Rhetoric 1302 - Section 001

Spring 2006

Mrs. Dorley Abele

University of Texas at Dallas
School of Arts & Humanities

MONDAYS-WEDNESDAYS-FRIDAYS 9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

CLASS ROOM: JO 4.306

Office Hours: Wednesdays 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Office hours also by Appointment
Office JO 4.118

Office Phone: 972-883-2018

Email: bcd013000@utdallas.edu

UTD Rhetoric Website: http://lingua.utdallas.edu/rhetoric

Contains links to course syllabus, reference and research resources, LRO, and Lingua Moo

Learning Record Online (LRO): http://lro.cwrl.utexas.edu

Course Description

This course focuses on critical thinking by using an integrated approach to writing that
teaches various rhetorical strategies for reading and constructing arguments, both written and
visual. You will learn to read texts critically according to key components in argumentative
discourse (i.e., claims, grounds, explicit and implicit assumptions, fallacies, etc.) and to
recognize the different purposes of argument. You will write and revise three to four papers
based on issues and controversies raised in the various texts read during the semester. The
assignments will give you extensive practice in reading critically and writing according to the
rhetorical conventions of an argumentative essay.

Learning Record Online

Student work will be collected in an electronic portfolio called the “Learning Record Online”
(LRO) throughout the semester. Use of online technology will enhance the level of feedback
you receive, as well as give you experience in the kinds of collaborative work that many
organizations use routinely. Online interaction and argumentative writing will comprise a
large part of the evaluation in the course. Other assignments will include interviews,
observations, and notes, all of which will be entered into your LRO. The LRO portfolio is
your most important argument in the course as it shows the sum evidence of your learning,
including your own observations and analysis of your learning. You will belong to a “work
group” for various collaborative activities (i.e., discussion of readings, peer critiques), and
you will participate in mid-term and semester-end moderation readings of your LRO

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portfolio for feedback from your peers. Learning to read critically and write responsively
entails mastery of a process. Therefore, your work will undergo extensive revisions in
response to peer readings and collaboration as well as conferencing with your professor.

Required Texts & Supplies

Everything’s an Argument With Readings by Lunsford, Ruszkiewicz, and Walters, 3rd ed.
Quick Access Reference for Writers by Lynn Troyka, 4th ed.
ARGUMENT: A Prentice Hall Pocket Reader by Desmet, Houff Speak and Church Miller

Bring a floppy disk (PC-formatted if you use a PC, Mac-formatted if you use a Mac) to
class daily. The Rhetoric classroom uses Macintosh computers that can read either format.
Most documents will be produced in Microsoft Word. Whether you use MS Word outside of
the classroom or not, it is best to save your files as rich text format (RTF) to insure
compatibility between the word processing program you use and the one in your classroom.

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is required. Your grade may be lowered down to a letter grade of F (Fail)
for poor attendance. This is University Policy. You are permitted three [3] absences only. If
you miss more than three classes, your grade will be negatively affected. You may be
encouraged to drop the class with more than three [3] absences. Participation is vital to
successful completion of Rhetoric 1302. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get
assignments, class notes and course changes from fellow classmates. The professor reserves
the right to change the course syllabus as deemed necessary. Class work such as quizzes,
group presentation and collaboration, class discussion, daily observation into LRO cannot be
made up. Attend every class! Much of the work is done collaboratively in class.
Alternative assignments will not be given for absences. The professor will not “re-teach”
missed classes for individual students. Two instances of tardiness will count as one
absence. Chronic tardiness will receive the same penalty as three [3] or more absences.
Coming to class unprepared, doing work that is not for this course during class, sleeping in
class, or using the computers or other personal electronic devices for personal messaging,
research, or entertainment is unacceptable. Turn off cellular or mobile phones, pagers, and
other personal electronic devices during class.

Drop Policy

See here for details on deadlines and procedures for dropping:

http://www.utdallas.edu/student/class/current/newpolicywpwf.htm

The last day to withdraw from any academic course at UTD without a letter grade of WP or
WF is January 25, 2006

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Office Hours

Please note the professor’s office hours listed above. You can also schedule appointments to
meet with the professor at times other than the professor’s listed office hours. Office hours
are yours! Take advantage of them. Do not hesitate to benefit from your professor’s
accessibility and availability to be of assistance to your academic development. It is best to
contact the professor by email rather than the office phone.

Email Policy

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO UTD STUDENTS: As of August 1, 2004, all email

correspondence with students will be sent ONLY to the student's U.T. Dallas email address.
U.T. Dallas provides each student with a free email account that is to be used in all
communication with university personnel. This allows the university to maintain a high
degree of confidence in the identity of all individuals corresponding and the security of the
transmitted information. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a
method for students to forward email from other accounts to their U.T. Dallas address and
have their U.T. Dallas mail sent on to other accounts. Students may go to the following URL
to establish or maintain their official U.T. Dallas computer account: http://netid.utdallas.edu/

Grading Policy

This course offers you an approach to learning that may be different from your past
experiences because the course is concerned with your development as a critical reader and
writer. The grading strategy will track and monitor that development. Your work will be
collected in an electronic portfolio called the Learning Record Online (LRO). Your
assignments will not receive individual grades but will receive individual attention from your
classmates and professor. Your mid-term and final grades will be based on your portfolio of
written observations and assigned coursework, including collaborative work and your three
major essays, as well as completion of each component of your LRO. In the final step to
completing your LRO, you will argue for your grade by summarizing your learning and
estimating the grade that the evidence of your learning supports. In other words, you will
directly apply what you learn in this course, argumentative writing, by arguing for your own
grade. However, each component of the LRO is vital to a quality body of work. Your
attendance, participation, promptness, level of writing, effective arguments, creativity,
collaboration, sound rhetorical skills, competent use of technology will contribute to an
outstanding portfolio.

Your goal is to demonstrate your development toward mastery of five course strands
(rhetoric, research, technology, collaboration, and critical thinking) and development across
five dimensions of learning (confidence and independence, skills and strategies, knowledge
and understanding, use of prior and emerging experience, and reflective-ness). These goals
will be discussed throughout the course. Keep in mind that although we do give plus [+] and
minus [–] grades at UTD, the general criteria for grading your Learning Record Online
(LRO) is still based on the A-F grading scale.

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The following grading criteria describe very general indicators that both you and your
professor may take into consideration when assessing your work and progress in the
course. Your estimation of your mid-term and final grades should be more detailed and
specific and may include a plus [+] or minus [–] if your work tilts above or below the
central grade for which you argue.

A: Represents outstanding participation in all course activities (including attendance and

promptness); all assigned work completed on time, with very high quality in all work
produced for the course. Evidence of significant and sustained development across the
five dimensions of learning and five course strands.

B: Represents excellent participation in all course activities (including attendance and

promptness); all assigned work completed on time, with consistently high quality in
course work. Evidence of marked and above average development across the five
dimensions of learning and five course strands.

C: Represents good (but average) participation in all course activities; all assigned work
completed, with generally good quality overall in course work. Evidence of some
development across the five dimensions of learning and five course strands.

D: Represents uneven participation in course activities; some gaps in assigned work

completed, with inconsistent quality in course work. Evidence of development across the
five dimensions of learning and five course strands is partial or unclear.

F: Represents minimal participation in course activities; serious gaps in assigned work

completed, or very low quality in course work. Evidence of development is not available.

UTD GRADING SCALE

Visit the website below for the university’s grading scale

(http://www.utdallas.edu/student/catalog/undergrad02/progress.html#Grading%20Scale)

Disability

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If you suffer form a disability that will interfere with your progress and or success in this
course please notify your Professor at the beginning of the Course so as to properly address
your individual situation. There are Centers and Facilities on the University of Texas at
Dallas campus to properly handle such matters. Please do not wait until your academic
progress is adversely affected before alerting the proper authorities of your individual
situation as this may not improve or alter the adverse situation. Communication is the key.
Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work as your own, whether you mean to
or not. For example, copying or paraphrasing passages from another writer’s work without
acknowledging that you’ve done so is plagiarism. Allowing another writer to write any part
of your essay is plagiarism. Copying or purchasing a paper from any source is plagiarism.

Plagiarism is a serious offense. The possible consequences range from failing the assignment
to failing the course, or possible expulsion from the university. Each incident of plagiarism at
The University of Texas at Dallas is reported to the university’s administration. If you are not
sure how to properly cite a quote or paraphrase a source, make an appointment with your for
clarification.

If you need help with the format of a citation, check with the New Century Handbook or visit
the Penn State University website for more understanding on plagiarism.
[www.courses.psu.edu/engl] on the Index page select [engl_cjg6] once there, click on
University Plagiarism Policy.

Although you can seek help and advice from friends, classmates, tutors, and others, always
make sure that your written work is your own.
Consult the Undergraduate Catalog for information about the consequences of Scholastic
Dishonesty, or view the policy here (which is also a link on the Rhetoric Program website) at

http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html.

Below are basic definitions and examples of plagiarism extracted from the
Penn State University’s website list above.

“Plagiarize
Verb transitive:
1. To use and pass off as one’s own (the ideas or writings of another).
2. To appropriate for use as one’s own passages or ideas from (another)

Verb intransitive:

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1. To put forth as original to oneself the ideas or words of another.
(from The American Heritage Dictionary)

Plagiarism can range from submitting someone’s work as your own to using long pieces of
text or unique phrasings without acknowledging the original source. Plagiarism could also
include submitting someone else’s program or spreadsheet with minor alterations.”

Major Assignments

First Essay: An essay that presents a Definition or Evaluation Argument using the
principles and criteria in Everything’s an Argument with Readings [Chapters 9 or 10]. Essay
should be a minimum of five and a half (5 1/2) double-spaced pages using MLA format for
Works Cited. Ten (10) minutes class presentation of work.
First draft due: Monday – February 13, 2006
Final draft due: Wednesday – February 15, 2006

Second Essay: An integrated Textual and Visual Essay that examines and analyzes the
argument of a visual image or images using the criteria in [Chapter 14] of Everything’s an
Argument with Readings. This project should be a minimum of six and a half (6 1/2) double-
spaced pages and should cite all sources using MLA format for online sources. Fifteen (15)
minutes class presentation of work.
First draft due: Monday – March 13, 2006
Final draft due: Wednesday – March 15, 2006

Third Essay: An essay that presents a Causal or Proposal Argument using the principles
and criteria in Everything’s an Argument with Readings (Chapters 11 or 12). This essay
should be a minimum of seven and a half (7 1/2 ) double-spaced pages and should use MLA
format for all works cited. Fifteen (15) minutes class presentation of work.
First draft due: Monday - April 10, 2006
Final draft due: Wednesday - April 12, 2006

Remember that all essay drafts, final essay drafts and assigned course work must be recorded
in your Computer Word Document. All assigned course work, essay drafts and final
essays must also be turned in to the Instructor in a traditional hard copy paper form
using MLA format and citation that includes a separate Works Cited page on the dates due.

1. - NO PAPER WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DUE DATE.

2. – PRESENTATION OF WORKS ACCEPTED ON ASSIGNED DATES ONLY.

3. - LETTER GRADES OF “F” WILL BE ASSIGNED TO ALL WORK NOT

TURNED IN ON TIME AND WORKS NOT PRESENTED ON SCHEDULE.

RHETORIC 1302 ITINERARY SYLLABUS

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Monday 1/9 Semester Begins
General Introduction to Course Syllabus
HW: Read the Course Syllabus for the semester
Get Net ID for access to UTD computers

Access to Classroom computers

Wednesday HW: Read EA Chapter 8 - Toulmin Analysis
1/11 HW: Bring a magazine to class on January 13, 2006
Also Read EA Response #2 on page 76

Friday 1/13 Discussion of Toulmin Analysis

Discussion of EA page 76 response # 2
Record Observations of EA Chapter 8
Discussion of Popular Culture Magazines

M 1/16 Martin Luther King Holiday - NO CLASS

EA = Everything’s an Argument with Readings

QA = Quick Access
PH = Prentice Hall Pocket Reader Text
Examine the images in United Benetton ads listed at
www.benetton.com

W 1/18 HW: Read EA Ch 1 and QA Chapters 1-3

Record Observation of EA chapter 1 and QA chapters 1-3
Discussion of readings
Register for EA companion website at www.bedfordstmartins.com
HW: Read Chapters 2-3 in EA.
Also Read EA pages 751-752

F 1/20 Record Observation of EA chapters 2-3

Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA Chapters 4 - 5 and EA pages 515 – 517

M 1/23 Record an observation of EA chapters 4 -5

Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA Chapters 6
Also Read EA pages 525-27 and EA pages 543-545
Take first QA online diagnostic test

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Monday 1/9 Semester Begins
General Introduction to Course Syllabus
HW: Read the Course Syllabus for the semester
Get Net ID for access to UTD computers

W 1/25 Record an observation of EA chapters 6

Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA chapter 7
Also Read PH pages 15-16 by Judy Brady

M 1/30 Record an Observation of EA chapter 7

Discussion of Readings
HW: Read EA Chapter 10
HW: Read PH pages 63–70 from Jonathan Swift.

W 2/1 Record an observation of EA chapter 10

Discussion of readings.
HW: Read EA chapter 21
Also Read QA Handbook on MLA format and how to cite and create
a works cited page.

F 2/3 Record Observation of EA chapter 21

Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA chapter 22
Also Read EA pages 226 - 232

M 2/6 Record Observation of EA chapter 22

Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA pages 755-759
Also Read EA 622 - 626

W 2/8 Record an Observation of readings

Discussion of readings
HW: Register for QA e-book online at www.prenhall.com/troyka

F 2/10 LIBRARY DAY: Using the technology: Guest Speaker: Library Tour
and Training.
HW: Read EA chapters 14
Also Read PH pages 50-53 from bell hooks.

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M 2/13 Record an Observation of EA chapter 14
Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA chapter 11 from pages 205 - 225
Also EA pages 494-499 in Chapter 23

W 2/15 Record an Observation of chapter 11

Discussion of readings
HW: Prepare for Presentations
F 2/17 Presentations

M 2/20 Presentations

W 2/22 Presentations

F 2/24 Presentations

HW: Read EA pages 500-505

Also read PH pages 1-10 from Wendell Berry and Black Elk

M 2/27 Record Observation of assigned readings from PH pages 1-10

Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA chapter 15 and EA pages 509 – 512

W 3/1 Record an Observation of EA Chapter 15

Discussion of assigned readings.
HW: Read Pocket Reader pages 40-49 from Morgan
Bring Visual Exercises CD to class on 3/3/06.

F 3/3 Record Observation of assigned readings

Discussion of readings
Work on visual CD
HW: work on Essay # 2

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M 3/6 SPRING BREAK

W 3/8 SPRING

F 3/10 SPRING BREAK

HW: Read EA Chapters 16
Also Read EA pages 760-773 from Cao and Lo.
M 3/13 Record an Observation of chapter 16
Discussion of assigned readings
HW: Read EA Chapter 18
Also Read PH pages 54-59 from Carson – The Obligation to Endure

W 3/15 Record Observation of chapter 18

Discussion of assigned readings
HW: Take final QA online diagnostic test for course

F 3/17 Presentations

M 3/20 Presentations

W 3/22 Presentations

F 3/24 Presentations
HW: Read EA chapter 19
Also Read PH pages 27-39 from Frank and Ashen

M 3/27 Record an Observation of EA chapter 19

Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA chapter 20
Also Read EA pages 713-719 Amy Tan and David Troutt

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W 3/29 Record Observation of EA chapter 20
Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA pages 700 – 711 from Languages and Identities – Chicago
Women’s Club – Ariel Dorfman

F 3/31 Record Observation of EA pages 700 - 705

Discussion of EA readings pages 707 - 711
HW: Read essays on Images and the Media in EA chapter 23 from
pages 457 - 493.

M 4/3 Record an Observation of EA chapter 23 pages 457-473

Discussion of EA readings pages 474 - 493
HW: Read PH pages 71-85 from King.

W 4/5 Record an Observation of the assigned reading

Discussion of assigned readings
HW: Read EA pages 811-815 from King
Also Read EA 723 - 729
F 4/7 Record an Observation of assigned reading
Discussion of readings
HW: Read EA Chapter 12 from pages 239 - 261

M 4/10 Record an observation of EA Chapter 12 from pages 239 - 253

Discussion of EA readings pages 255 - 261
HW: Read EA Ch 14.

W 4/12 Record Observation of EA Chapter 14

Discussion of EA chapter 14
HW: Read QA handbook pages 311-58.

F 4/14 Presentations

M 4/17 Presentation

W 4/19 Presentation

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 F 4/21
Presentation

M 4/24 LAST DAY OF CLASS

Quote
“The degrading of men by men is as old as mankind and the invention of no one race or
people. Ever have men striven to conceive of their victims as different from the victors,
endlessly different, in soul and blood, strength and cunning, race and lineage. It has been left,
however, to Europe and to modern days to discover the eternal world-wide mark of
meanness, - color!” So after all there is nothing really in theory that color means inferiority,
it is merely a convenient assumption. But assumptions, attitudes are variable, things which
may be changed.
Jessie Fauset on W.E.B. DuBois’ Darkwater
in The Crisis Reader on Literary and
Cultural Essays: New Literature on the
Negro

Name

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Course and Section
Instructor’s name
Date
Paper Topics

Definition and Evaluation Argument.

1. Define racism. 2. What is your understanding of racism? 3. How did you arrive at this
understanding? 4. Evaluate modern America to determine if America is a racist society. 5. If yes, how
is modern America a racist society? 6. If no, how is modern America not a racist society? Explain
and support your response using any of the required texts for this course and applying the Toulmin
Analysis. Additional sources for this research paper should come from Library Materials such as
books, journals and periodicals. No internet source is acceptable for this
assignment . A minimum of four (4) academic sources is required for this paper.

Visual and Textual Essay.

Using the movie “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” as the basis for this Visual Essay discuss the
stereotypes of the African American family addressed in the film. 2. How does the movie deal with
the social issues concerning the African American family? 3. What is the movie’s rhetoric? 4. Is the
movie effective in negating the stereotypes associated with the African American race? 5. If yes, how
is the movie’s rhetoric effective? 6. If no, how is the movie not effective? Explain and support your
response using any of the required texts for this course and applying the Toulmin Analysis.
Additional sources for this research paper should come from Library Materials such as books,

journals and periodicals. No internet source is acceptable for this assignment . A

minimum of four (4) academic sources is required for this paper. Diary of a Mad Black Woman is
performed by Tyler Perry, Kimberly Elise, Shemar Moore and Steve Harris.

Causal and Proposal Argument

1. Discuss the racial elements in the movie “Guess Who” by Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutchner and Zoe
Saldana. 2. How does the movie deal with racism? 3. What is the movie’s rhetoric? 4. Is the movie
effective in it’s address of racial conflict and racial issues in America? 5. If yes, how is the movie’s
rhetoric effective? 6. If no, how is the movie not effective in addressing racial conflicts in America?
7. What do you think is the cause of racial conflict in modern America? 8. What would you propose
to stem the racial tension in American society? Explain and support your response using any of the
required texts for this course and applying the Toulmin Analysis. Additional sources for this research
paper should come from Library Materials such as books, journals and periodicals. No internet
source is acceptable for this assignment . A minimum of four (4) academic sources is
required for this paper.

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