Fall 2016
Info
- Day/Time: M-W 2:20-3:35
- Room: HU 302
- Professor: Byron Hawk
- Email: byron [dot] hawk [at] gmail [dot] com
- Office: HUO 408
- English office: HUO 114
- English office phone: (803) 777-4203
Description
The term rhetoric, particularly in contemporary political discourse, is often used to mean empty speech designed to manipulate or deceive audiences about actual conditions or issues. Rhetoric, however, has a rich, complex, and important history that distinguishes responsible discourse from what is deceptive, shallow, or unethical. From this perspective, rhetoric is a way of seeing, knowing, and learning. This course examines the more historically rich version of rhetoric along three lines: a history of rhetorical theory from the Greeks to the present; a set of practices and pedagogies for writing and persuading; a critical practice of reading, interpretation, and intervention in both academic and public settings.
Goals
- Understand major figures and concepts in the history of rhetoric
- Apply these concepts to understanding contemporary rhetorical performances
- Use rhetorical practices to ground writing about academic and public concerns
Texts
Required:
- Patricia Bizzell and Bruce Herzberg. The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to the Present. 2nd Ed. Bedford St. Martin's, 2000.
- ISBN-13: 978-0312148393 or ISBN-10: 0312148399
Suggested:
- Herrick, History and Theory of Rhetoric: An Introduction
- D'Angelo, Composition in the Classical Tradition
- Crowley and Hawhee, Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students
- Lanham, A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms
Grades
I will use this basic grading scale: A (90-95), B+ (85-89), B (80-84), C+ (75-89), C (70-74).
Attendance
Each class we will do discuss key concepts, readings, and assignments. Consequently, attendance is extremely important and will count towards participation grades. If you need to miss a class, please submit any work due on that day via email for a time stamp and then bring me a hardcopy to the next class. Then, check the online syllabus for any potential changes in the schedule. In accordance with University policy, anyone who misses 25% of our scheduled class periods (7 of 28) will fail the course, and anyone who misses more than 10% (3 of 28) may receive a grade penalty. If you stop coming to class, it will be your responsibility to drop. Failure to do so will result in an 'F'.
Office Hours
I will have office hours on M and W from 3:40-5:10 in HUO 408. If you cannot meet after class, then we can schedule a time that is convenient for both of us. I check my e-mail several times daily, so this will be the best way to contact me in a hurry with a question or problem.
Integrity
All work submitted for this class must be original work for this class, written and prepared by the student submitting the work, with material used from any external sources appropriately and explicitly attributed to the proper source. Copying and pasting material from websites or any external sources without citation is a form of plagiarism and will be treated as such. All violations will be forwarded to the appropriate university office for disciplinary action in addition to receiving an irrevocable grade of 0 (F). If you have any questions or are unsure about anything related to sources or proper citation, please ask. For more see the Office of Academic Integrity.
Non-Discrimination
In keeping with the University of South Carolina's commitment to non-discrimination—based on age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation—and providing program accessibility for qualified students with disabilities, I am happy to provide reasonable accommodation through the Student Disability Services office. Students wishing to make such arrangements should contact the Student Disability Services office at 777-6142.
