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University of Waterloo Department of English Language and Literature

ENGL 101B: Introduction to Rhetorical Studies

LEC 001, Winter 2017 MW 10:00-11:20am, HH 138

Instructor: Tommy Mayberry Office: PAS 1059 Office Hours: M 11:30-12:30pm, W 8:45am-9:45am, and by appointment e-mail: tommy.mayberry@uwaterloo.ca Phone: 1-519-888-4567 ext. 32685* *no voicemail, but I can be reached here during office hours

“I like hearing myself talk. It is one of my greatest pleasure. I often have long conversations all by myself, and I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.”

–Oscar Wilde (“The Remarkable Rocket” 299-300) Course Description This course is an introduction to the study and practice of persuasion, including the history and theory of rhetoric, the structures and strategies of arguments, and the analysis of texts and artifacts. Examining a range of theoretical, creative, and cultural texts and objects from television, cinema, advertising, design, art, literature, history, and/or philosophy, students are introduced to how rhetoric and persuasion uniquely help us intuit and navigate our global human context. Emphasis is placed on popular culture as an encompassing domain of this global humanity. Learning Outcomes/Objectives Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. locate the origins of rhetoric and explain its progression into our contemporary culture

2. describe rhetorical appeals, strategies, and moves as well as outline their implications for culture

3. discuss cultural texts and objects inside the academy as well as beyond its

parametres with confidence and with an intelligent vocabulary

4. apply and demonstrate this confidence and intelligent vocabulary in discussing cultural texts and objects inside the academy as well as beyond its parametres

5. analyze cultural texts and objects with enhanced critical reading, thinking, and

research skills

6. assess a variety of approaches and methodologies to engaging with rhetoric and with popular culture

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Texts1 The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture: Considering Mediated

Texts, 2nd edition, Deanna D. Sellnow (SAGE P, 2010) *required

A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms, 2nd edition, Richard A. Lanham (U of California P, 2012)

*highly recommended

Rhetorical Style: The Use of Language in Persuasion, Jeanne Fahnestock (Oxford UP, 2011)

Rhetoric, Jennifer Richards (Routledge, 2008) Arguing with People, Michael A. Gilbert (Broadview, 2014)

*recommended

Assessment Participation 15% Twitter Project 15% Critical Analysis 20% Popular Culture Rhetorical Essay Project 50%* *Essay Proposal (min. 2 full pages) *Essay Peer Review Workshop *Essay (min. 5 full pages)

10% 15% 25%

Participation: Class participation is worth 15% of the overall grade – please note that the full 15% is attendance and participation. Since attendance is mandatory for successful completion of any University course, purely showing up is not sufficient: active participation (with quality being the focus over quantity) is required. I will be taking attendance each class at the beginning of class by passing around a sign-in sheet. Twitter Project: To engage actively and continuously with culture as it happens, and to become a part of its to-the-minute contemporary discussions, you will be creating and using unique Twitter accounts for this course. A detailed outline and assignment breakdown of this project will be distributed in the first weeks of classes. Critical Analysis: Solo, in partners, or in groups of three, you will write an exploratory, critical analysis of an advertisement. This critical analysis will outline the aim/argument of the chosen ad, explore its rhetorical appeals and figures, pass judgment on the ad’s execution, and link it to readings and concepts in the course. A detailed outline and assignment breakdown of this project will be distributed in the first weeks of classes. Popular Culture Rhetorical Essay Project: The Essay Project constitutes a combined 50% of the overall grade and is the largest evaluative assignment you will undertake in this course. It is comprised of three parts – an essay proposal, weighted at 10%; a peer review workshop component, weighted at

1 Copies our course’s books will also be available on Course Reserves at Dana Porter Library for 3-hour loans throughout the term.

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15%; and the essay itself, weighted at 25% – that will each be graded independently from the others. This project is your opportunity to take a unique stance on or stake in rhetorical studies and popular culture. A detailed outline and assignment breakdown of this project will be distributed before Reading Week. Please note: The Essay Peer Review Workshop The Essay Peer Review Workshop is an in-class, full class event on the final day of our course in April. Treat it like a Midterm or Final Test – it is date- and schedule-specific (so you do have to be here for it to participate in it to receive marks), and it cannot be rescheduled if missed nor completed outside of class. Final Exam: There is no final exam for this course. Late Policy Deadlines are indicated in the schedule (see below). Assignments are due in class, at the beginning of class, and will be collected personally. A 3% penalty will be applied for each day an assignment is late, including weekends. Any late assignments must be dropped off in the English Department Drop box (on the second floor of Hagey Hall in the English Department – HH 2016E, beside HH 228 – to be date-stamped by English Department administration and forwarded to me. The Essay Peer Review workshop component of the Popular Culture Rhetorical Essay Project must be completed on the assigned date at the assigned time unless a UW Verification of Illness Form is completed and submitted or, if it is not a medical condition/emergency, official documentation is submitted. Given the structured nature of this evaluative assignment, absolutely no exemptions or extensions will be granted without proper and complete documentation. Schedule Date: Topic: January 4th (W) Course Introduction January 9th (M) Twitter Project Introduction January 11th (W) Sellnow, Chapter 1:

“What is Popular Culture and Why Study it?” *esp. pages 1-15 + Summary (23)

January 16th (M) Sellnow, Ch. 1 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure January 18th (W) Sellnow, Chapter 2:

“Expanding the Rhetorical Tradition” *esp. pages 27-40 + Summary (46)

January 23rd (M) Sellnow, Ch. 2 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure January 25th (W) Sellnow, Chapter 3:

“A Narrative Perspective” *esp. pages 49-58 + Summary (69)

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January 26th (Th) SJU Reading Series – Carolyn Smart (8:00pm) Bonus Report 1 January 30th (M) Sellnow, Ch. 3 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure February 1st (W) Sellnow, Chapter 4:

“A Dramatist Perspective” *esp. pages 73-83 + Summary (93)

February 6th (M) Sellnow, Ch. 4 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure February 8th (W) Sellnow, Chapter 5:

“A Symbolic Convergence Perspective” *esp. pages 97-107 + Summary (112)

February 13th (M) Sellnow, Ch. 5 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure February 15th (W) Popular Culture Rhetorical Essay Project

Introduction Critical Analysis

Due (20%)

Reading Week (no classes February 20th – 24th)

February 27th (M) Sellnow, Chapter 6: “A Neo-Marxist Perspective” *esp. pages 115-126 + Summary (136)

March 1st (W) Sellnow, Ch. 6 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure Essay Proposals due (10%)

March 6th (M) Sellnow, Chapter 7:

“Feminist Perspectives” *esp. pages 139-156 + Summary (166-7)

March 8th (W) Sellnow, Ch. 7 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure March 10th (F) SJU Reading Series – Tim Conley (4:30pm) Bonus Report 2 March 13th (M) Sellnow, Chapter 8:

“A Music Perspective” *esp. pages 169-182 + Summary (197)

March 15th (W) Sellnow, Ch. 8 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure March 20th (M) Sellnow, Chapter 9:

“Visual Perspectives” *esp. pages 201-215 + Summary (229)

March 22nd (W) Sellnow, Ch. 9 + object text(s)/rhetorical figure March 27th (M) Sellnow, Chapter 10:

“Media-Centered Perspectives” *esp. pages 233-243 + Summary (250)

March 29th (W) Sellnow, Ch. 10 + object text/rhetorical figure March 30th (Th) SJU Reading Series – Pamela Mordecai and

Tasmeen Jamal (4:30pm) Bonus Report 3

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April 3rd (M) Popular Culture Rhetorical Essay Peer Review

Workshop Peer Review

Workshop (15%)

April 10th (M)

----------------------no class------------------------ Essay due: 11:00am

(25%) Accommodations We all do learn in different ways and may need different tools to succeed. I am here to help you succeed, and it is not my job, goal, or life’s passion to hinder your progress and development at all. I will do my best to work with you to meet your learning needs whether they are related to how you participate in class, engage with assignments, or meet deadlines. Please arrange to meet with me to discuss if needed/desired, for failure to do so in an appropriate manner can negatively impact your overall performance. Classroom Expectations For this course to run properly and successfully, it is crucial that everyone (including me!) arrives punctually and is ready to begin promptly. Everyone also is responsible for bringing his/her/their course notes and textbooks to every class, having read/viewed and thought critically about the pertinent readings and cultural texts.

The University is a professional institution, and everyone must conduct him-/her-/themself in a professional, courteous, and socially acceptable manner. I expect everyone to respect one another’s comments and ideas (as you should expect me to respect yours), and no one will put down and/or judge anyone on his/her/their comments and ideas. I also will not put up with any discrimination and/or harassment on the grounds of age, ability, race/ethnic background, sex/gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc. – any infractions on this will find the culpable person immediately out of my classroom and potentially in a meeting with Associate Dean Dr. Linda Warley.

On the lighter side, I hope that everyone garners a new (or develops an old) appreciation of rhetoric, literature, and culture, and, most importantly, has fun this term! Technology in the Classroom Policy Please do bring your technology (Smartphones, laptops; other equipment to help you succeed), as we will be using them to engage actively in our lessons, discussions, as well as with our readings. So, yes: I encourage you to be on your cellphones and computers during class. However, I do expect you to be both respectful and focused during class – for the benefit of your own learning as well as for the benefit of your peers’ learning – so I have designated a “tech-free” zone for those of us who wish neither to use technology during class (which is okay) nor to be distracted by the screens of our fellow learners who are choosing to use technology in the classroom.

If you would prefer not to use technology and would like to sit, engage, and learn somewhere where your peripheries will not readily be buzzing by technology around you, please sit in the highlighted “tech free” section. If you would prefer to use technology, respectfully choose a seat in the larger perimeter of the classroom.

Please see the floorplan below:

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*the middle, highlighted U-section is “tech-free”; the larger U is tech-specific Contact Policy I will do my best to respond to e-mails within 48 hours of receiving them (usually much earlier… sometimes a little later). I will only respond by e-mail to “yes” or “no” oriented questions – I will not provide project consultations via e-mail, nor will I explicate a cultural text or discuss grades and grading rationale through e-mail. In short, I will not discuss at length via e-mail something much easier done in person. I also will not respond to e-mails after 5:30pm on weekdays and will not respond to e-mails at all on weekends.

I am more than happy to arrange meeting times via e-mail, and I am thrilled to consult with students during office hours. I am always available during office hours unless otherwise noted, so please do come visit me.

Please note: The Twitter Project While I will most definitely be on Twitter and engaging with our course material, discussions, individuals, and influencers, Twitter is not a University of Waterloo official communication method and should not, therefore, be used as an official channel to contact me. For all official University and course-related matter, please contact me with respect to the above “Contact Policy.” Other Information/University Policies Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. Please consult the UWaterloo Academic Integrity webpage and the Academic Integrity Office webpage for more information. Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her/their actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or

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the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline. http://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-71 Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her/their university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4. https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-70 Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals. http://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-72 Academic Integrity website: https://uwaterloo.ca/academic-integrity/integrity-students Academic Integrity Office: https://uwaterloo.ca/academic-integrity/ Note for students with disabilities: The AccessAbility Services office, located in Needles Hall Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the AS office at the beginning of each academic term. https://uwaterloo.ca/accessability-services/