Course Schedule
Below is our tentative schedule for the semester. Be advised that this schedule is subject to change over the course of the term. Click on hyperlinked dates to go to the specific page for that class session. When you see "Reading" and/or "Writing" for a given day, that means that you must have the assigned reading and/or writing done BEFORE that class session. Make sure to check out upcoming dates to see what assignments will be due soon.
Week One
Introductions
Syllabus review
Wiki orientation
Writing sample
Overview of writing samples
The writing process
Reading: "Shitty First Drafts" by Anne Lamott
The Scott, Foresman Writer, pages 13-45 (available under Content on our course
Blackboard page)
Writing: Complete your Roster page before class time today.
Week Two
September 6:
No Class - Labor Day
Introduction to rhetoric
Reading: Everything's an Argument Chapter 1 ("Everything Is an Argument")
Writing: Write a 250+ word defense of a public figure who has fallen from grace (such as former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick or Tiger Woods). Responses need to be posted on the Defending Their Lives page by 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 7. See that page for more information.
Introduction to rhetorical analysis
Reading: Everything's an Argument Chapter 5 ("Rhetorical Analysis")
"They Say/I Say" Chapter 12 ("'What's Motivating This Writer?': Reading for the
Conversation")
Week Three
Introduction to Project One
Analyzing visual rhetoric
Reading: "Drugs" by Gore Vidal
"Don't Legalize Drugs" by Theodore Dalrymple
Instructions and student examples for Project One
Writing: Write a 250+ word response comparing and contrasting the rhetorical techniques of the above articles. Responses need to be posted on the Take Two and Call Me in the Morning page. See that page for more information.
Rhetorical analysis of a graphic novel
Reading: The entirety of Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
Building a rhetorical analysis essay
Reading: The entirety of Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began
Writing: Write a 250+ word response to Maus. Responses need to be posted on the A Game of Cat and Maus page by 5:00pm on Thursday, September 16. See that page for more information.
Post your chosen work for Project One as a comment on the Mine, Mine, Mine! page.
Week Four
Rhetorical analysis across different media
Reading: "This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen" by Tadeusz Borowski
Writing: Write a 250+ word response to "This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen." You should consider this text in relation to Maus. Responses need to be posted on the Work Will Set You Free page by 5:00pm on Sunday, September 19. See that page for more information.
Project One pitfalls
How to upload documents to the wiki
Plagiarism
SafeAssign
Reading: Everything's an Argument Chapter 18 ("Intellectual Property, Academic Integrity, and
Avoiding Plagiarism")
The Scott, Foresman Writer, pages 233-242 (available under Content on our course
Blackboard page)
Outline workshop
Writing: Bring 5 hard copies of your complete Project One outline to class today. Four copies will be used in small group outline workshops, and one will be handed in to me.
Week Five
Project One rough draft workshop
Writing: Submit your Project One rough draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it on your Roster page.
Revision workshop
Editing vs. revising
Writing: Bring one hard copy of your Project One rough draft to class.
Project One rough draft workshop #2
Writing: Submit your revised rough draft of Project One by uploading it to the wiki, then posting a separate link to the revised document on your Roster page.
Week Six
Introduction to Project Two
Definition arguments
Reading: Everything's an Argument Chapter 9 ("Arguments of Definition")
Instructions and student examples for Project Two
Don't Forget: Final draft of Project One due by 11:59pm - submit your final draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it to your name on the U Can Haz Rhetorical Analysez page.
In-class definition and audience exercises
Don't Forget: SafeAssign reports due for Project One - report print-outs must be handed in to me at the beginning of class.
Research and MLA Day!
Reading: Everything's an Argument Chapter 16 ("What Counts as Evidence")
The Scott, Foresman Writer Chapter 23 ("Evaluating Sources") - available under
Content on our course Blackboard page
Familiarize yourself with Everything's an Argument Chapter 20 ("Documenting
Sources"), pages 566-585
Week Seven
October 11:
Project Two Planning Workshop
Writing: Post your answers to the Project Two Planning Questions as a comment on the Inconceivable! page by 5:00pm on Sunday, October 10.
Reading: Re-visit the Inconceivable! page after 5:00pm on Sunday, October 10 and read your classmates' responses to these questions. Choose at least one project (not your own) that you're interested in discussing in class.
Incorporating research into research papers
Quotation sandwiches
Reading: "They Say/I Say" Chapter 1 ("They Say: Starting with What Others are Saying")
"They Say/I Say" Chapter 3 ("As He Himself Puts It: The Art of Quoting")
"They Say/I Say" Chapter 4 ("Yes/No/Okay, But: Three Ways to Respond")
In-class research exercise
Week Eight
Project Two rough draft workshop
Writing: Submit your Project Two rough draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it on your Roster page.
Debates
Reading: "Calvin Klein: A Case Study"
"Teens Threatened With 'Sexting' Porn Charge Sue Prosecutor"
"Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban on Virtual Child Porn"
October 22:
No Class - Instructor at Conference
Week Nine
No Class - Instructor at Conference
Mid-term evaluations
Review of debates
Evaluation arguments
In-class evaluation exercises
Reading: Everything's an Argument Chapter 10 ("Evaluations")
Proposal arguments
In-class proposal exercises
Introduction to Project Three
Reading: Everything's an Argument Chapter 12 ("Proposals")
Instructions and student examples for Project Three
Don't Forget: Final draft of Project Two due by 11:59pm - submit your final draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it to your name on the Finished page. Please also email me your SafeAssign reports, either by copying and pasting the report into an email or by sending me a link to the report.
Week Ten
In-class problem-solving exercise
Don't Forget: If you haven't already emailed me your SafeAssign report for Project Two, please bring your report print-out to class.
November 3:
Project Three Planning Workshop
Writing: Post your answers to the Project Three Planning Questions as a comment on the It Needs Evaluation page by 5:00pm on November 2.
Reading: Re-visit the It Needs Evaluation page after 5:00pm on Tuesday, November 2 and read your classmates' responses to these questions. Choose at least one project (not your own) that you're interested in discussing in class.
Addressing potential objections to your argument
Reading: "They Say/I Say" Chapter 6 ("Skeptics May Object: Planting a Naysayer in Your Text")
Week Eleven
November 8:
Project Three rough draft workshop
Writing: Submit your Project Three rough draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it on your Roster page.
Perfecting your essay from beginning to end - titles and conclusions
Reading: "They Say/I Say" Chapter 7 ("So What? Who Cares?: Saying Why It Matters")
Debates
Week Twelve
Introduction to Project Four and presentations
Reading: Instructions and student examples for Project Four
Everything's an Argument Chapter 15 ("Presenting Arguments")
How soccer explains the cultural analysis
Reading: Chapter 9 of Franklin Foer's How Soccer Explains the World (available under Content on our course Blackboard page)
November 19:
Cultural analysis media edition: TV and movies and video games, oh my!
Reading: Excerpts from Steven Johnson's Everything Bad is Good For You (available under Content on our course Blackboard page)
Don't Forget: Final draft of Project Three due by 11:59pm - submit your final draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it to your name on the It's the Final Countdown page. Please also email me your SafeAssign reports, either by copying and pasting the report into an email or by sending me a link to the report.
Week Thirteen
Project Four outline workshop
Writing: Bring 5 hard copies of your Project Four outline to class.
Don't Forget: SafeAssign reports due for Project Three - report print-outs must be handed in to me at the beginning of class.
November 24 & November 26:
No Class - Happy Thanksgiving!
Week Fourteen
Project Four rough draft workshop
Writing: Submit your Project Four rough draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it on your Roster page.
December 1:
Presentations
December 3:
Presentations
Week Fifteen
December 6:
Presentations
December 8:
Presentations
December 10:
Presentations
Week Sixteen
December 13:
Course evaluations
Tearful goodbyes
December 17:
Writing: Final draft of Project Four due by 11:59pm - submit your final draft by uploading the document to the wiki, then linking it to your name on the Goodbye page.
Email: SafeAssign reports for Project Four also due by 11:59pm. You can either email me the URL to the report itself (there is a button on the report page that allows you to do this) or else copy and paste the text of the report into a Word document and email that.