Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at the instructor's
discretion. Any changes to this syllabus will be communicated in writing to students.
Course Description
Additionally, this course presents an integrated approach to writing, reading, and critical
thinking by developing the grammatical, logical, and rhetorical skills necessary for
university writing. All classes work in a computerized learning environment. Students are
taught basic computer literacy and submit all work electronically and on paper.
Required Textbooks
Screenings:
· Bowling for Columbine
All assignments are due by the next class period unless noted otherwise. Assignments
from The Aims of Argument textbook denoted by AA; assignments from A Writer's
Resource denoted by AWR.
Unit I:
Developing a Zeitgeist: The Knowledge Factory
Tue. 1/9: In-class: Intro to course and Rhetoric program website; Register for Turnitin.com
and Live Journal
Assignments: Read AA Ch. 1 and AWR Ch. 4; Send email (letter of introduction) to me by
Thurs, 1/11, 10 a.m.
Thurs. 1/11: In-class: Discussion of AA Ch. 1 and AWR Ch. 4; Sign up for presentation dates
Assignments: Read Ch. 2 in AA; Portfolio Response: Record an analysis and summary of
any article of your choosing; Prepare Discussion Questions
Thurs. 1/18: In-class: Student presentation(s); Discussion of Levine and Cureton (pp. 710-
19) and Edmundson (pp.721-32) in AA
Assignments: Read AA Ch. 3 and Shorris (pp. 733-45) and Tagg (pp. 746-56) in AA; Prepare
Discussion Questions and Portfolio Response
Tue. 1/23: In-class: Student presentation(s); Discussion of AA Ch. 3 and Class Toulmin
analysis of Shorris (pp. 733-45) and Tagg (pp. 746-56)
Assignments: Read Darling-Hammond (779-785), Steele (786-798), and Williams (799-
809); Portfolio Response and Discussion Questions
Thurs. 2/1: In-class: In-class writing; Class discussion of grammar, format, mechanics,
evidence, fallacies, and plagiarism discussion (bring AWR Handbook); Electronic sources
continued.
Assignments: Record an observation in your Portfolio; Read AWR Handbook on MLA
format and how to cite and create a works cited page; Work on draft of Essay #1, due 2/6
Tue. 2/6: In-class: First draft of Essay #1 due in Portfolio; Peer Review
Assignments: Work on Essay #1 peer review suggestions
Tue. 2/13: In-class: Final Draft of Essay #1 due; final submission due to turnitin.com;
Assignments: Read AA Ch. 4 and bring a magazine to class on 2/13
Unit II:
The New Century – Pharmaceutical Band-Aids
Thurs. 2/15: In-class: Examine student images and discuss AA Ch. 4; Essay 2 Assigned
Assignments: Read AA Elliott (699-704) and Porter (200-214; handout on WebCT);
Portfolio Response and discussion questions
Tue. 2/20: In-class: Student presentation(s); Discussion of Elliott and Porter; Using visual
technology and making arguments; Introduction to MS Word and online visual resources;
Assignments: Read “Perfect Day for Bananafish” (handout on WebCT); Portfolio Response
and discussion questions
Thurs. 2/22: In-class: Student presentation(s); Discussion of “Perfect Day for Bananafish”
Assignments: Write topic justification for Essay #2; Choose images for Essay #2 and bring
to class on 2/22; [If you are linking to the image elsewhere on the Internet, BE SURE TO
NOTE EXACT SOURCE OF IMAGE and OBTAIN PERMISSION TO LINK TO IT IF IT
IS NOT ON A PUBLIC SITE].
Tue. 2/27: In-class: Peer Review of images and topic proposal; Individual work on visual
projects in class
Assignments: Record an Observation about peer review in your Portfolio; Complete first
draft of Essay #2 by 3/13; Bring two hard copies of first draft to class on 3/13
Thur. 3/15: In-class: Teacher-student conferences on Essay #2; In-class work on visual
projects
Assignments: Revise essay for final due date (3/20); Visit
http://www.newsoftheweird.com/ and http://www.rawstory.com, as well as the forums
contained within the site, and prepare for web-related discussion.
Unit III:
“American madness” – School shootings, Narcissism, and the “American Way”
Thurs. 3/22: In-class: Student- led Discussion of AA Ch. 7, Johnson (AA 365-369), Chomsky
(AA 398-402), and Ortiz (AA 409-411)
Assignments: Read “Explaining Rampage School Shootings” (WebCT Newman; pp. 47-73);
Portfolio Response
Thurs. 4/5: In-class: Screening continued; Topic justification and brief due; discussion of
chosen topics
Assignments: Work on draft of Essay #3
Tue. 4/10: In-class: First draft due in class; Peer Reviews; draft submission due to
turnitin.com
Assignments: Revise essay per peer review suggestions; Read AWR sections 38, 40, 41, 43,
and 45
Thurs. 4/12: In-class: Discussion of revision techniques and elevating style (bring AWR); In-
class writing on project
Assignments: Continue revising essay; Prepare for conference with instructor
Tue. 4/17: In-class: Conference with instructor on Essay #3; Second completed draft due
at conference
Assignments: Record an observation in your Portfolio; Work on revisions of Essay #3
Thurs. 4/19: In-class: Final draft of Essay #3 due in Portfolio; Peer Review. LAST DAY
OF CLASS.
Grading Policy
Grading Criteria:
Assignment Percentages for Spring 2007
You will receive individual grades for your final drafts of the three major essay
assignments and for the portfolio. Additionally, at both midterm and end of the semester
you will present a written argument for what you feel your grade should be based or your
specific assessment of the quality of your learning, especially with regard to your
attendance, participation, promptness, level of writing, effective use of argumentation,
creativity, collaboration, sound rhetorical skills, and competent use of technology.
Evidence supporting your claim(s) must be drawn from your portfolio and should
specifically demonstrate mastery of rhetoric, research, technology, collaboration, and
critical thinking and your development across five dimensions of learning (confidence
and independence, skills and strategies, knowledge and understanding, use of prior and
emerging experience, and reflectiveness).
The final interpretation and assessment of your grade(s), however, remains the
responsibility of the course instructor.
The following grade criteria describe very general indicators for assessing your work and
progress in the course. Please see the detailed chart that accompanies this syllabus for
further information regarding specific grading standards.
D: Represents uneven and poor participation in course activities; some gaps in assigned
work completed, with inconsistent quality in course work. Evidence of development
across the five dimensions of learning and five course strands is partial or unclear.
Participation IN THIS COURSE does not include doing work that is not for this course
during class, sleeping in class, or using the computers or other personal electronic devices
for personal messaging, research, or entertainment. Please turn off cellular/mobile
phones, pagers, and other personal electronic devices during class.
Major Assignments
Student Presentation
Students will find stories/articles/current events that have been deemed “strange” or
“abnormal” within the context of our current discussion and will present on some aspect
of this issue. Your findings should coordinate with our readings and viewings. Your
presentation should be 5-10 minutes in length, with possible discussion to follow
afterward. Students will be asked to present their findings at different points in the term,
and you will sign- up to present your topic on a specific day.
Turnitin.com
All initial and final drafts of essays will be submitted to www.turnitin.com, but you will
also be required to submit a hard copy to your instructor when the essay is due. On the
due date, all essays must be submitted to www.turnitin.com by the time you arrive to
class. Failure to submit your work to the database will negatively impact your
grade.
Portfolio
An online portfolio is required as part of your collaborative work in this course. While
you will essentially sign up for a “blog” on Live Journal, you are encouraged to keep the
portfolio clear of non-related class work. You will also be asked to submit all drafts
(including notes, outlines, briefs, and peer review commentary) of your work in a folder
on the dates your final drafts are due.
Late Work
All drafts, including final, must be submitted when and as required in order to
successfully complete this course. Late assignments will suffer grade deductions, or may
not be accepted.
The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules 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 demonstrates 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.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and 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.
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.
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.
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 with 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.
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.
Syllabus Addendum
Please sign and detach the following from your syllabus, and hand it in to your
instructor.
I have read the syllabus for Rhetoric 1302, Section 18, and I understand
them. I agree to comply with the policies for the Spring Semester, 2007. I
realize that failure to comply with these policies will result in a reduced
grade for the course.