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SEMINAR IN RHETORICAL CRITICISM
C&J 538
Fall 2006
Course Objectives:
1. To
introduce students to the process of rhetorical criticism and to develop an
appreciation for its value in personal and professional life.
2. To study
and practice a variety of critical approaches and to use them to uncover the
nature and function of messages of various kinds.
3. To
develop the capacity for independent, reflective thought.
4. To
foster a healthy sense of skepticism toward the many messages that influence
our worldviews, behaviors, and choices on a daily basis.
5. To
develop excellence in argumentative writing.
Instructor:
Karen Foss
246-2991 (home and fax)
Office Hours:
Because of the renovation of the C&J Building,
office hours will be virtual (e-mail) or by appointment. Feel free to call me at home between
8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Textbook:
Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration & Practice, 3rd edition, by Sonja K. Foss
(available in the UNM bookstore).
Assignments:
1. A short,
original, collaborative essay of criticism, written in pairs or triads, using cluster
analysis (8-10
pages). Everyone will do a cluster
analysis to beginÑto get a sense of doing criticism, to share insights, and to
learn a basic processÑclusteringÑthat underlies much of criticism. By writing with another person/s, you
have the opportunity to experience the possibilities of brainstorming and
collaboration in scholarship. Due
September 7. (15 points)
2. Two original
essays of criticism (approximately 14-16 pages long), done with a co-author or by
yourself. If you write these with
another person, your essay should be 16-18 pages long. For these essays, you will choose two
of the following methods to use: fantasy
theme, feminist, ideological, metaphoric, narrative, or pentadic. Due on October 12 and November 16. (30
points each)
3. An
original essay of criticism using the generative method. This must be single authored. I hope you think of this essay in
particular as a possible conference paper, an essay to submit for publication,
or a starting point for your thesis or dissertation. I will be happy to help you revise your essays for
presentation and/or publication.
Due at our final-exam time:
Thursday, December 14, 7:30. (50 points)
Most of you will select different kinds of artifacts to
analyze in your essaysÑcampaign literature, speeches, works of art, songs,
restaurants, poems, short stories, films, music, advertisements, memos,
architecture, fashion, interior design, etc. This will give you practice in analyzing different kinds of
symbolic experiences. AnotherÑand
very different optionÑis to write all of your essays on the same artifact,
which clearly points out the different kinds of conclusions that various
methods produce. One source of artifacts is Americanrhetoric.com, a web site of
rhetorical artifacts of all kinds that you might want to consult if you need
ideas for artifacts to analyze.
4. Reading reports:
Reading and taking notes on 5 sample essays of criticism: Read the sample essay assigned for the
unit and take notes on it, answering the following questions about the essay:
- What
does the critic want to find out by analyzing the artifact, data, or text?
- What
are the data being analyzed?
- What
are the primary elements, dimensions, or characteristics of the data or
text that the analysis identifies?
- What
can I learn about rhetoric or communication from this essay?
- What
is particularly useful for me in this essay for writing my own essays of
criticism?
- Is
there something that doesnÕt make sense to you in this essay?
You may take notes either in longhand or on the
computer. You do not have to use
complete sentences; an outline is fine.
There are eight days for which there are sample essays
of criticism assigned for reading and discussion. You can choose which five of the eight to do. Doing extra reports will result in
extra praise, not in extra points.
Reading reports are due on the days on which we discuss the essay. Each set of essay notes is worth 2
points. (10 points)
5. Presentation
of essays of generative criticism:
An 8-10
minute presentation about your essay of generative criticism (you will be asked
to stop when you get to 10 minutes).
This presentation should be much like the presentation you would give of
your work at a convention. It
should highlight the major elements of your analysis. You may use notes and PowerPoint, but concentrate on a
lively, conversational mannerÑdonÕt read.
This presentation will be given on December 7. (5 points)
Grading:
Points will be totaled and grades distributed as follows
(I do give pluses and minuses).
Participation in class discussions and attendance will be considered in
borderline cases.
Essay #1 (cluster) 15
Essay #2 (choice of method) 30
Essay #3 (choice of method) 40
Essay #4 (generative) 50
Reading reports 10
Presentation of generative essay 5
Total 150
Grade Distribution:
A+ 145-150
A 140-144
A- 135-139
B+ 130-134
B 125-129
B-
120-124
C+ 115-119
C 110-114
C-
105-109
D+ 100-104
D
95-99
D-
90-94
Policies:
1. All
papers submitted must be typed and double spaced, with attention paid to form
(including grammar, punctuation, spelling, and general appearance) as well as
to content. You may use either the
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or the Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association. Either
style format is acceptable for essays of criticism.
2. Essays not turned in on the date due will be given a grade lower than the one deserved. For example, an "A" paper submitted late will be given a grade of "B." Please turn in papers at class on the day they are due. If you must miss class, email the paper to me by midnight.
3. Ž Qualified students with disabilities who need appropriate academic adjustments should contact me as soon as possible to ensure your needs are met in a timely manner.
4. Incomplete grades are not given simply
because you are receiving lower grades than you would like. To be eligible for an incomplete grade,
you have completed 75% of the course assignments with passing grades and have
special circumstances outside your control that preclude completion of the
course.
5. Please turn off and put away electronic
devices with audible signals such as pagers and cell phones during class.
6. Extra credit is not available in this
class.
Schedule
August 24 Introduction
to course and to each other;
Basic process of doing rhetorical
criticism
Neo-Aristotelian criticism
Reading: Chapters 1, 2, & 3
Material artifacts: Karen
August 31 Cluster
criticism
Reading: Chapter 4; sample essay for reading
reports is on pp. 101-07
Material artifacts:
September 7 Reports
on cluster criticism
DUE: Essay #1 (cluster analysis)
Material artifacts:
September 14 Fantasy-theme criticism
Reading: Chapter 5; sample essay for reading reports is on pp. 109-49
Material artifacts:
September 21 Feminist criticism
Reading: Chapter 6; sample essay for reading reports is on pp. 168-81
Material artifacts:
September 28 Ideological
criticism
Reading: Chapter 8; sample essay for reading reports is on pp. 272-79.
Material artifacts:
October 5 Workshop
Material artifacts:
October 12 No class: Fall break.
DUE: Essay #2 (to C&J office or to my
email by midnight)
October 19 Metaphoric criticism
Reading: Chapter 9; sample essay for reading reports is on pp. 320-24.
Material
artifacts:
October 26 Narrative criticism
Reading: Chapter 10; sample essay for reading reports is on pp. 356-76.
Material
artifacts:
November 2 Pentadic criticism
Reading: Chapter 11; sample essay for reading reports is on pp. 392-400.
Material artifacts:
November 9 Generative
criticism/workshop
Reading: Chapter 12; sample essay for reading reports is on pp. 455-59
Material
artifacts
November 16 No
class: National Communication
Association Convention
DUE: Essay #4 (to C&J office or my e-mail
by midnight)
November 23 No
class: Thanksgiving
November 30 Workshop
Material
artifacts:
December 7 Present
essays of generative criticism
Material
Artifacts:
Thursday, DUE:
Essay #5 (to C&J office or my email by 7:30 p.m.);
December 14 (no
class meeting)