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Multimedia Writing & Rhetoric

Fall 2016 Theme: The Rhetorics
of Happiness

Professor: Dr. (ULQ0F/DXJKOLQ

Email: HGLHWHOP#QGHGX
Office: 'HFLR
Office Hours: )ULGD\VSPand
by appointment
Course website: https://
writingirish.wordpress.com
Writing Center website:
writingcenter.nd.edu

Course Description
This course is an introduction to academic writing, rhetoric, and research. We will focus on writing as the
process of constructing symbolic meaning, rhetoric as the craft of using those symbols for an
argumentative purpose, and research as a process of intellectual inquiry. As a multimedia-focused
course, we will be attuned to the intersections between rhetorical theory and a variety of media
platforms.
Course Theme: The Rhetoric(s) of Happiness in the Digital Age
The theme we will use to drive our investigation this semester is one of ongoing local and global debate:
happiness. Specifically, we will examine a variety of claims made about happiness, with attention to the
evidence, audiences, contexts, motivations, and assumptions underscoring those claims. We will
explore a variety of perspectives emerging from psychology, religious thought, social science,
advertising, popular culture, and politics, and we will explore the ways in which happiness is defined and
measured. As we shall see, the study of happiness is relevant not just to individual well-being, but to
global and national health concerns, economic trends, theological questions, community-building efforts,
social justice issues, and a variety of corporate, political, and government stakeholders. We will scratch
the surface of some of these academic and public conversations, which will comprise the primary
content for our course readings.
Given the universal appeal and value of the topic, I encourage you to engage our readings personally
and find opportunities to apply any concepts or strategies discussed in ways you find meaningful.
However, you will not be evaluated based on your personal happiness index or the extent to which you
feel you personally benefit from the happiness strategies some authors propose. Rather, our orientation
in this course is to examine the claims made about happiness, the target audiences of those claims, the
rhetorical strategies and types of evidence used to support those claims, and the contexts that shape
the growing public discourse about happiness around the world and across genres.

MCLAUGHLIN / WR 13300 / Fall 2016

Required Resources

Daily readings. There is no

required textbook for this
course; however, you are
expected to bring printed and
annotated copies of the
readings to each class. You
must therefore plan
accordingly in terms of any
possible printing costs.
A notebook and pen/pencil for
taking notes each day in class
(no laptops, phones, or tablets
except during designated
activities such as workshop)
Access to a computer with
word processing software that
creates .doc or .docx files;
Internet access
A Google Drive account or
other web-based storage (you
are responsible for backing up
your materials)

An ND e-mail account you

check daily
A free Wordpress account to
use as your blog and portfolio
(we will set this up in class)
A paid WeVideo account ($20,
one paid account per group
during the video unit--you do not
need to purchase this yet).

What to Expect (and not) From Class

Writing & Rhetoric is not a lecture-based course. Rather, it is an interactive,

discussion-based seminar and workshop. As we read and write together, we
will engage questions that don't have easy answers--in fact, as we shall see,
the questions are often the most important part of academic writing. Our
goal in this course is not to memorize and recite the "correct" answers, or to
put together the most grammatically "correct" sentences; rather, our primary
goal is to examine and create a variety of texts by way of their rhetorical
frameworks--the audiences, contexts, claims, evidence, motivations,
assumptions, and ethical dilemmas that shape those texts. You are
encouraged to come to class with questions, points of confusion,
disagreement, and application.

What you will learn

Ethical Knowledge
This course will increase your understanding of argument as a fundamentally ethical
act. one that calls upon a variety of ethical virtues. These ethical virtues include
honesty, knowledge, rationality, tolerance, judgment, and intellectual courage.
Rhetorical Knowledge
This course will increase your understanding of the rhetorical dimensions of
arguments, particularly your ability to identify rhetorical appeals (to reason, to
emotion, and to character), as well as your ability to identify key audiences and
contexts t shape any persuasive text and the response to that text.
Practical Knowledge
This course emphasizes writing as a process and will integrate prewriting, drafting,
and revision skills throughout the term. Students will also learn to utilize a citation
style guide, library resources, and a variety of practical tools and strategies to
apply in future writing contexts.

How you will learn it...

Readings foregrounding ethical virtues; class
discussions; reflection and response assignments,
analysis assignments; research projects; media analysis
and production tasks examining the ethics of argument
Readings emphasizing rhetorical concepts; class
discussions; reflection and response assignments;
examination of rhetorical features in various genres
(e.g., narrative, analysis, research paper, documentary,
etc); analysis essay; attention to delivery, medium/
message
Readings about writing; prewriting, drafting, and
revision assignments; peer workshops; Writing
Center visits; research unit; discussions of
strategies for organizing, developing, and improving
clarity of arguments across genres; end-of-term
portfolio showcasing polished work from the term

MCLAUGHLIN / WR 13300 / FALL 2016

MAJOR ESSAYS

(a detailed assignment sheet will be

provided for each essay)

Narrative Audio Essay (10 points) You

will write and record a 4-5 minute essay
that uses storytelling to explore a
complex idea related to our course
theme on happiness.
Rhetorical Analysis (150 points) You will
focus on identifying and analyzing a visual
artifact, event, gathering, or space that
somehow (either directly or implicitly)
promises, promotes, or portrays
happiness to its intended audience. You
will use at least two of our course
readings to frame your analysis.
Research Essay (200 points) You will
investigate a controversy relevant to our
course theme and will write a 6-8 page
research-based argument that joins a
scholarly conversation relevant to this
theme.
Mini-Documentary OR Infomercial (200
points) You will work in a small group to
produce a research-based video project
and companion paper that either
explores a campus-based group,
population, or trend that speaks to our
course theme OR presents a faux
infomercial to critique a particular
industry/sector's approach to "selling"
happiness.

PARTICIPATION
Daily Participation (approx 150 points) You
may earn up to 5 points per class period
for participation in all dimensions of the
session, including contributions to
discussion, overall preparedness, and
alert, engaged, respectful behavior toward
me and your classmates. Being physically
present in class does not guarantee
participation points. Texting, sleeping,
playing games, or otherwise disengaging
from class will earn a zero for that day.
Discussion Facilitation (20 points) You will
be responsible for leading discussion of
one of our assigned readings this
semester. This will involve preparing some
open-ended questions to prompt
discussion and bringing an artifact or
example for your peers to consider in light
of that reading.

SMALLER TASKS
Happiness Infographic (20 points)
Drawing from our introductory
readings and some common tools for
measuring happiness, you will
present a visual representation of
your happiness at this point in time.
This assignment is designed to
encourage engagement with the
course readings, experimentation with
communicating information clearly
with images and limited text, and an
artifact for examining your
understanding of both happiness
theory and multimodal communication
during the first week of the term.
Blog Entries (150 points, averaging 5
points per entry) You will be required
to post regular blog entries (typically 2
per week). The prompts will vary, but
typically these entries will ask you to
reflect on course readings or
complete small tasks to set up the
following class discussion. Unless
otherwise stated, these blog entries
should be posted by the start of the
following class period. They will be
assessed based on the depth and
quality of your reflection and the
extent to which they demonstrate
your understanding of the readings.
Quizzes (50 points) You will be given
several reading quizzes throughout
the semester. These quizzes are
unannounced and cannot be made up
if missed due to an absence

FINAL PORTFOLIO
Final Portfolio: 150 points (includes all
revised essays and detailed reflection)
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MCLAUGHLIN / WR 13300 / FALL

2016

Course Policies
Attendance

Late Work

All major essays are due by midnight in

Sakai on the due date, unless
otherwise stated. Smaller assignments
are due before the start of class time,
unless otherwise stated. If you know
you will be missing a class when an
assignment or paper is due you
must turn the assignment in early. I do
not accept late work or provide
extensions. It is your responsibility to
back up your work.

Attendance in this class is mandatory.

Your preparation and participation are
critical to your success. Should you
need to miss class, please be sure to
contact me to discuss what might be
done to assist you with getting back on
track. If you must miss class for a
University-sponsored event, I must
receive notice from the appropriate
University office beforehand. Missing
class (or being absent by being
unprepared to participate) will result in a
loss of points from your participation
score, regardless of the reason for your
absence (you simply cannot earn
participation points for a class you did
not attend). There will be no additional
penalty to your grade for the first or
second absence; for each class missed
after the second absence, however,
you will lose participation points AND
will have your final course grade
lowered by 20 points per day absent.

Courtesy and integrity must be shown

to everyone in the class. Please be
respectful of others thoughts, opinions,
and views. You are not required to
agree with me, with the sources we
read, or with your peers, but your
disagreement should reflect your
emerging understanding of ethical
rhetoric--that is, your disagreement
should reflect active listening,
tolerance, rationality, and intellectual
curiosity.

Revision

Notre Dame Honor Code

This course emphasizes writing as a

process. As such, you are encouraged
to continue revising and reworking your
essays throughout the semester. Your
revised essays may earn up to a full
letter grade over the provisional grade.
Note that this grade increase is not
guaranteed, but is dependent on the
success of the revision. If you choose to
revise, you must first schedule an
appointment with me to discuss your
revision strategy within one week of the
original paper being returned. Revisions
will not be accepted from students who
have not met with me. I also encourage
you to visit the Writing Center after our
appointment for additional guidance
and support during the revision process.

Courtesy and Integrity

I am required to uphold the Academic

Code of Honor established by the
University. In the event that you are
caught violating this code (including
sharing quiz answers, plagiarizing, or
otherwise engaging in academically
dishonest behavior), I am required to
notify the appropriate Honesty
Committee. Such actions will also
negatively impact your course grade
and your permanent academic record
See honorcode.nd.edu for more
information.

Use of Technology in Class

As a multimedia course, we will often

work with laptops, tablets,
smartphones, and other platforms as
we explore the themes of our course.
However, due to growing evidence that
suggest such technologies can distract
and interfere with student performance
in seminar courses such as this one, no
laptops, cell phones, tablets, or other
screen technologies will be allowed
during regular class sessions. This
means all devices should be turned off
and stored completely out of sight at
the start of class time. Failure to do so
will result in a loss of participation
points for the day. Plan to take notes
with a pen and paper.

Communicating Via E-mail

I typically check my e-mail during

normal business hours on weekdays
and occasional evenings. Due to the
large volume of messages I receive
daily, please be sure to include a
subject line that signals your question,
then identify which course you are in
within your message. Ordinarily, I will
respond to your message within 24
hours on weekdays (or in person, if
our class time is approaching). If more
than 24 hours has passed on a
weekday and you have not yet
received a response from me, I may
not have received your message.

Communicating in Conferences

I encourage you to visit me during

office hours or set up an appointment
if those hours do not work with you. I
am happy to meet with you to discuss
your work at any stage of the writing
process or any other matters
pertaining to class. When you come to
your appointment, you should be
prepared with specific questions or
concerns you'd like to focus on during
our meeting.

Accommodations

If you are a student with a disability

who requires accommodations to
succeed in this course, then please
register with the Disability Services
Office (disabilityservices.nd.edu) as
soon as possible. The DS Office will
work with us to arrange reasonable
accommodations.