The purpose of rhetorical analysis is to provide insightful nuances of communication that audiences may not consciously recognize. This course endows students with the critical capacity to examine the processes of rhetorical influence, its functions, and--most importantly--its implications. We will explore the ways cultural artifacts persuade audiences and create beliefs. Students will engage in various forms of rhetorical analysis and will practice applying these methods to their chose texts of interest.
Course Objectives
- Become familiar with and appreciate the humanities tradition to intellectual inquiry,
- Become familiar with the key modes of rhetorical criticism, namely Neo-Aristotelian criticism, ideological criticism, metaphor criticism, and narrative criticism,
- Practice performing rhetorical critiques of artifacts that students find particularly significant,
- Learn to improve the human condition through insightful analysis that offers prescriptions for the amelioration of society.
Required Text:
Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and practice.
Fourth Edition by Sonja K. Foss, distributed by Waveland: Long Grove, IL.
Item Pool
Rhetorical Artifacts
Research and identify content and/or rhetorical artifacts you feel would be best suited for for analysis via Neo-Aristotelian criticism, ideological criticism, metaphor criticism, and narrative criticism. Four artifacts will be identified and posted to your class blog, one of which you will present to the class and lead a discussion not to exceed ten minutes.
Rhetorical Analysis
Select one of your four artifacts from above and write a critical essay of rhetorical analysis using that artifact's selected mode of criticism. Post your essay to your blog along with a link or embedded reference of your artifact.
Item Pool
Rhetorical Artifacts
Research and identify content and/or rhetorical artifacts you feel would be best suited for for analysis via Neo-Aristotelian criticism, ideological criticism, metaphor criticism, and narrative criticism. Four artifacts will be identified and posted to your class blog, one of which you will present to the class and lead a discussion not to exceed ten minutes.
- 100 points possible for each artifact posted with justification, 400 points total.
- 100 points possible for your presentation.
Rhetorical Analysis
Select one of your four artifacts from above and write a critical essay of rhetorical analysis using that artifact's selected mode of criticism. Post your essay to your blog along with a link or embedded reference of your artifact.
- 500 points possible.
Policies and Resources
Qualification
As an upper division core class for the Bachelor of Communication degree, you need to achieve a C+ or higher as the grade outcome of this class for it to count towards your degree requirements.
Missing Class
Show up. It's the first secret to achievement. Every semester students will let me know that they'll be missing class to go on a cruise, or for a wedding, or to go snowboarding, and I say, "Cool, have fun." You, or somebody else, have paid to be here. It's your stewardship and my expectation.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism is the use of another source’s words, ideas or statistics without their permission and/or proper citation. Anyone who plagiarizes material in my class will receive a grade of zero on that assignment. Anyone found cheating on term assessments will fail the test, though I also reserve the right to assign you an “F” for the course and/or refer you to our chair for further sanctions. If you submit a falsified electronic document that I cannot open, you will fail the assignment. Please keep in mind that one can be expelled from the college for academic dishonesty.
Electronic Devices
Calling or texting will not be tolerated in class. First interruption infraction and you're buying everyone pizza and sodas the next meeting. Second infraction and you're buying everyone lunch at Cafe Rio. Lap tops, tablets and smart phones are encouraged for use in class discussion and research.
Submission of Assignments
Most work for this class is submitted on your blog. Written work for this class will be submitted via email as a PDF document. This ensures I can open your document and verify contents regardless of platform. No other format will be accepted. Format your submissions in the subject line with the course number, assignment, and your name. If I were submitting the first assignment for COMM3460, my subject line would read:
COMM3460, Assignment 1, Young.
Likewise, if you email me a link to your work on your blog, please format the subject line in the same manner. Send all email correspondence for this class to comm3460@gmail.com.
Assignments are due the date indicated on the course schedule on this web site. I don't accept late work nor do I accept technical excuses like a crashed computer or an email glitch. Papers are due by the beginning of class. Work containing typographical and grammatical errors will be returned without evaluation. Proof your work. The college provides a free service for students desiring additional assistance with their writing assignments. The Writing Center is located in the Browning Building. Call Barbara Turnbow at 652-7743 for information.
Email Communication
Important class and college information will be sent to your D-mail account. All DSC students are automatically assigned a D-mail email account. Click and select D-mail for complete instructions. You will be held accountable for information sent to your D-mail, so please check it often.
Hostility
I reserve the right to remove any student from this class and/or program based on documentable breech of citizenship such as sexual harassment, hostile environment, discrimination based on race, religion, gender and/or sexuality, as well as plagiarism, misrepresentation, and/or malicious gossip.
Withdrawal and Drop Deadlines
Please consult the semester schedule for withdrawal and reimbursement deadlines. You will be charged a $10 fee for dropping this class.
Late Work and Missing Tests
Should you miss an assessment due to medical reasons, you must provide documentation that states you were otherwise occupied at the time or in the general vicinity of class time. All excused absences must be presented right after the absence, and will be verified. I will determine what is excused. Any missed exams will only be made up with appropriate excused documentation.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a medical, psychological or a learning difference and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to this disability, you must provide an official request of accommodation to your professor(s) from the Disability Resource Center within the first two weeks of the beginning of classes. Students are to contact the center on the main campus to follow through with, and receive assistance in the documentation process to determine the appropriate accommodations related to their disability.
You may call (435) 652-7516 for an appointment and further information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The office is located in the Student Services Center, Room #201 of the Edith Whitehead Building.
Library and Literacy Contacts
Dianne Hirning is the librarian over Communication resources. She is your resource and guide for research within this discipline. You can reach her at hirning@dixie.edu and by phone at 652-7720.
Resources:
* Library - http://library.dixie.edu
* Writing Center - http://new.dixie.edu/english/dsc_writing_center.php
* Testing Center - http://new.dixie.edu/testing
* Tutoring Center - http://dsc.dixie.edu/tutoring/
