The
College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences
036:003 Accelerated Rhetoric
Fall 2003
Instructor: Amy N. Aldridge Section:
E-mail:
amy-aldridge@uiowa.edu Course Location:
Office: 52 EPB Course Meeting Times:
Mailbox: 14 EPB
Office Hours: 10am-12pm Mondays; 10-11am Wednesdays
Course Policy Statement:
This
course is designed to give you an introduction to college-level reading,
writing, and speaking. It aims at
improving your abilities to express your views effectively and persuasively as
speakers and writers, as well as sharpening your critical skills as
readers.
Workload:
Instruction
in rhetoric will be based on the study of three public controversies and will
follow three basic steps:
Note: For each step, you will write one paper and
deliver one speech.
Colombo, G., Cullen, R.,
& Lisle, B. (2001). Rereading
Lunsford, A. A., & Ruszkiewicz, J. J. (2001). Everything's an argument (2nd ed.).
Miscellaneous Items:
1. A good college dictionary;
2. Binder/Notebook for class
lectures and discussions;
3. Folder in which to keep
drafts and graded assignments;
4. Access to either an inkjet
or a laser printer (both are available at ITC labs on campus);
5. Access to the Internet and
e-mail; and
6. Additional small purchases,
such as 4x6 note cards, magazines, newspapers, photocopies, etc. will be needed
throughout the semester. You will be
completing research for class assignments that will require you to photocopy
readings as needed.
Grading:
Speech 1 10%
Paper 1 10%
Speech 2 10%
Paper 2 10%
Speech 3 15%
Paper 3 15%
Journal Responses 10%
In-class activities 20%
Detailed
assignment sheets will be provided for the three speeches and the three
papers.
Two typed copies of journal responses must be turned in on
reading or movie discussion days. The
journals should not be more than two pages, double-spaced and should focus on
the analysis and application of the material and not read as a book
review. You should also include a
question or two about the reading within your entry.
In-class
activities
will vary, but may include impromptu speaking or writing, quizzes, responding
to the work of your peers, or participating in relevant activities. In-class
assignments cannot be made up and will be recorded as a zero if you are absent,
unless you have an excused absence.
All journal responses and in-class activities will be graded with a plus (exceeds expectations—3 points), check (meets expectations—2 points), or a minus (below expectations—1 point).
The
|
A |
|
B |
|
C |
|
D |
|
|
> 98.5% |
A+ |
> 87.5% |
B+ |
> 77.5% |
C+ |
> 67.5% |
D+ |
|
> 92.5% |
A |
> 82.5% |
B |
> 72.5% |
C |
> 62.5% |
D |
|
> 89.5% |
A- |
> 79.5% |
B- |
> 69.5% |
C- |
> 59.5% |
D- |
Work
that meets the minimum requirements of an assignment,
is completed on time and displays average involvement with the course content
is deserving of a “C.” Higher grades are
awarded to work that goes above and beyond the minimum standards to produce
papers and presentations that reflect superior intellectual effort, excellence
in critical analysis and overall creativity in the approach towards any given
assignment.
Attendance:
It is very important that you attend class
regularly. Excused absences are caused
by illness, family emergencies, mandatory religious obligations, or authorized
university activities. Excused absences
require documentation that must be presented to the instructor before final’s
week.
Missed/Late Assignments:
1. Written Work: For each class session that an
assignment is turned in late, you will be assessed a penalty of 10 points for
that particular assignment.
2. E-mailing assignments/computer problems: You will need to submit most of your
assignments in hard copy. On occasion,
it will be possible to submit assignments via e-mail. Please note:
Your computer breaking, printer not working, etc. will never be accepted
as an excuse for late work. It is your
responsibility to begin work early enough to accommodate unforeseen
circumstances. In addition, e-mailed
work is recorded as “turned in” according the time stamp in the introduction to
your message. “I got your address wrong”
or “my e-mail wasn’t working” will not be accepted as reasons for late
assignments.
3. Speeches/Presentations/Interviews: If
you miss an assigned speech, we may not have not have time to allow you to
present it later. If you know you are
going to miss an assigned speech, trade speaking dates with someone in the
class, and let the instructor know about the change. Failure to make a speech/presentation/interview
will result in a zero for that assignment.
Classroom Climate:
The
success of this course is directly related to the sense of community that we
will develop in this classroom.
Participation is essential to this process. I encourage you to share your views and
listen to those of others. Debate and
discussion are an important part of the learning process. While there will no doubt be disagreements, I
expect the members of this community (including myself) to challenge ideas in a
manner that reflects respect and recognition of opposing viewpoints without
attacking individuals.
Class Grievances:
I
am willing to meet with you to discuss our class and/or particular assignments
at any time during my office hours or at a pre-arranged meeting time. I ask that you please wait 24 hours after you
have received a graded assignment to come see me. Before we discuss your work, you are required
to type out a document detailing what particular elements of your work you feel
merit discussion. Should you ever feel
that you are not being heard, please contact the Rhetoric Department’s
Associate Chair, Mary Trachsel in 172 EPB.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism
occurs whenever you use someone else’s ideas or words as your own. If you copy materials from ANY
source—published or unpublished—and do not properly use quotation marks and
cite your source, that is plagiarism. Penalties for plagiarism include academic
probation, suspension, and expulsion.
Students in this course will be responsible for authenticating any
assignment submitted to the instructor.
If asked, you must be able to produce proof that the assignment you
submitted is in fact your own work.
Therefore, it is recommended that you engage in a verifiable working
process on assignments. Keep copies of all drafts of your work,
make photocopies of research materials, write summaries of research materials,
keep logs or journals of your work on assignments and papers, learn to save
drafts or versions of assignments under individual file names on computer
diskettes, etc.
Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability which may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements, please talk with me during my office hours so appropriate arrangements can be made. The phone number for Student Disabilities Services is 319.335.1462.
University Counseling Service:
The University Counseling Service (UCS) is available to assist students as they improve their academic skills, explore career directions, and improve their personal functioning. Students are encouraged to visit UCS, 3223 Westlawn or to call 319.335.7294.
Additional
Information/Things That Cause Your Instructor to Smile: