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[Rhetorics, Places, Publics]
ENG 444-003 :: Fall 2009 T/TH 5:00-6:15 :: AT 208
Instructor: Dr. Brian J. McNelyOffice:RB 2111Telephone:285-8682e-mail: bjmcnely@bsu.eduOffice Hours:T/TH 12:30-2:00 and 4:00-5:00
[Course Description]
The purpose of a senior seminar is twofold: it allows students to explore at length and in depth topicsnot covered in their earlier English courses and to use and apply skills developed over the course of their studies. This course is intended to be a capstone to your experiences as an English major—aconcluding achievement. As such, each senior seminar asks students to initiate and complete asustained research project befitting the theme or topic of the course, congruent with the student'sresearch interests.In this course, we will examine the role that language plays in our lives, organizations, and publicspaces—from our ways of acquiring and expressing knowledge to the ways that we perceive the world,ourselves, and others. More specifically, we will examine the role of rhetoric in the construction of  place and space, seeing the built environment, virtual spaces, and fictional places as complex,distributed, and polycontextual constructs initiated and sustained
in discourse
. In the process of studying rhetorics and places, we will work together to explore the notion of publics—where rhetoricsand places intersect, develop, and change. The first half of the course takes a broad theoreticalapproach, introducing influential readings from researchers in Rhetoric, Writing Studies, Geography,and Urban Planning. The second half of the course continues to explore and apply these theories to public writing projects.The culmination of the course will be reflected in two separate deliverables: first, a coordinated, public,multi-contributor digital space which reflects aggregated perspectives on rhetorics, places, and publics.Second, a student-initiated and student-directed research project which combines student interests withthe ideas, perspectives, and/or methods of the course.
[Course Objectives]
 Students will…
~Investigate and implement theories of language, rhetoric, analysis, and design~Investigate and implement theories of place, space, and urban design~Explore and practice methods of rhetorical thinking and metacognition~Explore and practice methods of public communication and information delivery~Explore and practice writing as a way of thinking, knowing, and being, using their writing to negotiate their world
 
~Synthesize and extend their grasp of knowledge, abilities, and skills developed over the courseof their studies
[Key Terms and Phrases]
Rhetoric—Discourse/Discursive—Metacognitive—Distributed Work—Epistemology—Ontology— Agency—Invention—Interstitial—Rhetorical Dispositions—Polycontextual—Liminal—Aggregation —Inquiry—Design—Power—Image—Subjectivity—Space—Place—Publics—Mapping
[Course Policies]
Sources
Selected academic journal articles, blog posts, images, and videosGoogle Reader 
The Image of the City
. Kevin Lynch. MIT Press, 1960.
 Architecture of the Everyday.
Steven Harris and Deborah Berke, Eds. Princeton Architectural Press,1997.
The Geography of Nowhere.
James Howard Kunstler. Touchstone, 1993.
 Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software
. Steven Johnson. Scribner,2001.
The Look of Architecture
. Witold Rybczynski. Oxford University Press, 2001.
Storage, Tagging, and Backup
This course depends heavily on computer-mediated writing and analysis, and much of the work youwill do this semester will involve interface with technology. Therefore, it is important that you takeresponsibility for your writing and production, including the storage and backup of digital work. Thiscourse will require the consistent use of one or more of the following storage devices:~USB Drive~BSUiLocker ~Dropbox, drop.io,Google Docs, or other 3
rd
party online storage
Grading Policy
Assignments are graded according to criteria distributed through Blackboard. A tentative coursegrading schedule follows, but is subject to adjustment.
Course Assessment and Calculation of Final Grade
Participation~In Class and Online~Reading Responses (5)~Exploring Places and Publics (5) 150
 
Mid-Term Examination 200Spatial Literacy Narrative 150Oral/Visual Presentation of Research Project 100Research Project:~Proposal 50~Project Deliverables200~Project Assessment Memo 150 (400 total)Course Total:
1,000Grading Scale
~950 – 1,000A~900 – 949A-~860 – 899B+~830 – 859B~800 – 829B-~760 – 799C+~730 – 759C~700 – 729C-
Attendance, Withdrawals, and Incompletes
~Regular attendance is essential to success in the course, as we may begin or complete severalassignments in class~Missing more than 3 classes—for any reason—will lower your final course grade by one stepfor each missed class beyond the limit (i.e., 4 absences will result in a reduction of a B+to a B)~If you miss more than 6 classes—for any reason—you will not pass the course~Please arrive on time for class, be prepared to work, and respect others~Please notify me ahead of time about absences for official University business or for religious holidays~Please see the University Catalog for more information on Withdrawals and Incompletes~Late work 
:
If you miss a deadline for any reason, you may still choose to submit your work, but you will be docked one letter grade for each
day
(not class period) that passes beyond the deadline. I reserve the right to revoke this policy if it is abused (i.e.,widespread or regular submission of late work)
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Proper citation is a hallmark of good scholarship. Plagiarism is using information or original wordingin a paper without giving credit to the source of that information or wording: it is not acceptable. Donot submit work under your name that you did not do yourself. You may not submit work for this classthat you did for another class. If you are found to be academically dishonest, you will be subject todisciplinary action, per BSU policy.Please refer tohttp://www.bsu.edu/library/article/0,1894,95111-6558-14705,00.html for further  information on plagiarism.
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