Native American Rhetoric

SPCM322

Spring Semester 2015

Instructor Information
Instructor

Email

Office Location & Hours

Sabrina Slagowski-Tipton

sslag@colostate.edu

A208 BSB MWF 1:00-2:30

General Information
Description
In this course, we will look into rhetorical practices of Native Americans. Our course trajectory will allow us to trace
Native rhetoric from the pre-contact era into contemporary times. We will look into Native American origin stories and
the rhetorical devices used within them as well as rhetorics of survivance and resistance during and after the
colonization period. This course is seminar-based so each class will focus on discussions of readings as they relate to (or
do not relate to) traditional Western uses of rhetoric. Our focus here will be looking at the importance of incorporating
a diverse spread of rhetorical study into our curriculum. Course readings will focus mainly on the rhetorical practices of
Native Americans, but we will also incorporate several readings from Western rhetoricians in order to trace similarities
and differences between the practices.

Expectations and Goals

As this is a seminar class and our success as scholars depends on interaction and discussion. I expect you to come to
class each day having completed the assigned readings and prepared with several helpful questions to aid in our
discussion when it may be lacking. Attendance is not required but your participation and attendance in class will help
you in being successful with your projects and papers.

Additional Materials
There will be additional readings available on RamCT throughout the course of our study. Please check the syllabus for
the dates and titles of these additional readings.

Required Texts
American Indian Rhetorics of Survivance, Ernest Strombery
On Symbols and Society, Kenneth Burke

Course Assignments
Discussion Questions (20%)
Our productivity in class relies on your ability to be present with helpful and intriguing questions for your classmates to
answer and respond to in our seminar setting. At the beginning of each class, I will ask you to write your question on a
small slip of paper (post-it, scrap paper, etc) and pass it up to me. I will then use this questions to lead our discussion
throughout class time.

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Compare and Contrast Essay (30%)

Once during the semester, you will be asked to write a 10-12 page essay in which you compare and contrast rhetorical
practices of one of our studied Western rhetoricians with the practices of a Native rhetorician of your choice. You could
also choose to compare and contrast the rhetorical devices used within a Native American narrative with traditional
Western rhetorical devices used by a rhetorician of your choice.

Group Presentation (30%)

At the beginning of the semester, you will be assigned a group based on your responses to an in-class survey given to
detail your areas of interest within the study of Native American Rhetoric. Each group will lead discussion for one class
period during the semester on this topic as well as provide me a one page outline of what you plan to discuss.

Reflection Paper (20%)

At the end of the semester, you will be asked to write a 10 page essay reflecting on the concepts you have learned
throughout the class. This paper should discuss how you will use the information in other contexts as well as go into
detail and which information was new and which was similar to other concepts you have learned in the study of
rhetoric. The paper should function as a reaction to our readings throughout the semester: focus on things you found
particularly interesting or things you are now encouraged to research more deeply after reading about them in class.

Additional Information and Resources

Academic Integrity:
As a student at Colorado State University, you are expected to do your own work. All papers, discussion question and
other assignments must be products of your own, original work. Failure to conform to Colorado State Universitys
standards for academic integrity can result in a failure of an assignment or a full course, and may also be reported to
the Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Service offices. All information on the Academic Integrity policy can be
found in the General Catalog

Accommodating Special Needs:

If you require special assistance or additional time for any in-class or out of class assignments, please contact
Resources for Disabled Students, 100 General Services, Fort Collins, CO 80523, 970-491-6385. You can also visit their
website at http://rds.colostate.edu. Please discuss any special needs with me at the beginning of the semester and I
will make sure to accommodate them to the best of my ability.

A note on inclusivity:
As you enter the classroom, please keep in mind we are discussing the practices of a historically marginalized group
within our society. This class is in no way a representation of ALL the knowledge we have about these practices, it
simply serves as an introduction to practices not widely taught or discussed. I ask that you approach our discussions
with care and respect as we compare them to other traditional forms of rhetoric. I also ask that you listen with care
to your classmates questions and respond with courtesy and inquiry.

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