Welcome to ENG 323
| Instructor Info | ||
| Instructor: | Christopher B. Berg | |
| Office: | Tompkins G-116-A | |
| Phone: | 919.513.7967 | |
| E-mail: | chris_berg@ncsu.edu | |
| Office Hours: | Mon. & Thu. 1:00-2:00 | |
| Course Logistics | ||
| Room: | Tompkins 126 | |
| Days & Time: | MWF 10:15-11:05 | |
Download a copy of the syllabus in PDF format.
Overview & Description
Rhetoric stands against two important studies in the liberal arts: criticism and philosophy. Whereas criticism involves the consumption of pre-written texts, conventionally called literature, rhetoric calls for the production of texts of all sorts. Even literary criticism is a branch of rhetoric, because any statement about literature must persuade someone to count as significant. Philosophers seek to prove their statements, and have resisted rhetoric’s emphasis on probability and relativism since Plato. But as long as philosophers make their arguments for a specific group of people (and there is no other kind) in a specific environment (and there is no other kind), they, too, are practicing a branch of rhetoric.
This course is designed to enrich the education of English majors and other students by helping them to become more persuasive writers and to learn a set of concepts and principles for reflecting on and analyzing their own and others' writing. Successful students will:
- become familiar with the basic rhetorical principles in the arts of invention, arrangement, style, and presentation
- apply those principles to the analysis of persuasive discourse
- apply those principles to their own writing for a variety of audiences and purposes
In addition, this course is an opportunity to develop personal and professional skills that are useful for any writer. Students should show:
- willingness to take initiative and go beyond minimum requirements
- ability to work both independently and in small groups
- willingness to contribute to the success of your colleagues
- commitment to professionalism, including producing polished work, meeting deadlines consistently, and adhering to requirements and guidelines
Organization
This course will be organized around a contemporary political issue of your choosing, and divided into two parts. In the first part, you will be expected to learn a number of the key concepts and strategies that inform rhetoric, and apply them to speeches, commercials, and debates related to your political issue or campaign. During this portion of the course, which will culminate in a two-part midterm exam (which will come prior to the “midterm exam period”), you will choose the discourse community around which your work for the rest of the semester will be based.
During the second portion of this course, you will complete several more assignments exploring a range of rhetorical activities, including a dialogue, and a parody, both related to your chosen political issue. You will also complete a larger project that will ask you to showcase (orally and in writing) your practical understanding of rhetorical concepts by analyzing and rewriting an artifact from your chosen political issue so that it appeals to a different audience. The course will culminate in a comprehensive final exam.
Throughout this course, you will maintain a portfolio of rhetorical concepts and applications. For more information about the portfolio, see the Homework Page or the Portfolio Assignment Sheet
Required Materials
- Required Text: Sharon Crowley & Debra Hawhee - Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students, 4th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. ISBN: 0-205-57443-2 Price: $78.00 (New), $62.40 (Used)
- Optional Text: Patricia Bizzell & Bruce Herzberg (Eds.) The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings From Classical Times to the Present. 2nd Ed. Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2001. ISBN: 0-312-14839-9 Price: $69.40 (new), $41.98 (used)
- Five two-pocket folders: one (sturdy) for the portfolio, four for the major projects.
- A few dollars for print quota and wolfcopy