Florida Atlantic University – Spring 2022

SPC 4680 (19024) – Rhetorical Criticism

Time & Location: Wednesday & Friday 2:00-3:20pm
Davie Campus |Davie West | Room 108

Instructor: Hannah Moody

Virtual Office hours: Wednesdays 11:00am-12:30pm & by appointment
Email: hmoody2016@fau.edu

Required Text: Rhetorical Criticism Exploration and Practice (5th Edition) by Sonja Foss.
Additional readings or texts will be either posted on Canvas or be readily accessible through
Google Scholar, FAU’s online library, or database access.

Instructional Method: This course will be hybrid (Mixed Online and Classroom) & Remote
Option Live. Students are expected to post/participate on CANVAS each week according to the
specified schedule included. There will be a total of 14 scheduled remote workdays throughout
the semester, these dates are indicated in the Course Calendar.

COVID Statement: Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases and the omicron variant, all students
regardless of vaccination status are expected to wear masks while indoors in any FAU facilities,
including classrooms and laboratories. Students experiencing flu-like symptoms (fever, cough,
shortness of breath) or students who have come in contact with confirmed positive cases of
COVID-19 should immediately contact FAU Student Health Services (561-297-3512).
Symptomatic students will be asked to leave the classroom to support the safety and protection
of the university community. For additional information visit www.fau.edu/coronavirus. In
classes with face-to-face components, quarantined students should notify me immediately as
you will not be able to attend class. I will not be able to offer an online version of the class but
will make reasonable efforts to assist students in making up the work.

*This course is a part of the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) initiative. The University's
WAC program promotes the teaching of writing across all levels and all disciplines. WAC asserts
that writing-to-learn activities have proven effective in developing critical thinking skills,
learning discipline-specific content, and understanding and building competence in the modes
of inquiry and writing for various disciplines and professions. *
For more information visit: https://www.fau.edu/wac/

Course Description:
In this seminar, we will approach various methods of rhetorical criticism as orientations toward
different texts and artifacts. A central assumption of rhetorical scholarship is that we can
acquire rich understandings about public life through the study of rhetoric as an instrumental
and constitutive force. The best rhetorical methods are those that allow critics to illuminate
what a text or set of discourses may reveal about strategies, interests, and power dynamics at
play in public culture; as well as how rhetoric itself functions as a social force. This semester we
will cover a variety of methodologies and related areas of rhetorical criticism; including, Neo
Aristotelian, Cluster, Ideological, Metaphoric, Narrative, and Pentadic criticism. This is an
undergraduate level course for 3.00 credit hours. Students must earn a minimum grade of C to
receive passing credit for the course. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

 Understand, appreciate, and employ different methods of rhetorical criticism

 Understand and analyze the interactions between texts and contexts
 Identify a range of methods for the study of rhetorical texts
 Acquire a firm rootedness in “classic” approaches to criticism, as well as newer
developments in the field(s)
 Understand key debates associated with the practice of rhetorical criticism
 Produce high quality rhetorical scholarship

Course Policies

Attendance : I will take attendance every class period!! Whether you attend in-person class or
remote/live class. You are allowed two unexcused absences or as I call it “freebie day.”
Attendance on scheduled presentation days are mandatory, even if you are not assigned to
present that day. For every additional absence beyond the given one that are not university-
excused, participation points will be deducted 5 points for each day. An absence may be
excused with appropriate documentation in accordance with the FAU Attendance Policy. See
FAU website for further clarification of excused absences:
(http://www.fau.edu/academic/registrar/FAUcatalog/academics.php)

Religious observances and practices will be reasonably accommodated by the University if they
pertain to admissions, class attendance, work assignments, and/or examinations. Any student,
upon notifying his or her instructor will be excused from class or other scheduled academic or
educational activity to observe a religious holy day of his or her personal faith. Such notification
shall be made no later than two weeks prior to the expected absence. Students who notify his
or her instructor in advance of their absence will not be penalized. Students should review
course requirements and meeting days and times to avoid foreseeable conflicts, as excessive
absences in a given term may prevent a student from successfully completing the academic
requirements of a course. Please see the FAU website for more information about religious
observances and regulations. (https://www.fau.edu/regulations/chapter2/Reg%202.007%208-
12.pdf)

University Policy: Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled University classes and
to satisfy all academic objectives as outlined by the instructor. The effect of absences upon
grades is determined by the instructor, and the University reserves the right to deal at any time
with individual cases of non-attendance. Students are responsible for arranging to make up
work missed because of legitimate class absence, such as illness, family emergencies, military
obligation, court-imposed legal obligations or participation in University- approved activities.
Examples of University-approved reasons for absences include participating on an athletic or
scholastic team, musical and theatrical performances and debate activities. It is the student’s
responsibility to give the instructor notice prior to any anticipated absences and within a
reasonable amount of time after an unanticipated absence, ordinarily by the next scheduled
class meeting. Instructors must allow each student who is absent for a University-approved
reason the opportunity to make up work missed without any reduction in the student’s final
course grade as a direct result of such absence.

Late Work: No late work, for any assignment, is accepted without an approved excuse or
cause. Late work will only receive potential full credit if the assignment coincides with a
university-approved reason. If unexcused, assignments will not be accepted late, and will
receive a zero. As best as possible, communicate any conflicts to me sooner rather than later.

Code of Academic Integrity Policy Statement: Students at Florida Atlantic University are
expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. Academic dishonesty is considered a
serious breach of these ethical standards, because it interferes with the university mission to
provide a high-quality education in which no student enjoys an unfair advantage over any
other. Academic dishonesty is also destructive of the university community, which is grounded
in a system of mutual trust and places high value on personal integrity and individual
responsibility. Harsh penalties are associated with academic dishonesty. For more information,
see University Regulation 4.001.

Policy on the Recording of Lectures: Students enrolled in this course may record video or audio
of class lectures for their own personal educational use. A class lecture is defined as a formal or
methodical oral presentation as part of a university course intended to present information or
teach students about a particular subject. Recording class activities other than class lectures,
including but not limited to student presentations (whether individually or as part of a group),
class discussion (except when incidental to and incorporated within a class lecture), labs, clinical
presentations such as patient history, academic exercises involving student participation, test or
examination administrations, field trips, and private conversations between students in the
class or between a student and the lecturer, is prohibited. Recordings may not be used as a
substitute for class participation or class attendance and may not be published or shared
without the written consent of the faculty member. Failure to adhere to these requirements
may constitute a violation of the University’s Student Code of Conduct and/or the Code of
Academic Integrity.

Bibliographic Citations: MLA citation style will be required for this course. A Works Cited page
and in-text citations must be included in Final Rhetor. In addition, if outside sources are
referred in online discussion posts they must be cited within the post. Any work found to be
lacking correct MLA-style citations will receive a point deduction or may not be excepted at all.
University Disability Policy Statement: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Amendments Act (ADAAA), students who require reasonable accommodations due to a
disability to properly execute coursework must register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
and follow all SAS procedures. SAS has offices across three of FAU’s campuses – Boca Raton,
Davie and Jupiter – however disability services are available for students on all campuses. For
more information, please visit the SAS website at www.fau.edu/sas/

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center: Life as a university student can be
challenging physically, mentally and emotionally. Students who find stress negatively affecting
their ability to achieve academic or personal goals may wish to consider utilizing FAU’s
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center. CAPS provides FAU students a range of
services – individual counseling, support meetings, and psychiatric services, to name a few –
offered to help improve and maintain emotional well-being. For more information, go to
http://www.fau.edu/counseling/

Assignments and Grading

This course is organized into weekly units. Each unit addresses a method of rhetorical criticism.
You will find under each weekly module:

1. Topics of the Week

2. Weekly readings (Textbook or additional content or websites I want you to read)
3. A weekly engagement assignment (e.g. quiz, discussion post, essays that will always be
due on Canvas by Friday at 11:59pm. (excluding essays, which will be due on Canvas
Sundays at 11:59pm)

Essays:
For each of the 4 essays assigned this semester, students will be asked to answer the following
questions applied through the designated methodology unique to each assignment.
The main questions you will answer are:
1. What is the main purpose or argument being conveyed?
2. How is this argument being conveyed?
3. Does the selected artifact effective or ineffective in its persuasiveness?
4. How could the artifact be improved?

Website Analysis: You will write a rhetorical analysis of a website of your choosing. Be careful
in your choice. It is necessary that you find a website that is attempting to make an obvious
argument about its products or services. For this paper, students will be asked to analysis a
website of their choosing using Neo-Aristotelian Criticism. 3-4 pages min. Additional Guidelines
will be provided.
Speech Analysis: This paper will focus on one speech of your choosing that is pertinent to
American or global political changes from the 1960s- today. This close textual analysis will
emphasize [a] the role of the speaker in the public sphere, and [b] a brief discussion of the
overall speech featured. For this paper, students will be asked to analysis their speech using
Pentadic Criticism. 4-5 pages min. Additional Guidelines will be provided.

First Draft of Final Essay: This 6-page min paper is an advanced draft of your Final Rhetorical
Criticism Paper. This essay represents a major opportunity to solicit peer feedback for your final
project. Additional Guidelines will be provided.

First Draft Peer Critique: Each student is responsible for offering thorough written feedback of
a classmate’s first draft of their final paper. You will review and workshop your peer’s work
including commentary on conceptualization, style, and provide reflective and thoughtful
feedback to assist them in preparing the draft for final submission.

Final Rhetorical Criticism Essay: The final assignment is a 10-page min formal rhetorical
criticism paper. This assignment represents the culmination of the semester. After a full
semester of studying a variety of rhetorical methodologies and what they stand for in their
application to an artifact, your final essay will give you the opportunity to apply TWO rhetorical
methodologies of your choice to any ONE artifact you choose. (Website, Film, Speech, Song, TV
Show, etc.) The goal of this paper is twofold:
- [a] Similar to each of your previous essays from this semester, you will be evaluating the
persuasiveness of your artifact through your (two) chosen methodologies.
- [b] In using two types of criticism, students will be asked to form an opinion on the
effectiveness of the methodologies themselves. Which of the two are your favorite?
Which wields the most importance within the field of contemporary rhetorical criticism?

Final Rhetorical Criticism Essay Presentation: Students will be required to present a 5-10 min
oral report on their essay. This will be presented to the class on an assigned presentation day

Weekly Engagement Activities: Each week a weekly engagement assignment will be due by
Fridays at 11:59pm. Assigned quizzes or discussion post will cover the key concepts and ideas
from that week’s lecture and assigned readings on a particular methodology. As we began to
introduce new forms of criticism, these activities are a way prepare you for class discussion and
essays. A total of 5 quizzes and 4 discussion posts are assigned as noted by course schedule.

Participation: You will need to participate in class beyond simply completely assignments in a
timely matter. I will be looking for you to answer questions, participate in class discussion on
assigned readings, present your opinions, and take an interest in your classmates’ work and
ideas. Your participation grade also reflects your attendance in class.
 930-1000 A
900-929 A-
Grading Scale 870-899 B+
840-869 B
800-839 B-
Website Analysis 100 770-799 C+
Speech Analysis 100 740-769 C
First Draft 100 700-739 C-
Peer Review 50 679-699 D+
Final Draft 200 640-669 D
Total: Quizzes/Discussion 450 600-639 D-
Posts/Etc. 599-0 F
Total 1000

Course Calendar
(Subject to changes at instructor’s discretion)
Week/ Topic Readings Assignments
Date(s)
Week 1:
First Day of
Class!
Wed 1/12 Syllabus overview and Quiz due on
icebreaker (WebEx Live Remote Canvas by Friday
N/A at 11:59pm
Option)
Fri 1/14 Defining Rhetoric (WebEx Live
Remote Option)

Week 2:  
Wed 1/19 Chapter 1: The Nature of
Rhetorical Criticism(WebEx Live Foss; pgs. 3-7 Discussion Post
Remote Option) due on Canvas by
Friday at 11:59pm

Fri 1/21 Online Day- Chapter 2: Doing Foss; pgs. 9-21

Rhetorical Criticism

Week 3:    
Wed 1/26 Chapter 2 Review
Foss; pgs. 29-36 Quiz due on
Chapter 3: Neo-Aristotelian
Canvas by Friday
 Course Calendar
(Subject to changes at instructor’s discretion)
Week/ Topic Readings Assignments
Date(s)
Criticism: Genesis of Rhetorical at 11:59pm
Criticism
Essay #1 Assigned(WebEx Live
Remote Option)

Fri 1/28 Online Day- Neo-Aristotelian in Example Neo-

Practice Aristotelian Essay; posted
on Canvas
Week 4:
Wed 2/02 Chapter 6: Feminist Criticism Foss; pgs. 141-155
(WebEx Live Remote Option) Discussion Post
due on Canvas by
Friday at 11:59pm
Fri 2/04 Online Day- Feminist Criticism in Example Feminist
Criticism Essay
Practice

Week 5:    
Wed 2/09 Chapter 4: Cluster Criticism Foss; pgs. 61-68
(WebEx Live Remote Option) Essay #1 Due on
Canvas by Sunday
Example Cluster at 11:59pm
Fri 2/11 Online Day- Cluster Criticism in Criticism Essay
Practice & Virtual Essay
Workshop

Week 6:    
Wed 2/16 Chapter 11: Pentadic Criticism Foss; pgs. 367-380
Essay #2 Assigned (WebEx Live Quiz due on
Remote Option) Canvas by Friday
at 11:59pm
Online Day- Pentadic Criticism in Example Pentadic
Fri 2/18 Practice Criticism Essay

Week 7:    
Wed 2/23 Chapter 9: Metaphoric Criticism Foss; pgs. 285-294 Quiz due on
(WebEx Live Remote Option) Canvas by Friday
at 11:59pm

Fri 2/25 Online Day- Metaphoric Criticism Example Metaphoric

 Course Calendar
(Subject to changes at instructor’s discretion)
Week/ Topic Readings Assignments
Date(s)
in Practice Criticism Essay

Week 8:    
Wed 3/02 Chapter 8: Ideological Foss; pgs. 237-248
Criticism(WebEx Live Remote Essay #2 due on
Example Ideological Canvas by Sunday
Option) Criticism Essay at 11:59pm

Fri 3/04 Online Day- Ideological Criticism in

Practice & Virtual Essay Workshop

Week 9:
Wed 3/09
SPRING BREAK N/A N/A
Fri 3/11

Week 10:
Wed 3/16 Semester Review
First Draft/Final Essay Assigned Discussion Post
(WebEx Live Remote Option) N/A due on Canvas by
Friday at 11:59pm

Fri 3/18 Online Day- Mid-Semester

Methodology Review

Week 11:
Wed 3/23 Chapter 10: Narrative Criticism Foss; pgs. 319-338
(WebEx Live Remote Option) Quiz due on
Canvas by Friday
Example Narrative at 11:59pm
Fri 3/25 Online Day- Narrative Criticism in Criticism Essay
Practice

Week 12:
Wed 3/30 Chapter 12: Generative Criticism Foss; pgs. 411-435 First Draft Essay
(WebEx Live Remote Option) Due on Canvas by
Example Generative Sunday at
Fri 4/01 Online Day- Generative Criticism in Criticism Essay 11:59pm
Practice & Virtual Essay Workshop
 Course Calendar
(Subject to changes at instructor’s discretion)
Week/ Topic Readings Assignments
Date(s)
Week 13:
Wed 4/06 Critical Rhetoric Critical rhetoric: Theory
(WebEx Live Remote Option) and praxis; McKerrow Peer Review due
on Canvas by
Friday at 11:59pm
Online Day- Critical Rhetoric in N/A
Fri 4/08 Practice & Virtual Essay Workshop

Week 14:
Wed 4/13 Presentation Day (WebEx Live Discussion Post
Remote ONLY) N/A due on Canvas by
Friday at 11:59pm
Fri 4/15 Presentation Day (WebEx Live
Remote ONLY)

Week 15:
Wed 4/20 Presentation Day (WebEx Live Final Essay Due on
Remote ONLY) N/A Canvas by Sunday
at 11:59pm
Fri 4/22 Presentation Day (WebEx Live
Remote ONLY)