Course Policies
Western Carolina University
Spring 2012
Nate Kreuter
Email: nathankreuter [at-sign] gmail [dot] com
Course Website: www.natekreuter.net/courses
Alternate Course Website: Blackboard (only .pdf readings will be posted here, and they will always be indicated on the syllabus as a “digital file”)
Office: Coulter 207
Office Hours: W 11-2, and by appointment
Meeting Time: M 6-8:50
Meeting Location: Asheville, UNCA Campus, KH 206
In the unlikely event that a policy described herein conflicts with a Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate College, or University policy, the Department, College, or University policy shall prevail.
The expectations for a graduate course are, and should be, high. This document outlines the basic expectations and policies for students enrolled in ENGL 614 – 20th Century Rhetorical Theory
Description: The 20th Century, and in particular the post-WWII period, witnessed a renaissance within rhetorical studies. New theories were (and continue to be) promulgated in a quantity and with an audacity unprecedented in the history of rhetoric. Similarly, past theories of rhetoric received renewed attention. In this course we will study the major rhetorical theories of the 20th Century. In many ways this entails studying major theorists as much as it does theories. In this course we will read the major theorists of the past 100 years, examining their ideas in detail, and considering theoretical developments in dialogue with one another and in light of world events, in particular WWII and the rhetorical dilemmas that it forced theorists to confront. We will also examine the role of rhetoric within higher learning (the university). The course is strongly recommended for MA students in the Rhetoric and Composition concentration, and will deal with many of the texts that students are responsible for in the comprehensive exams.
Primary Course Objectives (in no particular order):
- Gain familiarity with major texts of 20th Century Western rhetorical theory
- Learn about the relationships between various theoretical schools
- Learn how 20th Century theory is being deployed in contemporary scholarship
- Gain familiarity with contemporary deployments of rhetoric more generally
- Explore classroom potentialities for rhetoric
- Gain fluency with fundamental rhetorical concepts
- Practice giving a variety of presentations in front of an informed audience
- Develop graduate writing skills, through writing for a variety of purposes
- Develop graduate research skills
Required Texts: The following texts are required for this course, and are available through the WCU bookstore, as well as other (cheaper) outlets. All additional texts (and there are many of them) will be posted in Blackboard (scourge that it is). Note that the Mailloux text is out of print, but widely available, and order it ASAP.
- The Rhetorical Tradition, edited by Bizzell and Herzberg
- A Rhetoric of Motives, by Kenneth Burke
- Rhetorical Power, by Steven Mailloux
- The New Rhetoric, by Chaim Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca
Communications: Students should communicate outside of class with Nate via email, and are required to provide him with an email address that they check at least once daily. Students should check their email accounts at least once daily and expect to receive any updates or changes via email. All assignments will be submitted to the instructor via email. In the event that students cannot make it to Nate’s regular office hours, they should email to set up an appointment for another time. Please do not call Nate’s office—use email. As a general rule, Nate will answer email only between the hours of 9-5, M-F. So, plan accordingly when emailing with questions about the course.
Academic Honesty Policy (from student handbook): Students, faculty, staff, and administrators of Western Carolina University strive to achieve the highest standards of scholarship and integrity. Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy is a serious offense because it threatens the quality of scholarship and undermines the integrity of the community. While academic in scope, any violation of this policy is by nature a violation of the student code of conduct. Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy include:
a. Cheating—Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.
b. Fabrication—Creating and/or falsifying information or citation in any academic exercise.
c. Plagiarism—Representing the words or ideas of someone else as one’s own in any academic exercise.
d. Facilitation—Helping or attempting to help someone to commit a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy in any academic exercise (e.g. allowing another to copy information during an examination).
Instructors have the right to determine the appropriate sanction or sanctions for academic dishonesty within their courses up to and including a final grade of “F” in the course. Within 5 calendar days of the instructor’s knowledge of the violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, the instructor will inform his/her department head (Associate Dean of the Graduate School) in writing of the allegation and sanction. See student handbook for further information. The instructor reserves the right to use a variety of software applications to detect plagiarism.
Expectations: Graduate students are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times. As a graduate student, you are expected to go beyond work completion; you should actively and thoughtfully engage the course material and participate in class discussions and activities in which we explore the course content. Active and regular participation in class discussion is not optional, but is a minimal expectation.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities. Students who require disability services or reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability Services. All information is confidential. Please contact Disability Services for more information at (828) 227-2716 ; or 144 Killian Annex. You can also visit the office’s website: http://www.wcu.edu/12789.asp
Attendance: Each class session represents an entire week’s worth of work. By necessity, graduate courses move quickly. Because of this, it is imperative that students attend class, particularly because our course material is cumulative, building on itself over the course of the semester. Students may miss two unexcused class sessions, no questions asked. However, upon missing a third unexcused class, students will fail automatically—no exceptions. Consult the student handbook for a listing of excused absences, which, while excused, should be avoided if at all possible. (Graduate students have a lot to juggle—if you have an issue that may affect your attendance, please bring it to Nate’s attention as soon as possible.)
Meeting with the Instructor: You are enrolled in a WCU English Department graduate seminar. Even though the course is taught in Asheville, WCU and your instructor’s office are located in Cullowhee. Your instructor will NEVER be able to meet in Asheville on days other than Mondays, and only occasionally will the instructor be able to meet before class on Mondays. If you need to meet with the instructor, you may have to come to Cullowhee to do so. At the instructor’s discretion, he may opt to conduct a meeting over the phone. Email for appointments if you cannot make the walk-in office hours in Cullowhee.
Grades and Grading: The following list outlines our major assignments and how each assignment will be weighted towards the calculation of your final grade.
Weekly Microthemes (500 words weekly, 25% of final grade)
These short papers are turned in 48 hours before class meets and are shared electronically with all seminar members. Seminar members spend time reading these short papers prior to class, and they provide fodder for class discussion. Each week, one student will be responsible for synthesizing these papers and launching class discussion
Book or Article Review (1500-2000 words, 20% of final grade)
Once during the semester, each student will review a text chosen from a list at the beginning of the semester, to be presented on a set date. Reviews are 5-7 pages and shared with seminar members. Each week, a different seminar member presents a review in class (book reviewers are not responsible for a microtheme that week).
Final Paper (4500-5500 words, 45% of final grade)
Students will engage in an extended research project of their own choosing related to the course material. In addition to the research papers, which will be discussed over the course of the semester, students will present an abbreviated version of their research (15 minutes) at the last class meeting. Students will determine the precise nature of their research projects in individual consultation with the instructor.
Final Exam (written, during exam period, 10% of final grade)
As preparation for the comprehensive exams and as a review, there will be an in-class essay exam.
Grading Scale: The following scale will be used to determine final grades. Holistic scales will generally be used for individual assignments, and will be explained on individual assignment prompts.
A 100% – 90%
B 89% – 80%
C 79%-70%
F 69% – 0%
Questions: Please come to Nate with any questions or concerns, in person or via email. The demands placed upon graduate students are great, and he is happy to help make accommodations when appropriate. It is easiest to make accommodations sooner than later.
