Rhetoric 1302 – 18

Fall 2005
Thom Mackenzie
University of Texas at Dallas
School of Arts & Humanities

MWF, 2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

JO 4.306

Office Hours:
Monday 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fridays 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. by appointment
Office: JO 4.118

Phone: 972-883-2018
Ask to leave a written message

Email: Thom@Lifewalk.net

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

Contains links to course syllabus, reference & research resources, and LRO

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

NOTE: The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

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

Required Texts & Supplies

Everything’s an Argument by Andrea Lunsford, John Ruszkiewicz, & Keith Walters, 3 rd ed.
Quick Access Reference for Writers by Lynn Troyka, 4 th ed.

Also bring a floppy disk (PC-formatted if you use a PC, Mac-formatted if you use a Mac) or
CD/RW. The Rhetoric classroom uses Macintosh computers that can read either format.
Most documents will be produced in MS 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

Because participation is vital to successful completion of Rhetoric 1302, you should attend
every class. Much of the work is done collaboratively in class and thus cannot be made up.
Alternative assignments are generally not given, nor can the instructor “re-teach” missed
classes for individual students. If you miss more than three classes, your grade will be
negatively affected and/or you may be encouraged to drop the class. Two tardies will
count as one absence. Chronic tardiness and coming to class late is unacceptable.
Likewise, 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 will be considered the same as an absence – as your attention is elsewhere.
Turn off cellular phones, pagers, and other personal electronic devices during class.

Drop Policy

Details on deadlines and procedures for dropping can be found at:

http://www.utdallas.edu/student/registrar/lookup/dropadd.html

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 2 of 9

Office Hours

Please note my regular office hours above. You also can arrange to see me at other times
that are mutually convenient. Office hours belong to you just as much as our class time.
Don’t hesitate to take advantage of my availability and the help I am ready to offer. Do not
wait until the last minute to seek help. If you need to contact me outside of class time or
office hours, it is best to communicate with me 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/

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 worse. Each incident of plagiarism at UTD must be
reported to the administration. If you are not sure how to properly cite a quoted or
paraphrased source, or if you need help with the format of a citation, check with the New
Century Handbook and/or with your teacher. Although you can (and, in fact, should) seek
help and advice from friends, classmates, tutors, and others, be sure that your written work
is your own.

See the Undergraduate Catalog for information about the consequences of Scholastic
Dishonesty, or view the policy here (which is also a link o n the Rhetoric Program website):

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

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 3 of 9

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
UTD provides "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to
discriminate on the basis of that disability. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria
and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at
www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/hcsvc.html. Visit the office of Disability Services in Student
Union (1.610) or call at 972.883.2098 to obtain proper paperwork for this class.

Grading Policy

This class 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 me. Turning assignments in late will adversely affect your grade. Your mid-
term and final grades will be based on your portfolio of written observations and your work
samples, 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
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 writi ng, use of effective
arguments, creativity, collaboration, sound rhetorical skills, competent use of technology—
all of these things and more contribute to an outstanding portfolio.

Your goal is to demonstrate your development toward mastery of 5 course strands:

Rhetoric Research Technology
Collaboration Critical Thinking

You must also demonstrate development across five dimensions of learning:

* Reflectiveness
* Skills and strategies
* Confidence and independence
* Knowledge and understanding
* Use of prior and emerging experience

These goals will be discussed throughout the course. Keep in mind that although UTD
gives + and – grades, the general criteria for grading your Learning Record is still based on
the A-F scale.

The following grade criteria describe very general indicators taken 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 ‘+’ or ‘–‘ if your
work tilts above or below the central grade for which you argue. The final interpretation
and assessment of your grade remains the responsibility of the instructor.

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 4 of 9

Grade Scale:
A: Represents outstanding participation in all course activities (including atte ndance 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. Average
means average and technically most of the class should receive a grade of “C.”

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

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

Incompletes will NOT be granted.

Major Assignments

First Essay: An essay that presents a definition or evaluation argument about who you
are using the principles and criteria in Everything’s an Argument (Chapter 9 or 10).
First draft due: September 19 Final draft due: September 26

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. This essay may be created and archived on the WWW, or it may be a traditional
Word document with image(s) in the body of the essay. Your image may come from the
visuals in Everything’s an Argument, other publications, Internet, or other media.
First draft due: October 12 Final draft due: October 19

Third Essay: An essay that presents a causal or proposal argument using the principles
and criteria in Everything’s an Argument (Chapter 11 or 12).
First draft due: November 9 Second draft due: November 16
Final draft due: November 23

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 5 of 9

Learning Record Online: Various assignments will be due throughout the semester, and
all observations, drafts, and essays must be included in the LRO on the date due.
Parts A.1 and A.2 are due: August 31
Parts B.1 and C.1 are due: October 7
Parts B.2 and C.2 are due: November 23

NOTICE: All drafts & final drafts must be recorded online in your LRO & turned in to
me in hard copy. Use MLA format and citation, include a Works Cited page.

Syllabus Itinerary (subject to change)

Assignments are due by the next class period unless noted otherwise.
Assignments from Everything’s an Argument textbook will be denoted by EA; assignments
from Quick Access Handbook will be denoted by QA

Fri 8/19: In-class: Complete self introduction. Intro to course. Register for QA e-book
online and EA companion website. Submit email address for LRO.
Assignments: Read EA Ch 1 and QA Chs 1-3: Review Rhetoric program website.

Mon 8/22: In-class: Intro to LRO; Discussion of EA Ch 1 and QA Chs 1-3

Assignments: Record an observation in your LRO; Read Chs 2-3 in EA; Complete LRO
parts A.1 and A.2 by 9/1

Wed 8/24 In-class: Discussion of EA Chs 2-3 and demo of QA electronic resources
Assignments: Read EA Ch 4 and bring 1 -2 visual examples of a logo/advertisement to
class on 8/26 (see Response #1 on p 75). Attach a typed statement of the emotions or
meaning conveyed by each image.

Fri 8/26: In-class: Discuss EA Ch 4; Small group analysis of appeal in logos and/or ads.
Assignments: Record an observation in LRO; Read EA Ch 5, “Schoolchildren Debating,”
pp. 828-835 in EA and “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” pp. 71-85 in Pocket Reader.

Mon 8/29: : In-class: Discuss EA Ch 5 and essays.

Assignments: Record an observation in your LRO; Read EA Chs 6-7

Wed 8/31: In-class: DUE: LRO parts A.1 and A.2; Discuss EA Chs 6-7
Assignments: Read EA Ch 8, “2002 National Survey of Latinos,” p 744 and “Divinity and
Pornography,” p 519 in EA.

Fri 9/2: In-class: Discuss EA Ch 8; Class Toulmin analysis of Prager’s essay.

Assignments: Record an observation in your LRO; Read EA Ch 9 and “God’s Justice and
Ours,” p 816, and “Mystical Time in N. Scott Momaday’s House Made of Dawn.”
Essay #1 assigned (Definition/Evaluation Argument)

Mon 9/5: LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 6 of 9

Wed 9/7: In-class: Discussion of EA Ch 9, “God’s Justice,” and “Mystical Time.”
Assignments: Read EA Ch 10 and Chs 21-22 (Assessing and using Sources,
Documenting Sources).

Fri 9/9: In-class: Discussion of EA Ch 10 and general discussion of sources; students log
in to QA online; Demo of QA Research Navigator and Documentation electronic resources;
Assignments: Record an observation in LRO; Read 486-493, 622-626, & 670-672 in EA.

Mon 9/12: In-class: Discussion of assigned readings on evaluation arguments

Assignments: Record an observation in your LRO.

Wed 9/14: Possible library tour day or switch the discussion with another date.
Assignments: Read QA Handbook on MLA format and how to cite and create a works
cited page; read student samples of LRO Parts B.1 (Analysis) and C.1 (Evaluation) in LRO
website; Read EA Chs 18-20.

Fri 9/16: In-class: Class discussion of LRO parts B.1 and C.1; Grammar, format,
mechanics, evidence, fallacies, and plagiarism discussion (bring QA Handbook)
Assignment: Record an observation in your LRO; Work on draft of essay #1, due 9/20

Mon 9/19: In-class: First draft of essay #1 due today. Peer reviews: exchange your
paper with another student and respond to peer review questionnaire.
Assignments: Record an observation in your LRO; Work on essay #1 peer review revision
suggestions

Wed 9/21: In-class: Teacher conference and in-class writing on essay #1.
Assignments: Continue work on essay # 1

Fri 9/23: In-class: Teacher conference and in-class work on essay #1 revisions
Assignments: Continue work on essay # 1; Read EA Ch 15; bring Visual Exercises CD to
class Monday

Mon 9/26: Final draft of Essay #1 due; In-class: Discussion of EA Ch 15; work in Visual
Exercises application in class.
Assignments: Record an observation in your LRO; Research image(s) to use for Visual
Rhetoric Essay #2 and bring some to class

Wed 9/28: In-class: Small group discussions of images and analysis of visual arguments.
Assignments: Examine images i n United Benetton ads
(http://www.benetton.com/html/whatwesay/campaigns/photogallery.shtml) and
Adbusters.org (http://adbusters.org/home/) website and note various arguments

Fri 9/30: In-class: Discuss United Benetton and Adbusters.org images

Assignments: Record an observation in your LRO; decide on image(s) for your essay #2
and bring to class on Monday [If you are linking to the image elsewhere on the Internet, BE
SURE TO NOTE EXACT SOURCE OF IMAGE and OBTAIN PERMISSION TO LINK TO IT
IF IT IS NOT ON A PUBLIC SITE; see EA p 408-409].

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 7 of 9

Mon 10/3: In-class: Using technology and web design. Assignments: Record an
observation in your LRO; Work on format and media decisions for visual project.

Wed 10/5: In-class: Begin parts B.1 and C.1 of LRO due Fri, 10/7; start sketching main
visual project components and argument analysis.

Fri 10/7: In-class: Parts B.1 & C.1 of LRO due – paper copy. Moderation readings.
Assignments: Record an Observation about moderation readings in your LRO; continue
work on visual project.

Mon 10/10: In-class: Individual work on visual projects in class

Assignments: Complete first draft of Visual argument project due Wednesday, 10/12;
bring hard copy of first draft to class on 10/12

Wed 10/12: In-class: First draft of Visual argument due; peer reviews in class.
Assignments: Revise visual argument analysis paper based on peer suggestions.

Fri 10/14: In-class: Teacher-student conferences on visual argument essay

Assignments: Complete final draft of Visual argument essay due Wednesday, 10/19

Mon 10/17: In-class: In class work on visual projects

Assignments: Record an Observation in your LRO; Read EA Ch 16. Compare arguments
from Thomas Sowell or Linda Chavez with Jesse Peterson or Bill Maher.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/archive.shtml
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/lindachavez/archive.shtml
and
http://www.bondinfo.org/media/articles/jlp/jlp.htm
http://www.safesearching.com/billmaher/print/
or www.billmaher.com

Wed 10/19: In-class: Paper copy of final draft of Visual argument due; Discussion of
EA Ch 16 on Arguments in Electronic Environments and assigned online readings
Assignments: Readings to be announced.

Fri 10/21: In-class: Continued discussion of online readings. Assignments: Record an

Observation in LRO; Read EA Ch 11 and 3 new essays of causal arguments from EA.

Mon 10/24: In-class: Discussion of EA Ch 11 and assigned readings; Discuss Paper #3

project (Causal or Proposal Essay due Nov 24)
Assignments: Record an Observation in LRO; brainstorm on topics for your final paper.

Wed 10/26: In-class: Continued discussion of EA Ch 11 and assigned readings.

Assignments: Exercises assigned according to need from Quick Access.

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 8 of 9

Fri 10/28: Self-directed small group: Group evaluation of Handbook exercises from 10/26.
Discuss final papers with the group and improve your topic idea.
Assignments: Record an Observation in LRO regarding the final paper topic of those in
your small group; Read EA Ch 12 and 3 proposal essays from EA. [p 525, 654, 660,

Mon 10/31: In-class: Discussion of EA Ch 12. Write an online response in class to “The
Fat Tax,” or “Devastating Beauty.” Assignments: Record an Observation in LRO; choose
possible topics for Causal/Proposal argument for Paper #3

Wed 11/2: In-class: Continued discussion of EA Ch 12 and readings; small group

discussions of paper topics Assignments: Refine paper topic & begin work on first draft.

Fri 11/4: In-class: Teacher conference on paper topics. Small groups conduct online
library research for supporting documentation of topics – Comet Card required.
Assignments: Work on first draft of essay #3 due Wed 11/9 in LRO

Mon 11/7: In-class: Writing in class on first draft of essay #3

Assignments: Continue working on first draft; bring hard copy of first draft to class on 11/9

Wed 11/9: In-class: First draft of essay #3 due in LRO – include paper copy; Peer
reviews of first draft of essay #3.
Assignments: Continue working on essay #3 using peer feedback

Fri 11/11: In-class: Work on revisions of first draft of essay #3

Assignments: Continue working on essay #3; Read EA Ch 14

Mon 11/14: In-class: Discussion of EA Ch 14; discussion of revision techniques and

elevating style (bring QA Handbook); In-class writing on essay #3
Assignments: Continue work on essay #3

Wed 11/16: In-class: In-class writing on essay #3; Second draft of essay #3 due in LRO
by end of class period. Assignments: prepare for conference with instructor.

Fri 11/18: In-class: Conference with instructor – bring paper copy of essay #3.
Assignments: Work on revisions of 2 nd draft of essay #3

Mon 11/21: In-class: Conference with instructor – bring paper copy of essay #3.
Assignments: Complete final draft of essay #3 in LRO for 11/23

Wed 11/23: In-class: Final draft of essay #3 due in LRO; student evaluations of course
Assignments: Complete LRO parts B.2 and C.2 due Monday 11/28

Fri 11/25: Thanksgiving Holiday

Mon 11/28: LRO parts B.2 and C.2 due today. Moderation readings.

Rhetoric 1302 -- Mackenzie, Page 9 of 9