RHET 1302, Fall 2008, Section 009

RHET 1302: Rhetoric

Fall 2008, Section 009 (MWF, 12:30-1:20)

Instructor: Rachael Sullivan

Office Number: JO 4.120
Office Hours: MW, 10-11 a.m.
Office Phone: (972) 883-2020
E-mail: rlb081000@utdallas.edu
Department Director: Dr. John Gooch, john.gooch@utdallas.edu

NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at the instructor's discretion. Any
changes will be communicated to students via email and WebCT. (Use your NetID and password to
access WebCT at webct.utdallas.edu)

Course Description
Rhetoric 1302 will prepare you for college-level writing while helping you develop your critical thinking
skills. Rhetoric is the study of persuasion, not only in writing and speech, but also through visual and
other means. In this class, you will develop skills to analyze the way rhetoric, in its various forms,
addresses audiences. By paying attention to the strategies that good writers and speakers use to
persuade their particular audiences, you will learn to reason better and to persuade others in your own
writing, both through specific techniques and rhetorical appeals, and through the increased sensitivity to
audience, purpose, and occasion that is at the heart of the study of rhetoric. For Rhetoric 1302, you will
read and reread texts and write multi-draft essays. Practically speaking, you will learn skills that you can
use in your future course work regardless of your major.

Student Learning Objectives

• Students will be able to write in different ways for different audiences;
• Students will be able to write effectively using appropriate organization, mechanics, and style;
• Students will be able to construct effective written arguments; and
• Students will be able to gather, incorporate, and interpret source material in their writing.

Required Textbooks
Crusius, Timothy W. and Carolyn E. Channell. The Aims of Argument: A Text and Reader. Sixth Edition.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. [ISBN: 978-0-07-332617-7]

Maimon, Elaine P., Janice H. Peritz, and Kathleen Blake Yancey. A Writer’s Resource: A Handbook for
Writing and Research. Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. [ISBN: 978-0-07-325938-3]

Required Materials
• Flash drive or other removable storage device
• One two-pocket folder

Note:
A Writer’s Resource provides an online student resource called Catalyst. You can access the Catalyst
system for UTD at http://www.mhhe.com/utd. Use the generic pass code that appears on this page to
access the resource.

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Class Schedule, Due Dates, and Academic Calendar

THEME: Issues Facing Today’s Generation
AA=The Aims of Argument
AWR=A Writer's Resource
=Assignment due
Fri, 8/22 Introduction to the Course
Syllabus and class expectations
Mon, 8/25 Diagnostic Essay 4 pgs.
Read: Suzanne Britt, “Neat People vs. Sloppy People” and Dave Barry, “For Men, It’s a
Dirty Shame” (handouts and WebCT)
Optional: Read “Two Patterns of Comparison-Contrast” on WebCT>Resources
Write an in-class comparison/contrast essay—bring loose-leaf paper
Wed, 8/27 The Basics of Good Writing 105 pgs.
Read: AWR Tabs 1 and 2
Discuss the basics of writing: focus, organization, subordination, transitions, diction, and
style
Fri, 8/29 Reading and Understanding Arguments 17 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 1
Mon, 9/1 Labor Day—NO CLASS
Wed, 9/3 Reading and Understanding Arguments 22 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 1 (cont’d) and AWR Tab 3, Chapters 10 and 11
Fri, 9/5 Rhetorical Analysis of Text 24 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 2
Mon, 9/8 Rhetorical Analysis of Text 27 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 14
Response Post #1 Due (by midnight Sunday night) 
**Last day to drop class without a “W”**
Wed, 9/10 Rhetorical Analysis of Text 8 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 14 (cont’d)
Read: “Millennials” (two-part series) by Cheryl Hall (handout and WebCT)
Optional: Read “College Pressures” by William Zinsser on WebCT>Resources
Fri, 9/12 The Toulmin Method 15 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 3
Mon, 9/15 Library Tour and Orientation 74 pgs.
Read: AWR Tab 5
Meet at the Information Desk in the McDermott Library lobby
Wed, 9/17 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Due
Introduction to visual rhetoric and visual literacy 
Fri, 9/19 Visual Rhetoric 37 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 4
Read: “Summarizing and Responding to Images” (handout) 
Bring: A magazine or newspaper photo that catches your eye, for good or bad reasons
Mon, 9/22 Visual Rhetoric 15 pgs.
View: AA Photo essay, pages 599-603
View: “The Hidden Half: A Photo Essay on Women in Afghanistan” by Elizabeth Gettelman 
at http://www.motherjones.com/photo/2007/07/hidden_half-12.html
Read: Eileen Berrington, “Representations of Terror in the Legitimation of War” (handout)
Read: AA “Jihad Wired,” pages 636-640
Response Post #2 Due (by midnight Sunday night)
Wed, 9/24 Critical Thinking and Logical Fallacy 17 pgs.
Read: AA Appendix B

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Fri, 9/26 Visual Rhetoric Essay Draft Due

Peer review workshop 
Mon, 9/29 Style, Grammar, and Mechanics 191 pgs.
Skim: AWR Tabs 9 through 12
Workshop on the twenty most common errors among college students 
Homework Assignment #1 Due
Wed, 10/1 Style, Grammar, and Mechanics
Workshop on the twenty most common errors among college students (cont’d)
Fri, 10/3 Editing and Revising 19 pgs.
Read: AA Appendix A
Review: AWR Tabs 9 through 12
Mon, 10/6 Visual Rhetoric Essay Drafts Returned
Work on essay in class
Wed, 10/8 Assessing and Using Sources, MLA Format 58 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 5
Fri, 10/10 Assessing and Using Sources, MLA Format 50 pgs.
Read: AWR Tab 6
Homework Assignment #2 Due 
Mon, 10/13 Visual Rhetoric Portfolio Due 12 pgs.
Ethical Writing and Plagiarism
Read: AA Chapter 6 
Wed, 10/15 Inquiry and Interpretation in Academic Argument 42 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 7
**Midterm grades posted by 10 a.m.**
Fri, 10/17 Arguing to Convince 38 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 8
Mon, 10/20 Arguing to Persuade 37 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 9
Wed, 10/22 Arguing to Mediate/Rogerian Argument 36 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 10
Thu, 10/23 **Last day to drop class with WP/WF**
Fri, 10/24 Arguing 39 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 11, pages 325-331 and Section 1
Response Post #3 Due (by midnight Thursday night) 
Mon, 10/27 Arguing
Continue discussion of AA Chapter 11, Section 1
Wed, 10/29 Arguing 26 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 11, Section 2
Fri, 10/31 Arguing 24 pgs.
Read: AA Chapter 11, Section 3
Mon, 11/3 Presentation Skills and the Prospectus 6 pgs.
Read: AWR Tab 3, Chapter 13
Work on prospectus in class
Wed, 11/5 Arguing
5-minute student presentations of prospectus 
Prospectus Due
Fri, 11/7 Arguing
5-minute student presentations of prospectus 
Prospectus Due
Mon, 11/10 MLA Format and Citation Review
Review: AWR Tab 6 
Prospectus Due (if changes needed)

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Wed, 11/12 In Class Workshop: Annotated Bibliography

Work on annotated bibliography in class—bring all source materials you have found
Fri, 11/14 Grammar and Mechanics Review
Review: AWR Tabs 10 and 11 
Annotated Bibliography Due
Mon, 11/17 Integrating Source Material into Your Essay 16 pgs.
Review: AWR Tab 5, Sections 23d and 23e
Review: AWR Tab 11, Chapter 61
Wed, 11/19 Arguing
Continue discussion of AA Chapter 11 
Response Post #4 Due (by midnight Tuesday night)
Fri, 11/21 Argument/Research Essay
Continue discussion of AA Chapter 11
Work on essay draft in class
Mon, 11/24 Argument/Research Essay Draft Due
Peer review workshop 
Wed, 11/26 Arguing
Continue discussion of AA Chapter 11
Fri, 11/27 Thanksgiving Holiday—NO CLASS
Mon, 12/1 Arguing
Continue discussion of AA Chapter 11
Wed, 12/3 Argument/Research Essay Drafts Returned
Work on Argument/Research Essay in class
Fri, 12/5 Writing Beyond College 22 pgs.
Read: AWR Tab 4
Guest speaker Mickey Choate from the UTD Career Center
Mon, 12/8 Argument/Research Essay and Portfolio Due
Course Wrap-Up 
**NOTE: Any writing you submit for this course (including “rough” or preliminary “drafts”) will be
subjected to scrutiny for academic and scholastic dishonesty. Please see the section on Academic
Integrity in this syllabus for UTD’s policy. You must also submit all written assignments to Turnitin.com.

Assignments and Percentages

Rhetorical Analysis Essay 10%

Visual Rhetoric Essay and Portfolio 20%
Prospectus 5%
Annotated Bibliography 5%
Argument/Research Essay and Portfolio 25%
Response Posts (4) 10%
Homework Assignments (2) and Prospectus Presentation (1) 15%
Participation 10%
TOTAL 100%

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Response Posts (4)

Response posts are 250- to 400-word focused responses to a particular reading. You should establish
your point from the beginning (i.e., in the first sentence) and support your claims with evidence from the
text. Post responses on WebCT in the appropriate discussion board. I will offer questions for
consideration, but the focus of your response is ultimately up to you. You are encouraged to read the
responses of your classmates and use their thoughts as a starting point. However, do not make their
claims the focus of your response.
Suggested strategies:
• Respond by analyzing the writer’s effectiveness in communicating the message to the
defined audience.
• Respond by agreeing or disagreeing with the message the writer delivers. You may agree
with the writer’s message, but disagree with the writer’s support, finding it to be limited,
unrealistic, or inadequate.
• Respond by interpreting the writer’s message for other audiences and explaining the
implications of the writer’s message to your readers. Using this strategy, you can also
understand the text as being “in dialogue” with another piece we have read, and write an essay
on how you think the essays “speak” to each other. You will explain how the essay fits into the
context of another essay and what the implications are for a certain group or society as a whole.
Think of these suggestions as merely guidelines. You will have some freedom to experiment with your
responses. I will grade responses on understanding of the text, depth of thought and insight invested,
focus, and originality. Your classmates can read your posts, but cannot see your grade. You can view
your grade in “My Grades” in WebCT. In case of WebCT failure, email your responses to me.

Responses must be posted by midnight the night before they are due. No credit will be given for
responses posted after this time.

Course and Instructor Policies

Attendance Policy The Rhetoric Department has specified an attendance policy. Each student is
allowed four (4) missed classes, no questions asked. Save them for when you really
need them. Each additional absence above the noted three will cause 4% to be
deducted off your final letter grade for the semester.

Punctuality As a sign of respect for me and other students, I ask that you come to class on
time. Near the beginning of each class, I will pass around a sign-in sheet. If you
arrive after the sign-in sheet has circulated back to me, you are officially late. Upon
your third late arrival and/or early departure, one class absence will be added to
your record. PLEASE NOTE: If you arrive after the sign-in sheet has circulated, I do
not take responsibility for counting you present. You must sign in to receive credit
for a class.

Class Participation Your level of engagement in class directly affects your success in this course. Your
Response Posts give you a foundation for class discussions. Because each class
period will consist of a mixture of lecture, discussion, group work, and freewriting,
your participation is essential (and will form a portion of your grade).
Participation in this course does not include doing work unrelated to this course
during class, sleeping in class, distracting your classmates, or using the computers
or other personal electronic devices for personal messaging, research, or
entertainment.

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Late Work Late work qualifies as any assignment turned in at any time after the class period it
was due. I accept late work only once throughout the semester. You must
personally turn in one of the two extension request forms handed out in class.
After you use one form, I will no longer accept late work from you. Please note the
other stipulations detailed in the form. All extensions are a maximum of ten days
past the due date.

Room and Tampering with or destroying any of the computers, printers, modems, or wiring in
Equipment Use the classroom is strictly prohibited. Violations will result in disciplinary action by the
Dean of Students’ office.
Hacking a door code and entering a classroom without the instructor’s
permission constitutes criminal trespass. The Director of Rhetoric and Writing will
pursue action through the Dean of Students’ Office and/or the UTD Police
Department against any student who engages in such behavior. The Director of
Rhetoric and Writing will also pursue action against students who are caught
attempting to enter a room without permission (i.e., entering possible number
combinations in an attempt to open a classroom door).
You may bring your own laptop for use in the class. The UTD wireless
network is available in all three classrooms.

Student Conduct The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules
and Discipline and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the
responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable
about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities.
General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD
publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each
academic year.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the
procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and
described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas
System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities of the university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these
rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students,
where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the
responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local
laws as well as the Regents' Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules.
Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether
such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are
also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic
honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute
integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a
student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic
work.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or
omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or
the submission as one's own work or material that is not one's own. As a general
rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism,
collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic
dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.

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Academic Integrity Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and
(cont’d) from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university's
policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the
resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is
over 90% effective.

Email Use The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of
communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the
same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each
individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email
correspondence be sent only to a student's U.T. Dallas email address and that
faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a
UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of
confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the
transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that
is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of
Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their
U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any
Class college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's
course catalog and in this syllabus. Administration procedures must be followed. It
is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class; I
cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure
that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend
the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services
Procedures and Activities, of the university's Handbook of Operating Procedures.
In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades,
evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of
the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor,
supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates
(hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary
responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved
at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a
copy of the respondent's School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written
response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to
the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean's decision, the
student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate
Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The
decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals
process will be distributed to all involved parties.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office
of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in
interpreting the rules and regulations.

Incomplete Grade As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work
Policy unavoidably missed at the semester's end and only if 70% of the course work has
been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from
the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the
course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified
deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

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Disability Services The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational
opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is
located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday,
8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:
The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For
example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape
recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind.
Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a
research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired).
Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in
accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services
such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance.
It is the student's responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need
for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to
present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs
accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the
professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
Days activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion
whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax
Code, Texas Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as
soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment.
The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the
assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length
of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the
instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for
the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the
prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e.,
for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement
about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any
missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may
request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her
designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the
legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the
decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

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I have read the policies for Rhetoric 1302.009 and understood them. I agree to comply with the policies
for the Fall 2008 semester. I realize that failure to comply with these policies will result in a reduced
grade in the course.

Signature: ______________________ Date: ________________________

Name (print): ____________________________________

E-mail address: ___________________________________