Fall2005

Christopher Lee Manes

University of Texas at Dallas
School of Arts & Humanities

Rhetoric 1302 Sections 02 and 05

MWF 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM
Class Room: JO 4.124
Office: JO 4.114

Office Hours: Wednesday 7PM to 9PM& by appointment

Phone: 972-883-2035 (Leave written message only)
Email: c_manes@hotmail.com
milazzo.pitaris@student.utdallas.edu

UTD Rhetoric Website: http://lingua.utdallas.edu/rhetoric

Contains links to course syllabus, reference and research resources, LRO, and LinguaMoo
Learning Record Online (LRO): http://lro.cwrl.utexas.edu

Course Description
This course focuses on the critical reading and writing of arguments from visual
media to verbal art (for example, literature). Our aim will be to practice and
hone the craft of argumentation by, first, reading and analyzing essays,
artworks, and literature to see what and how others have communicated their
thoughts to an audience, either in words, sound, or images. At the same time, we
will learn to reason through our own opinions, formulate a thesis, and
communicate our ideas to others through visual and verbal rhetoric. Basically, I
am concerned with what you think, why you chose to think a certain way, and how
best to express yourself to the world around you through language and visual media.

Course Requirements
Students will be expected to complete two essays, one final project, and other,
weekly writing assignments. Your final project does not have to be an essay, but
it should consist of an analytical component, where students explain and
support their arguments. Students may choose to do three essays, but, for your final
project you will be encouraged to choose other mediums (using, for instance, language,
music, visual art, etc.), which allows you to best communicate your opinions on the
subject chosen. In all cases, students should choose topics that relate to material within
the textbook or class discussion. Remember, read ahead, organize your thoughts, and be
creative. Choose topics that are of interest to you.

Before each essay and project, students will be required to turn in a written proposal to
the instructor, which should articulate the purpose and argument the student is
intending to communicate, explain what medium he or she has chosen for the final
project, and why they feel that medium is most important to their subject. Due to the
nature of individual proposals, additional information may be required before final
approval. I am available for discussion during office hours, and I do not
mind reading early drafts of a proposal or project. Proposals will not
be accepted verbally. Late papers and projects will not be accepted. Broad topics to
consider are found in chapters 23-28. Subject matters and course content will cover a
gamut of issues concerning race, politics, gender, image and reality, homosexuality,
advertising, literature, and film. I encourage you to explore other essays in the book, for
additional issues you may want to address in a project. Your essays and final project
should deal with three different topics. DO NOT REPEAT TOPICS. Choose a topic of
real interest to you!!

Learning Record Online

Student work will be collected in an electronic portfolio called the Learning
Record Online (LRO) throughout the semester. Use of online technology will
enhance the level of feedback you receive, as well as give you experience in the
kinds of collaborative work that many organizations use rout inely. Online
interaction and argumentative writing will comprise a large part of the
evaluation in the course. Other assignments will include interviews,
observations, and notes, all of which will be entered into your LRO. The LRO
portfolio is your most important argument in the course as it shows the sum
evidence of your learning, including your own observations and analysis of your
learning. You will belong to a work group for various collaborative activities
(i.e., discussion of readings, peer critiques), and you will participate in
mid-term and semester-end moderation readings of your LRO portfolio for feedback
from your peers. Because learning to read critically and write responsively
entails mastery of a process, your work will undergo extensive revisions in
response to peer readings and collaboration as well as conferencing with your
instructor. You are required to keep backup copies of your work either by electronic
means or in print.

Required Text
Lunsford, Andrea A., John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keit h Walters. Everything’s an
Argument with Readings. Third Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.

Recommended Text
Troyka, Lynn Quitman. Quick Access: Reference for Writers. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River:
Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2004.

Also bring a floppy disk (PC-formatted if you use a PC, Mac- formatted if you use
a Mac). The Rhetoric classroom uses Macintosh computers that can read either
format. Most documents will be produced in Microsoft Word. Whether you use MS
Word outside of the classroom or not, it is best to save your files as rich text
format (RTF) to insure compatibility between the word processing program you use
and the one in your classroom. http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/microsoft/software.html

Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory and vital to class progress and individual improveme nt
in the subject of rhetoric and reasoning. More than three absences are
considered excessive and may result in a lowered grade. If you must miss a
class, please consult both your classmates and the instructor in order to see
that you are up-to-date in all of your assignments. In-class assignments cannot
be made up, and late papers or projects are not accepted. Chronic tardiness is
unacceptable, as are coming to class unprepared, doing work that is not for this
course during class, sleeping in class, or us ing 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. Class participation and preparedness is required.

Drop Policy
See here for details on deadlines and procedures for dropping:
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/class/current/newpolicywpwf.htm Census Day is
September 2nd, and the last day to drop is October 20th . (Please check website for any
deadline changes or for more information.) If you drop my class, please do it formally
with the university.

Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work as your own, whether you mean
to or not. For example, copying or paraphrasing passages from another writer’s work
without acknowledging that you’ve done so is plagiarism. Allowing another writer to
write any part of your essay is plagiarism. Copying or purchasing a paper from any
source is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The possible consequences range
from failing the assignment to failing the course, or worse. Each incident of plagiarism at
UTD must be reported to the administration. If you are not sure how to properly cite a
quoted or paraphrased source, or if you need help with the format of a citation, check
with the Handbook and/or with your teacher. Although you can (and, in fact, should) seek
help and advice from friends, classmates, tutors, and others, be sure that your written and
creative work is your own. See the Undergraduate Catalog for information about the
consequences of Scholastic Dishonesty, or view the policy here (which is also a link on
the Rhetoric Program website): http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html.

Grading Policy
This class offers you an approach to learning that may be different from your
past experiences. Because the course is concerned with your development as a
critical reader and writer, the grading strategy will track and monitor that
development. Your work will be collected in an electronic portfolio called the
Learning Record Online (LRO). Your assignments will not receive individual
grades, but will receive individual attention from your classmates and me. Your
mid-term and final grades will be based on your portfolio of written
observations and your work samples, including collaborative work and your three
major projects, as well as completion of each component of your LRO. In the
final step to completing your LRO, you will argue for your grade by summarizing
your learning and estimating the grade that the evidence of your learning
supports. In other words, you will directly apply what you learn in this course,
argumentative writing, by arguing for your own grade. However, each component of
the LRO is vital to a quality body of work: your attendance, participation,
promptness, level of writing, effective arguments, creativity, collaboration,
sound rhetorical skills, competent use of technology and all of these things and
more contribute to an outstanding portfolio.

Your goal is to demonstrate your development toward mastery of five course

strands (rhetoric, research, technology, collaboration, and critical thinking)
and development across five dimensions of learning (confidence and independence,
skills and strategies, knowledge and understanding, use of prior and emerging
experience, and reflectiveness). These goals will be discussed throughout the
course. Keep in mind that although we do give + and - grades at UTD, the general
criteria for grading your Learning Record is still based on the A-F scale. The following
grade criteria describe very general indicators that both you and your instructor may take
into consideration when assessing your work and progress in the course. Your estimation
of your mid-term and final grades should be more detailed and specific and may include a
+ or - if your work tilts above or below the central grade for which you argue. But the
final interpretation and assessment of your grade remains the responsibility of yo ur
teacher.

A: Represents outstanding participation in all course activities (including

attendance and promptness); all assigned work completed on time, with very high
quality in all work produced for the course. Evidence of significant and
sustained deve lopment across the five dimensions of learning and five course
strands.

B: Represents excellent participation in all course activities (including

attendance and promptness); all assigned work completed on time, with
consistently high quality in course work. Evidence of marked and above average
development across the five dimensions of learning and five course strands.

C: Represents good (but average) participation in all course activities; all

assigned work completed, with generally good quality overall in course work.
Evidence of some development across the five dimensions of learning and five
course strands.

D: Represents uneven 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.

F: Represents minimal participation in course activities; serious gaps in

assigned work completed, or very low quality in course work. Evidence of
development is not available.
UTD Grading scale
(http://www.utdallas.edu/student/catalog/undergrad02/progress.html#Grading%20Scale )
Email Policy: Important Notice to UTD Students
As of August 1, 2004, all email correspondence with students will be sent only to the
student’s U.T. Dallas email address. U. T. Dallas provides each student with a free email
account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. This allows the
university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individua ls
corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. The Department of
Information Resources at U. T. Dallas provides a method for students to forward email
from other accounts.

Students with Disabilities should make sure they are registered with the university.
Please contact Kerry Tate, Coordinator Disability Services at 972.883.2098. It is the
student’s responsibility to notify the instructor and make sure all paper work is properly
completed.

Absolutely No Food or Drinks in classrooms.

Major Assignments (should be turned into the Work Samples of the LRO!)
First Essay: An essay that presents an evaluation or definition argument using the
principles and criteria in Everything’s an Argument (Chapters 9 & 10). Essays should be
a minimum of 5 full pages.
Proposal for first essay: 2 September 2005 (Due in LRO by Noon)
First Completed Rough Draft: 12 September 2005 (Due in LRO by Noon)
Final Draft for first essay: 28 September 2005 (Due in LRO by 8AM)

Second Essay: An integrated textual and visual essay that examines and analyzes the
argument of a visual image (or images) using the criteria in chapter 15 of Everything’s an
Argument. This essay may be created and archived in Lingua MOO or it may be a
traditional Word Document that simply displays the image(s) in the body of your essay.
Your image may come from the visuals in Everything’s an Argument, other publications,
Internet, or other media. Essays should be a minimum of 6 full pages.
Proposal for second essay: 10 October 2005 (Due in LRO by Noon)
First Completed Draft Due no later than: 24 October 2005 (Due in LRO by Noon)
Second Essay (Final Draft Due): 4 November 2005 (Due in LRO by Noon)

Final Project: This project must present a casual or proposal argument using the
principles and criteria in Everything’s an Argument (Chapters 11-12). Your final project
does not have to be an essay, but it should consist of an analytical component, where you
explain and support your arguments. Students may choose to do a third essay, but, for
your final project you will be encouraged to choose other mediums (using, for instance,
creative writing, music, visual art, Photoshop, etc.).
Proposal Due: 2 November 2005
Final Project Due: 23 November 2005 (Due in Class)

Learning Record Online: This is an online resource for managing and documenting the
work and learning you do in this class. Various assignments will be due throughout the
semester, and all observations, drafts, and essays must be included in the LRO on the date
due.
Parts A1 and A2 are due: 26 August 2005
Parts B1 and C1 are due: 2 October 2005
Parts B2 and C2 are due: 28 November 2005

Assigned Observations must be completed by the date(s) given on the syllabus or in

class as assigned. Observations can be your opinion, but they should demonstrate an
educated thesis and reason(s). Lengths may vary for each observation, but the writing
needs to communicate your thoughts in an organized, articulate, and well-edited manner.
Your argument needs to be complete and well supported and explained. I reserve the
right to add observations as needed to further class discussion and development.
Course Itinerary subject to change as instructor deems necessary. Check the LRO
for corrections or additions to the syllabus under “Assignments”!
Fri. 8/19: Introduction to course & Activity. Assignment for Mon.: Read Chapters 1-3
in EA

Mon. 8/22: Chapters 1-3 Class discussion; Sample example essays of evaluation and
Definition. In class Observation (Topic TBA). Assignment for Wed.:
Read Chapters 9-10!

Wed. 8/24: IN-Class Writing & Research for first essay. Assignment for Fri.: Complete
A1 and A2

Fri. 8/26: A1 and A2; IN-Class Lecture and Discussion on Chapters 3, 18, 21

Mon. 8/29: Discuss Proposals, Plagiarism & MLA Documentation according to

Textbook, Reference Book and UTD! Assignment for Wed.: Read Chapter 20
& Assigned Readings

Wed. 8/31: Self- Directed Study Day Assignment for Fri.: First Essay Proposal due in
the LRO by Noon!

Fri. 9/2: Proposals Due Today! Self-directed Study Day Assignment for Wed.: Read
Chapter 8

Mon. 9/5: NO CLASS! Labor Day

Wed. 9/7: Discuss Chapter 8

Fri. 9/9: IN-Class Writing and Research TBA. Assignment for Mon.: Complete Rough
Draft for First Essay

Mon. 9/12: First Essay Due in LRO by Noon; TBA! Assignment for Wed.: Print 2
Copies of your first essay and come to class prepared to distribute copies to
peers. Read Chapter 19!

Wed. 9/14: Edit Peer Papers! Assignment for Fri.: TBA

Fri. 9/16: TBA

Mon. 9/19: TBA! Assignment for Wed. 9/21: Read Chapter 14 and Handouts!

Wed. 9/21 and Fri. 9/23: Discuss Handouts and Chapter 14! Assignment for Mon.:
Check LRO under “Assignments”!

Mon. 9/26: IN-Class Writing and Research! Assignment for Wed.: Final Draft of First
Essay! Bring two printed copies of your paper to class for distribution!
Wed. 9/28: Final Draft of First Paper Due Today by 8 AM in the LRO! Peer Editing!

Fri. 9/30: Begin Chapter 15 (with selected readings from the textbook and handouts)

Mon. 10/3 through Fri. 10/14: Visual Rhetoric Discussio ns, Readings, and Exercises!

Mon. 10/17: Discuss Chapter 17

Wed. 10/19: IN-Class Writing and Research

Fri. 10/21: IN-Class Writing and Research. Assignment for Mon.: 2nd Essay (First
Draft)

Mon. 10/24: First Draft of Essay 2 Due Today! Assignment for Wed.: Bring two copies
of Completed Draft for Essay 2 to Class for distribution and editing!

Wed. 10/26: Peer Editing

Fri. 10/28: TBA

Mon. 10/31: IN-Class Writing and Research!

Wed. 11/2-Fri. 11/4: Read and Discuss Chapters 11 and 12! Second Essay is Due Nov. 4

Mon. 11/7: Discussion on Readings

Wed. 11/9 through Fri. 11/18: IN-Class Group Exercise TBA

Mon. 11/21: IN-Class Writing and Research!

Wed. 11/23: Final Projects are Due!

November 24th and 25th : Thanksgiving Holiday!

11/28: B2 and C2 are due in class (Required)