Syllabus - Sp '17
Reading Citations (these readings will be linked below on this website
under the week they
are assigned if they are not included in the course textbooks):
**Please
note that the below readings are available to you via the links
provided on this webpage in our daily schedule. These
links will NOT work if you are not directly connected to the Boise
State University network. You MUST login to the library system BEFORE
the links will take you directly to the pdf version of the reading.**
You are responsible for printing out
the pdf version (NOT the full text
HTML version - when it is available) and bring it with you to
class each
day we discuss it. Below are a list of all supplemental readings,
including those included in your Burgchardt textbook.
Benson, Thomas W. “The Rhetorical
Structure of
Frederick Wiseman’s Primate.” Quarterly
Journal of Speech 71 (1985):
204-217.
Blair, Carole, Marsha S. Jeppeson, and Enrico
Pucci,
Jr. “Public Memorializing in Postmodernity: The Vietnam
Veterans Memorial as
Prototype.” Quarterly Journal of Speech
77 (1991): 263-288.
Burke, Kenneth. The
Philosophy of Literary Form: Studies in Symbolic Action. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State
University
Press. 1941.
Campbell, Karlyn Kohrs. “The Rhetoric
of Women’s
Liberation: An Oxymoron.” The Quarterly
Journal of Speech 59 (1973): 74-86.
Dorsey, Leroy G. and Rachel M. Harlow.
“‘We Want
Americans Pure and Simple’: Theodore Roosevelt and the Myth of
Americanism.” Rhetoric & Public Affairs 6
(2003):
55-78.
Ivie, Robert L. “The Metaphor of Force
in Prowar
Discourse: The Case of 1812.” Quarterly
Journal of Speech 68 (1982): 240-253.
Fisher, Walter R. “Narration as a Human
Communication
Paradigm: The Case of Public Moral Argument.” Communication
Monographs 51 (1984): 1-22.
Leff, Michael C. and Gerald P. Mohrmann.
“Lincoln
at Cooper Union: A
Rhetorical Analysis of the Text.” Quarterly
Journal of Speech 60 (1974): 346–358.
Mechling, Elizabeth Walker and Jay Mechling.
“The
Campaign for Civil Defense and the Struggle to Naturalize the
Bomb.” Western Journal of Speech Communication 55 (1991): 105-133.
Osborn, Michael. “Archetypal Metaphor
in Rhetoric: The
Light-Dark Family.” The Quarterly Journal
of Speech 53 (1967): 115-126.
Ott, Brian L. and Eric Aoki. “The
Politics of
Negotiating Public Tragedy: Media Framing of the Matthew Shepard
Murder.” Rhetoric & Public Affairs 5 (2002): 483-505.
Rosenfield, Lawrence W. “The
Anatomy of Critical Discourse.” Speech Monographs
35 (1968): 50-69.
Simons, Herbert W.
“Requirements, Problems, and Strategies: A Theory of Persuasion
for Social
Movements.” The Quarterly Journal of
Speech 56 (1970): 1-11.
All
readings are to be completed BEFORE each class period under
which they
are listed on the weekly calendar below. Be sure to bring the text and
all relevant
readings to class on the day they are discussed.
Weekly Assignments
- Week 1:
- Wed. 1/11/17 - Review syllabus and discuss expectations for
semester; Discuss "what is rhetoric?" and "what is
criticism?"; Discuss the role of rhetoric in criticism
- HW: Read Rosenfield
(1968) and come to class prepared to discuss both *what* you read and *how* you read it on Friday 1/13
- Fri. 1/13/17 - Debrief Rosenfield; Preview of semester organization
- HW: Read Chapter 1 (Invention in Media &
Rhetorical Criticism) in Nothstine et al. for Wednesday 1/18
- NOTE: Be
sure to read and be familiar with Chapter 1 in Nothstine, et al.
- we will have covered most of this material last week but you will
be
responsible for this chapter as a foundation for understanding what we
mean as "rhetoric," "text(s)," "criticism," and "critic" as we go
forward. This chapter discusses these terms in great detail.
- HW: Review Maxim 1 (p. 10) in Nothstine et. al for Wednesday 1/18
- HW: Read Chapter 6 (The Campaign for Civil Defense) in
Nothstine et. al for Wednesday 1/18
- HW: Read Mechling
& Mechling (1991) for Wednesday 1/18
- Week 2:
- Wed. 1/18/17 - Discuss
the role of Maxims in understanding
the
process of engaging in "good" rhetorical criticism; Discuss
Mechling
& Mechling's reflection in Chapter 6 about the process of engaging
in good
rhetorical criticism
- HW: Prepare to engage Maxim 1 in criticism of your own (Writing
Exercise #1) on
Friday 1/20 in class
- Fri. 1/20/17: Debrief readings/clarification questions; WRITING ACTIVITY #1 (in-class writing activity) will begin at 10:25
- HW: Review Maxim 2 (p. 10) in Nothstine et.al for Wednesday 1/25
- HW: Read Chapter
8 (Rhetorical Structure & Primate)
in Nothstine et. al for Wednesday 1/25
- HW: Read Benson
(1985) for Wednesday 1/25
- Week 3:
- Wed. 1/25/17 - Discuss Maxim 2 of engaging in good
rhetorical criticism;
Discuss Benson's reflection about the process of engaging in good
rhetorical criticism; Discuss Benson
(1985) and how it relates to
Maxim 2 and what we've discussed as good rhetorical criticism
- HW: Prepare to engage Maxim 2 in criticism of your own on Friday 1/27 in class
- Fri. 1/27/17 - Debrief readings/clarification questions;
WRITING ACTIVITY #2 (in-class writing activity) will begin at 10:25
- HW: Read about Maxim 3 (p. 11) in Nothstine et. al for
Wednesday 2/1
- HW: Read Chapter 11 (The Metaphor of Force in Prowar Discourse) in Nothstine et. al for Wednesday 2/1
- HW: Read Ivie
(1982) for Wednesday 2/1
- HW: Please review Discussion Lead Group Presentation Assignment (click here) and bring questions for beginning of class on Wednesday 2/1
- Week 4:
- Wed. 2/1/17 - SIGN-UP FOR DISCUSSION LEAD GROUP PRESENTATIONS; Discuss Ivie (1982) and how it relates
to Maxim
3 and what we've discussed as good rhetorical criticism
- HW: Meet
with group (or complete individually if you choose) for Library
Activity on Friday
(you will be expected to meet in the library or with full logged in
access to the library system online instead of meeting for class on
Friday).
- Fri. 2/3/17 - LIBRARY ACTIVITY - Class will not meet today; instead,
you are responsible for completing the Library Activity during this time
- HW: Click here
for Library Activity
- If you choose to work in a group for your Library Activity,
be sure to include *all* group members who worked on the activity on
the one completed activity you turn in.
- Your Library Activity is due on Wednesday 2/8 at the
*beginning* of class.
- HW: Read about Maxim 4 (pp. 11-12) in Nothstine et. al for
Wednesday 2/8
- HW: Read Chapter 15 in Nothstine et. al for Wednesday 2/8
- HW: Read Blair,
Jeppeson, and Pucci, Jr. (1982) for Wednesday 2/8
- Week 5:
- Wed. 2/8/17 - Discuss Maxim 4 of engaging in good rhetorical
criticism; Discuss Blair's reflection about the process of engaging in
good rhetorical criticism; Discuss Blair, Jeppeson, & Pucci,
Jr.
(1982)
and how it relates to Maxim 4 and what we've discussed as good
rhetorical criticism; Midterm Exam Q&A
- HW: Prepare to engage Maxim 4 in criticism of your own
- Fri. 2/10/17 - Debrief readings/clarification questions;
WRITING ACTIVITY #3 (in-class writing activity) will begin immediately after in-class review has subsided
- HW: Study for Midterm Exam
- Click here for
Midterm Exam Study Guide
- Week 6:
- Wed. 2/15/17 - MIDTERM EXAM - PART I
- HW: Study for Midterm Exam
- Click here for Midterm Exam Study Guide
- Fri. 2/17/17 - MIDTERM EXAM - PART II
- HW: Read Part II: Neo-Classical Criticism [in Burgchardt, p.
147] - posted on BB under Course Readings if you do not have book - for Wednesday 2/22
- HW: Read Part III: Close Textual Analysis [in Burgchardt, p.
199] - posted on BB under Course Readings if you do not have book - for Wednesday 2/22
- HW: Read Leff & Mohrman (1974) [in Burgchardt] - if you
do not have book you will need to find full text article via library
website - for Friday 2/24 Discussion Lead Presentation
- Week 7:
- Wed. 2/22/17 - Discuss what specific types of rhetorical
criticism allow us to focus on; Discuss Neo-Classical Criticism and
Close Textual Analysis; Discuss Leff & Mohrman as an example of Close
Textual Analysis
- HW: Prepare for Discussion Lead Presentation #1 on Friday 2/24
- Fri. 2/24/17 - Discussion Lead Presentation #1
- NOTE: We will NOT meet in class on Fridays for the remainder
of the semester. Please feel free to email me if you have any remaining
questions about content - please go to a computer lab on
campus or anywhere where you can access wireless for your personal
device in order
to:
- 1) Read the PowerPoint posted under Course Documents for
this week's Discussion Lead Presentation
- 2) Read the Discussion Questions
- 3) Watch or read the rhetorical text via the link
embedded in the PowerPoint presentation with the group's Discussion
Questions
in mind
- 4) Open the Discussion Board via Blackboard and post your
answer to [at least] ONE of the Discussion Questions, demonstrating
your thoughtfulness and ability to think about the chosen example of
rhetoric in terms of the theoretical perspective and type of rhetorical
criticism discussed this week
- 5) Check back between 5:00pm and 10:00pm to see all
posts,
including the Discussion Lead Group summary posts.
- 6) Note any questions or follow-up you may want to
initiate at the beginning of the following Wednesday's class - we will
start the following Wednesday's class with any remaining
questions/discussions from the previous week's Discussion Lead Activity
before moving on to the next week's topic
- HW: Read Part IV: Dramatistic Criticism [Burgchardt, pp.
237-238] - posted on eReserves if you do not have book - for Wednesday 3/1
- HW: Read excerpt from Burke's The
Philosophy of Literary Form (1941) [in Burgchardt entitled
"Hitler's Battle"] - posted on BlackBoard under Course Readings if you do not have book - for Wednesday 3/1
- HW: Read Ott & Aoki (2002) [in Burgchardt] for Wednesday
3/1
- Week 8:
- Wed. 3/1/17 - Discuss Dramatistic Criticism and Burke's
theory(s) as guiding the process and focus of such
criticism; Discuss
Ott & Aoki (2002) as an example of
Dramatistic Criticism
- HW: Prepare for Discussion Lead Presentation #2 on Friday 3/3
- Fri. 3/3/17 - Discussion Lead Presentation #2
- Please go to a computer lab on
campus or anywhere where you can access wireless for your personal
device in order
to:
- 1) Read the PowerPoint posted under Course Documents for
this week's Discussion Lead Presentation
- 2) Read the Discussion Questions
- 3) Watch or read the rhetorical text via the link
embedded in the PowerPoint presentation with the group's Discussion
Questions
in mind
- 4) Open the Discussion Board via Blackboard and post your
answer to [at least] ONE of the Discussion Questions, demonstrating
your thoughtfulness and ability to think about the chosen example of
rhetoric in terms of the theoretical perspective and type of rhetorical
criticism discussed this week
- 5) Check back between 5:00pm and 10:00pm to see all
posts,
including the Discussion Lead Group summary posts.
- 6) Note any questions or follow-up you may want to
initiate at the beginning of the following Wednesday's class - we will
start the following Wednesday's class with any remaining
questions/discussions from the previous week's Discussion Lead Activity
before moving on to the next week's topic
- HW: Read Part V:
Narrative Criticism [Burgchardt, pp. 289-290] -
posted on BlackBoard under Course Readings if you do not have book - for Wednesday 3/8
- HW:
Read Fisher (1984) [in Burgchardt] for Wednesday 3/8
- HW:
Read Dorsey
& Harlow (2003) for
Wednesday 3/8
- Week 9:
- Wed. 3/8/17 - Discuss "Narrative Criticism" and how
Walter
Fisher's theory guides the process and focus of such
criticism; Discuss
how Dorsey & Harlow's (2003)
example
uses Fisher's idea of narrative to understand a particular (set of)
rhetorical text(s) as meaningful/important/interesting
- HW: Prepare for Discussion Lead Presentation #3 on Friday 3/10
- Fri. 3/10/17 - Discussion Lead Presentation #3
- Please go to a computer lab on
campus or anywhere where you can access wireless for your personal
device in order
to:
- 1) Read the PowerPoint posted under Course Documents for
this week's Discussion Lead Presentation
- 2) Read the Discussion Questions
- 3) Watch or read the rhetorical text via the link
embedded in the PowerPoint presentation with the group's Discussion
Questions
in mind
- 4) Open the Discussion Board via Blackboard and post your
answer to [at least] ONE of the Discussion Questions, demonstrating
your thoughtfulness and ability to think about the chosen example of
rhetoric in terms of the theoretical perspective and type of rhetorical
criticism discussed this week
- 5) Check back between 5:00pm and 10:00pm to see all
posts,
including the Discussion Lead Group summary posts.
- 6) Note any questions or follow-up you may want to
initiate at the beginning of the following Wednesday's class - we will
start the following Wednesday's class with any remaining
questions/discussions from the previous week's Discussion Lead Activity
before moving on to the next week's topic
- HW: Read
Part VI: Metaphoric Criticism [in Burgchardt, p. 347]
- posted on BlackBoard under Course Readings if you do not have book for Wednesday 3/15
- HW: Read Osborn (1967) [in Burgchardt] for Wednesday 3/15
- NOTE: Refer to Ivie (1982) from the first half of the
semester for an example of using
metaphor in rhetorical criticism
- Week 10:
- Wed. 3/15/17 - Discuss Metaphoric Criticism and how
Osborn's theory guides the process and focus of such criticism
- HW: Prepare for Discussion Lead Presentation #4
- Fri. 3/17/17 - Discussion Lead Presentation #4
- Please go to a computer lab on
campus or anywhere where you can access wireless for your personal
device in order
to:
- 1) Read the PowerPoint posted under Course Documents for
this week's Discussion Lead Presentation
- 2) Read the Discussion Questions
- 3) Watch or read the rhetorical text via the link
embedded in the PowerPoint presentation with the group's Discussion
Questions
in mind
- 4) Open the Discussion Board via Blackboard and post your
answer to [at least] ONE of the Discussion Questions, demonstrating
your thoughtfulness and ability to think about the chosen example of
rhetoric in terms of the theoretical perspective and type of rhetorical
criticism discussed this week
- 5) Check back between 5:00pm and 10:00pm to see all
posts,
including the Discussion Lead Group summary posts.
- 6) Note any questions or follow-up you may want to
initiate at the beginning of the following Wednesday's class - we will
start the following Wednesday's class with any remaining
questions/discussions from the previous week's Discussion Lead Activity
before moving on to the next week's topic
- HW: Read Part VII: Social Movement Criticism [in
Burgchardt,
pp. 395-396] for Wednesday 3/29
- HW: Read Simons (1970) [in Burgchardt] for Wednesday 3/29
- HW: Begin thinking through Final Paper Topic Proposal
Assignment
- Click here for
Final Paper Topic Proposal Assignment (due Friday 3/31)
- Week 11:
- Wed. 3/22 & Fri. 3/25 - NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK
- Week 12:
- Wed. 3/29/17 - Discus "Social Movement Criticism" and how
Simons' theory guides the process and focus of such criticism;
One-on-one Final Paper Meeting sign-up (for Weeks 13 & 14); Final
Paper Topic Proposal Assignment Q&A
- HW: Prepare ?s for Discussion
Lead Presentation #5
- HW: Prepare Final Paper Topic Proposals - due via email (as
an attachment in MS Word or MS Word compatible format) no later than 5:00 pm on
FRIDAY 4/1
- Click here for
Final Paper Topic Proposal Assignment (due Friday 3/31)
- Click here for Final Paper Assignment
- Fri. 3/31/17 - Discussion Lead Presentation #5
- Please go to a computer lab on
campus or anywhere where you can access wireless for your personal
device in order
to:
- 1) Read the PowerPoint posted under Course Documents for
this week's Discussion Lead Presentation
- 2) Read the Discussion Questions
- 3) Watch or read the rhetorical text via the link
embedded in the PowerPoint presentation with the group's Discussion
Questions
in mind
- 4) Open the Discussion Board via Blackboard and post your
answer to [at least] ONE of the Discussion Questions, demonstrating
your thoughtfulness and ability to think about the chosen example of
rhetoric in terms of the theoretical perspective and type of rhetorical
criticism discussed this week
- 5) Check back between 5:00pm and 10:00pm to see all
posts,
including the Discussion Lead Group summary posts.
- 6) Note any questions or follow-up you may want to
initiate at the beginning of the following Wednesday's class - we will
start the following Wednesday's class with any remaining
questions/discussions from the previous week's Discussion Lead Activity
before moving on to the next week's topic
- FINAL PAPER
TOPIC PROPOSAL DUE NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM (VIA E-MAIL
ATTACHMENT)
- NOTE: I will email
you a confirmation of your paper's receipt no *later* than 5:30 pm. If
you have not received such an email from me by 5:30 pm, you are
responsible for following up. Please see the Late Work Policy in the
Syllabus.
- HW: Read Part IX: Gender Criticism [in Burgchardt, p. 509]
for Wednesday 4/5
- HW: Read Campbell (1973) [in Burgchardt] for Wednesday 4/5
- Week 13:
- Wed. 4/5/17 - Discuss "Gender Criticism" and how Campbell's
theory guides the process and focus of such criticism
- HW: Prepare for Discussion Lead Presentation #6
- Fri. 4/7/17 - Discussion Lead Presentation #6
- Please go to a computer lab on
campus or anywhere where you can access wireless for your personal
device in order
to:
- 1) Read the PowerPoint posted under Course Documents for
this week's Discussion Lead Presentation
- 2) Read the Discussion Questions
- 3) Watch or read the rhetorical text via the link
embedded in the PowerPoint presentation with the group's Discussion
Questions
in mind
- 4) Open the Discussion Board via Blackboard and post your
answer to [at least] ONE of the Discussion Questions, demonstrating
your thoughtfulness and ability to think about the chosen example of
rhetoric in terms of the theoretical perspective and type of rhetorical
criticism discussed this week
- 5) Check back between 5:00pm and 10:00pm to see all
posts,
including the Discussion Lead Group summary posts.
- 6) Note any questions or follow-up you may want to
initiate at the beginning of the following Wednesday's class - we will
start the following Wednesday's class with any remaining
questions/discussions from the previous week's Discussion Lead Activity
before moving on to the next week's topic
- Week 14:
- Mon. 4/10/17 - One-on-one Final
Paper Meetings in my office (Communication
Building, C-104)
- NOTE: Access Blackboard under Course Documents for Your
Scheduled Meeting Time and Place
- Wed. 4/12/17 - NO IN CLASS MEETING - Individual Paper
Workday OR
One-on-one Final
Paper Meetings in the classroom (if your meeting is during
regularly scheduled class time) - otherwise meetings will be in my
office (Communication Building, C-104)
- NOTE: Access Blackboard under Course Documents for Your
Scheduled Meeting Time and Place
- Fri. 4/14/17 - NO IN CLASS MEETING - Individual Paper
Workday OR One-on-one Final
Paper Meetingsin the classroom (if your meeting is during regularly scheduled class time) - otherwise
meetings will be in my office (Communication Building, C-104)
- NOTE: Access Blackboard under Course Documents for Your
Scheduled Meeting Time and Place
- Week 15:
- Wed. 4/19/17 - Final Exam Q&A
- HW: Study for Final Exam
- Click here
for Final Exam Study Guide
- Fri. 4/21/17 - FINAL EXAM (in-class)
- HW: FULL DRAFT of your Final Paper is due to your Peer
Review Partner VIA E-MAIL attachment in MS Word (or MS Word compatible format) *no later* than 5:00 pm on MONDAY 4/24
- NOTE: Visit Blackboard under Course Documents for a list of
Peer Review Partners
- Click here for Final Paper Assignment
- REMINDER: You are required to send a full draft of your paper to your peer review partner no later than MONDAY 4/24 at 5:00 pm to be eligible to participate in the 50
point Peer Review
Activity in class on Wednesday 4/26. Please make sure you let me know
ASAP if you do not receive a full
draft of your partner's paper (i.e., ALL sections are filled out and
developed) by 5:30 pm on Monday 4/26 so I can reassign you a new peer
review partner if necessary. If you
do not tell me, I cannot help you! The feedback you provide
will be judged for quality, so make sure you have enough time to read
the essay you are assigned to read *before* you come to class on
Wednesday!! Be sure to
feel comfortable that you can fill out the activity on Wednesday in
class with an appropriate
level of detail - without a full paper draft you will not be able to do
this - this is *your* 50 points so please don't put yourself in a
position you don't want to be in!
- HW: PRINT OUT (in hard copy form) and bring your assigned Peer Review partner's paper
to class on Wednesday 4/26; Be sure you have read it and made comments
as appropriate. Bring this with you to class on Wednesday 4/26 for an
in-class Peer Review activity.
- Week 16:
- Wed. 4/26/17 - In-class
Peer Review Workshop (required)
- HW:
Finish your final paper - due beginning
of class (9:00 am) on Friday 4/29!
- Click here for Final Paper Assignment
- NOTE: Please
remind
yourself of the Late Work Policy in the syllabus (i.e., I do not accept late work, so please be
sure to turn in your paper *on time*!)
- Fri.. 4/28/17 - Turn in Peer Review Feedback you took home to revise your paper on Wednesday after class (PEER REVIEW FORM DUE AT BEGINNING OF CLASS - 10:30 am)
- NOTE:
You are welcome to turn in your Final Paper at this time, too. It is
not due until next week on Monday May 1st by 12:00 noon to the
Communication Department main office (in hard copy, printed form).
- Week 17:
- Mon. 5/1/17 - Final
Paper Due to Communication Department Main Office by 12:00 noon (folder present for drop-off)
- REMINDER:
Please turn in *both* your partner's peer review activity (with
feedback about your paper that you used to revise your draft from
Wednesday 4/26) AND your final paper that will be submitted for
evaluation (i.e., for me to grade).
- We did it! Have a wonderful Summer Break (hopefully you get at
least a little one).
Announcements
- (1/9/17): If you have trouble downloading any
reading via Blackboard or via Boise State databases, please see me
prior
to the class we are discussing them, and I
will be happy to help. The links on this website are intended to help
you access the readings with the least "clicks." That being said,
technology is tricky, so ensure
minimal access problems by downloading your readings ahead of time.
- ABOUT LINKS ON THIS PAGE: If you are accessing links off-campus,
you will need to FIRST log-in to the
library website (there is a big orange button on their homepage that
says "login from off-campus") and THEN access these links to make them
work for you. You may need to click "refresh"before accessing the link
on the course webpage again, but you should be able to
access it after you are successfully log-in.
- Let me know if you need me to walk you through this early in
the semester, and I am happy to do so. Also, feel free to use the
supplemental readings list at the top of the page (as well as listed on
the course syllabus and on Blackboard as a Supplemental Readings list)
to find all these at once, rather than clicking on them here from week
to week.
- (1/9/17): All readings for this course are listed at
the top of this website with complete
citation information included so that you are able to access all
readings in the beginning of the semester if you so desire -
i.e., you can download everything
we will be reading in this class outside of the textbook [including
those reprinted in Burgchardt]. For those of
you who would like to print out all supplemental readings at one time,
you
will need this list to locate all readings. I will post direct links to
the readings NOT included in Burgchardt on this
website as
the week of that reading is posted. If you would like to
print off all readings before the direct links to them are posted here,
please refer to the citation information above.
- IMPORTANT
- Please cross-reference the supplemental reading citations with the
readings we will do in Burgchardt so you do not print off articles that
are already
included in your textbook if you choose to buy the Burgchardt text (which is what I recommend), I will
indicate that the reading is in Burgchardt when I post readings to eliminate any confusion. You will need to decide
whether you would rather purchase the collection of reprinted essays or
access them in full text pdf form via the library database instead.
Either way you are responsible for having the reading in hand with you
in class on the day we discuss it. Please let me know if you have any
questions. I'm happy to help you access readings well in advance of
when it is due.