts for communication with the instructor. Make sure to have either personal or on-campus access to the Internet for the individual course blog project and other course communications! And check your ODU Student E-mail and Blackboard every day!
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES:
•Individual course blog 25%
•2 Essays 50% (25% each)
•In class presentations on selected artifacts 10%
•Class discussion/presentations/exercises 15%
GRADING SCALE:
100-93 = A
92-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-84 = B
83-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-74 = C
73-70 = C-
69-67 = D+
66-64 = D
60-63 = D-
59 & below = F
COURSE POLICIES:
Writing Assignments: COMM 335 is a writing-intensive course that requires students to show upper-level writing skills. Thus, you are required to complete three writing assignments in this course, which are worth a total of 75% of your overall grade: an individual course blog and two essays of criticism. The first writing assignment is an individual course blog that will serve as your journal for this class, in which you will make entries in response to the instructor’s writing prompts every other week (~7-8 posts). You will be able to earn extra credits for additional quality posts. You will be provided with instructions about how to create these blogs during class.
The second and third writing assignments are structured essays in which you will analyze artifacts of your choice using the methods of criticism covered in class. Each essay will be about 750-1000 words (approximately 5 double-spaced pages in MS Word). You will be provided with more details and a grading rubric for these essays during the semester. Overall, you will be expected to build an organized case through the use of arguments and supporting examples drawn from your artifact to explain the nature of the message and to judge the effectiveness of that message. You are encouraged to select different kinds of artifacts to analyze (e.g., political campaigns, public addresses, works of art, songs, poems, films, music, advertisements, architecture, fashion, interior design, etc) to practice with different kinds of symbolic experiences. You may also choose to write both essays on the same artifact to explore the different kinds of conclusions that various methods produce. You will be able to find sample essays both in the course textbook and on Blackboard.
Writing Style: The essays of criticism will be graded both for content (argument, support, organization, etc) and form (grammar, punctuation, spelling, and general appearance). Therefore, you are expected to write fluently and in mechanically correct sentences. Mistakes in grammar, spelling, sentence structure and organization will lower your grade.
Essay Format: All papers should be typed in an appropriate font (e.g. Times New Roman in 12 pts), with 1-inch margins on all sides. Put your name, Instructor’s name, course information and date on the first page. Use headers to put your last name and page number on each page. All pages must be stapled. Sources should be cited according to APA, MLA or Turabian formats.
If you need additional help with your writing at any stage of an assignment, you may consult Writing Tutorial Services in BAL 1002. WTS offers free help, but appointments are required— make your appointments well before the essays are due, since spaces can fill up quickly! You may contact WTS at 683-4013 or http://web.odu.edu/AL/wts/wts.htm.
Essay Submission: The due dates for the essays are marked on the schedule at the end of the syllabus. A hard copy of each essay is due at the beginning of class time, and an electronic copy is due in instructor’s email: eguler@odu.edu
Late Policy: You are expected to complete all your assignments by the deadline. Late papers without any excuse will loose 10 points off the top for each day the essay is late. For example, if you submit your paper one day later than the deadline, a paper that might have received 100 points will receive 90 points. If you have an emergency situation, please contact the instructor before an assignment is due.
Attendance & Participation: A great deal of the course will be given to activities requiring student interaction. Therefore, you must attend and actively participate in all scheduled class sessions having done the readings and assignments. You can be absent in three classes during the semester and can still receive an A from this course (given then all the other conditions are met). Students with more than three absences will lose 10 points of their participation grade. More than six absences will result failing the course. Attendance and participation includes arriving in class on time and getting seated and being ready to work when the class period begins and operating by the college classroom conduct standards.
College Classroom Conduct: This class will operate by the college classroom conduct standards set by The Office of Student Judicial Affairs (see http://studentservices.odu.edu/osja/ccc_pamphlet.pdf). Violations will be noted, and with or without notification of the student, will be reflected on his/her overall grade at the end of the semester. Classroom conduct violations include the following:
*Use of cell phones and any other communicative device during class.
*Sleeping and inattentiveness during class.
*Engaging in extraneous conversations and activities during class.
*Consumption of food and drink during class, except when the instructor specifically approves it.
*Offensive language, gestures and the like behavior that is disruptive to the teaching-learning process.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work – in whole or in part and with or without the author’s consent – as one’s own; it includes the verbal or written submission of another work (e.g., ideas, wording or graphics) without crediting that source. These sources include all electronic media (e.g., the Internet, television, video, film), all print and written sources (e.g., books, periodicals, government publications, promotional materials, or someone else’s academic assignments), and all verbal sources (e.g., conversations). Facilitation of plagiarism (one student’s sharing his/her work with other students) is also considered an act of plagiarism. Writers who use the words or ideas of others are obligated to give credit through proper acknowledgment and documentation. Plagiarism is a violation of the Old Dominion University Honor Code that results in course failure and leads to legal measures as stated by Student Disciplinary Policies and Procedures under the Student Code of Conduct.
Honor System: You are responsible for obtaining a copy of the Student Handbook and informing yourself about student conduct regulations. You may visit the Honor Council office in Webb Center, Room 2129 or at http://www.odu.edu/AO/student_serv/hc/.
Special Needs: If you have special needs (because of a documented disability) or emergency medical information to share, please feel free to notify me so we may discuss the accommodation process.
Course Evaluations: At the end of the semester, you will receive an email about course evaluations. Please follow the link and complete the online evaluation form. You must log in using your university MIDAS account and password.
Drop Policy: A course syllabus constitutes a contract between the student and the course instructor. Participation in this course indicates your acceptance of its content, requirements and policies. Please review the syllabus and the course requirements carefully. If you believe that the nature of this course does not meet your interests, needs or expectations (amount of work involved, class meetings, assignment deadlines, course policies, etc.), you should drop the class by the drop/add deadline, given in the ODU Schedule of Classes: [http://www.odu.edu/ao/registrar/calendars/academic]
Inclement weather policy: If classes are cancelled because of inclement weather or some other emergency, continue with the reading and the written assignments. All assignments that were due while we were out will be due on the day that we return to class. No excuses will be given for missed classes.
MWF @ 1:00-1:50 P.M. in BAL 2070
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
Rhetoric is defined by Aristotle as the use of all of the available means of persuasion. Rhetorical criticism is: 1) a systematic analysis of those tools as they are used by a rhetor, 2) the examination of how those tools help to convey meaning, and 3) an examination of the effects, as far as they can be determined, of the rhetorical artifact under consideration. In Sonja Foss’s words, “developing skills in critical analysis enables us to understand the nature of the worlds we create and in which we participate through symbols so that we can make more conscious choices about these worlds.” To this end, this course will allow you to study various methods of rhetorical criticism and use them to examine examples of rhetoric, which may include the genres of oral and written speeches, film, mediated communication, and popular novels and plays. Class sessions might include discussions, lectures, group activities, and one-on-one conferences.
REQUIRED TEXT:
•Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice by Sonja Foss. Waveland Press, 4th Edition, 2009.
•Readings posted on Blackboard.
OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS:
•A folder with lots of blank paper or a notebook for class notes and in-class work
•MIDAS ID for Student E-mail, Blackboard & campus computer network: It is a university policy for students to activate and use their ODU e-mail accounts for communication with the instructor. Make sure to have either personal or on-campus access to the Internet for the individual course blog project and other course communications! And check your ODU Student E-mail and Blackboard every day!
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES:
•Individual course blog 25%
•2 Essays 50% (25% each)
•In class presentations on selected artifacts 10%
•Class discussion/presentations/exercises 15%
GRADING SCALE:
100-93 = A
92-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-84 = B
83-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-74 = C
73-70 = C-
69-67 = D+
66-64 = D
60-63 = D-
59 & below = F
COURSE POLICIES:
Writing Assignments: COMM 335 is a writing-intensive course that requires students to show upper-level writing skills. Thus, you are required to complete three writing assignments in this course, which are worth a total of 75% of your overall grade: an individual course blog and two essays of criticism. The first writing assignment is an individual course blog that will serve as your journal for this class, in which you will make entries in response to the instructor’s writing prompts every other week (~7-8 posts). You will be able to earn extra credits for additional quality posts. You will be provided with instructions about how to create these blogs during class.
The second and third writing assignments are structured essays in which you will analyze artifacts of your choice using the methods of criticism covered in class. Each essay will be about 750-1000 words (approximately 5 double-spaced pages in MS Word). You will be provided with more details and a grading rubric for these essays during the semester. Overall, you will be expected to build an organized case through the use of arguments and supporting examples drawn from your artifact to explain the nature of the message and to judge the effectiveness of that message. You are encouraged to select different kinds of artifacts to analyze (e.g., political campaigns, public addresses, works of art, songs, poems, films, music, advertisements, architecture, fashion, interior design, etc) to practice with different kinds of symbolic experiences. You may also choose to write both essays on the same artifact to explore the different kinds of conclusions that various methods produce. You will be able to find sample essays both in the course textbook and on Blackboard.
Writing Style: The essays of criticism will be graded both for content (argument, support, organization, etc) and form (grammar, punctuation, spelling, and general appearance). Therefore, you are expected to write fluently and in mechanically correct sentences. Mistakes in grammar, spelling, sentence structure and organization will lower your grade.
Essay Format: All papers should be typed in an appropriate font (e.g. Times New Roman in 12 pts), with 1-inch margins on all sides. Put your name, Instructor’s name, course information and date on the first page. Use headers to put your last name and page number on each page. All pages must be stapled. Sources should be cited according to APA, MLA or Turabian formats.
If you need additional help with your writing at any stage of an assignment, you may consult Writing Tutorial Services in BAL 1002. WTS offers free help, but appointments are required— make your appointments well before the essays are due, since spaces can fill up quickly! You may contact WTS at 683-4013 or http://web.odu.edu/AL/wts/wts.htm.
Essay Submission: The due dates for the essays are marked on the schedule at the end of the syllabus. A hard copy of each essay is due at the beginning of class time, and an electronic copy is due in instructor’s email: eguler@odu.edu
Late Policy: You are expected to complete all your assignments by the deadline. Late papers without any excuse will loose 10 points off the top for each day the essay is late. For example, if you submit your paper one day later than the deadline, a paper that might have received 100 points will receive 90 points. If you have an emergency situation, please contact the instructor before an assignment is due.
Attendance & Participation: A great deal of the course will be given to activities requiring student interaction. Therefore, you must attend and actively participate in all scheduled class sessions having done the readings and assignments. You can be absent in three classes during the semester and can still receive an A from this course (given then all the other conditions are met). Students with more than three absences will lose 10 points of their participation grade. More than six absences will result failing the course. Attendance and participation includes arriving in class on time and getting seated and being ready to work when the class period begins and operating by the college classroom conduct standards.
College Classroom Conduct: This class will operate by the college classroom conduct standards set by The Office of Student Judicial Affairs (see http://studentservices.odu.edu/osja/ccc_pamphlet.pdf). Violations will be noted, and with or without notification of the student, will be reflected on his/her overall grade at the end of the semester. Classroom conduct violations include the following:
*Use of cell phones and any other communicative device during class.
*Sleeping and inattentiveness during class.
*Engaging in extraneous conversations and activities during class.
*Consumption of food and drink during class, except when the instructor specifically approves it.
*Offensive language, gestures and the like behavior that is disruptive to the teaching-learning process.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work – in whole or in part and with or without the author’s consent – as one’s own; it includes the verbal or written submission of another work (e.g., ideas, wording or graphics) without crediting that source. These sources include all electronic media (e.g., the Internet, television, video, film), all print and written sources (e.g., books, periodicals, government publications, promotional materials, or someone else’s academic assignments), and all verbal sources (e.g., conversations). Facilitation of plagiarism (one student’s sharing his/her work with other students) is also considered an act of plagiarism. Writers who use the words or ideas of others are obligated to give credit through proper acknowledgment and documentation. Plagiarism is a violation of the Old Dominion University Honor Code that results in course failure and leads to legal measures as stated by Student Disciplinary Policies and Procedures under the Student Code of Conduct.
Honor System: You are responsible for obtaining a copy of the Student Handbook and informing yourself about student conduct regulations. You may visit the Honor Council office in Webb Center, Room 2129 or at http://www.odu.edu/AO/student_serv/hc/.
Special Needs: If you have special needs (because of a documented disability) or emergency medical information to share, please feel free to notify me so we may discuss the accommodation process.
Course Evaluations: At the end of the semester, you will receive an email about course evaluations. Please follow the link and complete the online evaluation form. You must log in using your university MIDAS account and password.
Drop Policy: A course syllabus constitutes a contract between the student and the course instructor. Participation in this course indicates your acceptance of its content, requirements and policies. Please review the syllabus and the course requirements carefully. If you believe that the nature of this course does not meet your interests, needs or expectations (amount of work involved, class meetings, assignment deadlines, course policies, etc.), you should drop the class by the drop/add deadline, given in the ODU Schedule of Classes: [http://www.odu.edu/ao/registrar/calendars/academic]
Inclement weather policy: If classes are cancelled because of inclement weather or some other emergency, continue with the reading and the written assignments. All assignments that were due while we were out will be due on the day that we return to class. No excuses will be given for missed classes.
Schedule
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
*The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule as necessary. Students will be notified of any changes in class or via email. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of these notifications.
*Unless stated otherwise, you should complete reading the chapters (including model essays) and other assigned material by the dates they are listed on syllabus and come to class ready to discuss the material.
*The instructor will assign additional reading materials as necessary which will be posted to Blackboard during the semester. In addition to the reading assignments, there will be in-class exercises and presentations, some of which will be assigned in advance and some of which will be impromptu.
Week 1 Monday (01/11): Introductions. Syllabus review.
Wednesday (01/13): Introduction to rhetorical criticism
Friday (01/15): Chapters 1-2. Group work on artifacts or other activities.
Week 2 Monday (01/18): No class-Martin Luther King Day
Wednesday (01/20): Chapter 3. Neo-Aristotelian Criticism. Introduction to method. Discussion.
Friday (01/22): Chapter 3. Neo-Aristotelian Criticism. Group work on artifacts.
Week 3 Monday (01/25): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism. Introduction to method.
Wednesday (01/27): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism. Discussion and exercises.
Friday (01/29): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism. Group work on artifacts.
Week 4 Monday-Friday (02/01-02/05): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism.
Week 5 Monday-Friday (02/08)- (02/12): Chapter 10. Pentadic Criticism.
Week 6 Monday-Friday (02/15-02/19): Chapter 10. Pentadic Criticism. *Read the sample pentadic analysis on Blackboard. *For next week (02/22-02/26), choose an artifact and develop a potential research question. Starting Monday, everyone will give a brief (2-3 minute) in class presentation in which s/he will explain the significance of the artifact and the value of analyzing it rhetorically.
Week 7 Monday-Friday (02/22-02/26): Presentations on selected artifacts.
Week 8 Monday-Friday (03/01-03/05): Chapter 4. Cluster Criticism.
Week 9 Monday-Friday (03/08-03/13): No classes -- Spring Holiday
Week 10 Monday-Friday (03/15-03/19): Chapter 8. Metaphor Criticism. Essay #1 DUE on 03/15.
Week 11 Monday (03/22): Chapter 8. Metaphor Criticism.
Wednesday (03/24)-Friday (03/26): No classes – *Attend one of the movies at The 2010 OnFilm Festival from March 24-27 and complete the related assignment— Due on your blog by 03/29.
Week 12 Monday-Friday (03/29-04/02): Chapter 5. Fantasy-Theme Criticism.
Week 13 Monday-Friday (04/05-04/09): Chapter 5. Fantasy-Theme Criticism.
Week 14 Monday-Friday (04/12-04/16): Chapter 6. Generic Criticism.
Week 15 Monday-Friday (04/19-04/23): Chapter 6. Generic Criticism.
Week 16 Monday (04/26): Last day of our class. Essay #2 DUE.
*The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule as necessary. Students will be notified of any changes in class or via email. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of these notifications.
*Unless stated otherwise, you should complete reading the chapters (including model essays) and other assigned material by the dates they are listed on syllabus and come to class ready to discuss the material.
*The instructor will assign additional reading materials as necessary which will be posted to Blackboard during the semester. In addition to the reading assignments, there will be in-class exercises and presentations, some of which will be assigned in advance and some of which will be impromptu.
Week 1 Monday (01/11): Introductions. Syllabus review.
Wednesday (01/13): Introduction to rhetorical criticism
Friday (01/15): Chapters 1-2. Group work on artifacts or other activities.
Week 2 Monday (01/18): No class-Martin Luther King Day
Wednesday (01/20): Chapter 3. Neo-Aristotelian Criticism. Introduction to method. Discussion.
Friday (01/22): Chapter 3. Neo-Aristotelian Criticism. Group work on artifacts.
Week 3 Monday (01/25): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism. Introduction to method.
Wednesday (01/27): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism. Discussion and exercises.
Friday (01/29): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism. Group work on artifacts.
Week 4 Monday-Friday (02/01-02/05): Chapter 7. Ideological Criticism.
Week 5 Monday-Friday (02/08)- (02/12): Chapter 10. Pentadic Criticism.
Week 6 Monday-Friday (02/15-02/19): Chapter 10. Pentadic Criticism. *Read the sample pentadic analysis on Blackboard. *For next week (02/22-02/26), choose an artifact and develop a potential research question. Starting Monday, everyone will give a brief (2-3 minute) in class presentation in which s/he will explain the significance of the artifact and the value of analyzing it rhetorically.
Week 7 Monday-Friday (02/22-02/26): Presentations on selected artifacts.
Week 8 Monday-Friday (03/01-03/05): Chapter 4. Cluster Criticism.
Week 9 Monday-Friday (03/08-03/13): No classes -- Spring Holiday
Week 10 Monday-Friday (03/15-03/19): Chapter 8. Metaphor Criticism. Essay #1 DUE on 03/15.
Week 11 Monday (03/22): Chapter 8. Metaphor Criticism.
Wednesday (03/24)-Friday (03/26): No classes – *Attend one of the movies at The 2010 OnFilm Festival from March 24-27 and complete the related assignment— Due on your blog by 03/29.
Week 12 Monday-Friday (03/29-04/02): Chapter 5. Fantasy-Theme Criticism.
Week 13 Monday-Friday (04/05-04/09): Chapter 5. Fantasy-Theme Criticism.
Week 14 Monday-Friday (04/12-04/16): Chapter 6. Generic Criticism.
Week 15 Monday-Friday (04/19-04/23): Chapter 6. Generic Criticism.
Week 16 Monday (04/26): Last day of our class. Essay #2 DUE.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Welcome to COMM335/ENGL395 Course Blog!
Dear students of COMM335/ENGL397 (Rhetorical Criticism):
Welcome to our course blog! This blog will serve as a medium for us to communicate about our course which will allow you to study the methods of rhetorical criticism and use them to examine various examples of rhetoric that may include the genres of oral and written speeches, film, mediated communication, and popular novels and plays. Looking forward to working with you this semester-- have a great one!
Welcome to our course blog! This blog will serve as a medium for us to communicate about our course which will allow you to study the methods of rhetorical criticism and use them to examine various examples of rhetoric that may include the genres of oral and written speeches, film, mediated communication, and popular novels and plays. Looking forward to working with you this semester-- have a great one!
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