RHET 1302, Spring 2007

Rhetoric 1302 – Argumentative Essay – Section 1302-007

Spring 2007, MWF, 11:30-12:20 AM, JO 4.122

NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at
the instructor's discretion. Any changes will be communicated to
students.

Instructor Contact Information

Course Instructor Office Telephone Email Office Hours:
Rashmi JO 4.118 972-883-2018 rramacha@utdallas.edu 8:30-9:30 AM
Ramachandran 10:30- 11:30 AM
MONDAYS
Other office hours may be arranged.

Course Description
The course presents an integrated approach to writing, reading, and
critical thinking by developing the grammatical, logical, and rhetorical
skills necessary for university writing. All classes work in a
computerized learning environment. Students are taught basic
computer literacy and submit all work electronically and on paper.

Student Learning Objectives

1. Students will be able to write in different ways for different

audiences.
2. Students will be able to write effectively using appropriate
organization, mechanics, and style.
3. Students will be able to construct effective written arguments.
4. Students will be able to gather, incorporate, and interpret source
material in their writing.

Required Textbooks
The Aims of Argument: A Rhetoric and Reader
by Timothy Crusius and Carolyn Channell
Fifth Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2006
ISBN 0-07-321761-1

A Writer's Resources: A Handbook for Writing and Research

by Elaine P. Maimon, Janice H. Peritz, and Kathleen Blake Yancey
Second Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2007
ISBN 978-0-07-325938-3

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Assignments and Academic Calendar

NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at
the instructor's discretion. Any changes will be communicated in
writing to students.

Please save and back up copies of all assignments. You will need to
have both the hard and soft copies of all drafts of the three major
assignments accessible in class on the relevant due dates. Not having
these accessible can affect your grade adversely.

All assignments are due by the next class period unless noted
otherwise. Assignments from The Aims of Argument textbook will be
denoted by AA; Assignments from A Writer's Resource will be denoted
by AWR

Mon 1/8: In-class: Course introduction and overview; Register for AWR
and AA companion websites (the AWR website includes an e-book). Sign
and return course contracts. Autobiographical sketch assigned; due
1/10
Assignments: Read AA Ch 1 and AWR Ch. 4. Send email to me before
class on Wednesday 1/10 confirming your email.

Wed 1/10: In-class: Intro to Portfolio; Discussion of AA Ch. 1 and AWR

Ch. 4. Autobiography assignment due today
Assignments: Observation 1 due in portfolio in class Fri 1/12; Read Ch.
2 in AA. Portfolio interview and self-assessment assigned, due
1/19

Fri 1/12 In-class: Discussion of AA Ch. 2 and demo of AWR electronic

resources
Assignments: Read AA Ch. 4 (pp. 60-86) and bring a magazine to class
on Wed 1/17 (see Response #2 on p. 76)

Mon 1/15 No class – Martin Luther King Day

Wed 1/17: In-class: Discuss AA Ch 4; Small group rhetorical analysis of

emotional appeal in magazine ads.
Assignments: Record observation 2 in your Portfolio; Read “Dinner and
a Movie? No Thanks on College Campuses” (AA510) and “Hook-Up
Culture” (AA514)

Fri 1/19: Discuss “Dinner and a Movie? No Thanks on College Campuses”

(AA510) and “Hook-Up Culture” (AA514) Portfolio assignment due
today

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Assignments: Record observation 3 in your Portfolio; Read AA Ch. 3.

Gender field assignment assigned, due 1/26

Mon 1/22: In-class: Discuss AA Ch. 3

Assignments: Read “On the Uses of Liberal Education” (AA 721).

Wed 1/24: In-class: Discuss AA Ch 3; Class Toulmin analysis of “On the

Uses of Liberal Education” (AA 721).
Assignments: Record observation 4 in your Portfolio; Read AA Ch. 6 and
“Against Love” (544); Essay #1 assigned

Fri 1/26: In-class: Discussion of AA Ch. 6 and “Against Love” (544).

Assignments: Read AA Ch. 5 (Assessing and using Sources,
Documenting Sources) [Ch. 5 is a reference chapters and students are
responsible for understanding and putting into practice the principles
therein]. Topics for Essay #1 due Mon 1/29

Mon 1/29: In-class: Discussion of AA Ch. 5 and general discussion of

sources; students log in to AWR online (Catalyst 2.0); Demo of Catalyst
electronic resources for Research. Topics for Essay due in class
Assignments: Draft thesis statement in portfolio; bring to class on Wed
1/31; Read evaluation arguments: “A Day without Feminism” (582) and
“The Beauty Myth” (612)

Wed 1/31: In-class: Discussion of evaluation arguments: “A Day without

Feminism” (582) and “The Beauty Myth” (612); Writing Introductions
Assignments: Record observation 5 in your Portfolio

Fri 2/2: LIBRARY DAY!

Assignments: Read AWR Handbook on MLA format and how to cite and
create a works cited page

Mon 2/5: In-class: Class discussion of grammar, format, mechanics,

evidence, fallacies, and plagiarism (bring AWR Handbook). MLA Workshop
Assignment: Work on draft of Essay #1, due 2/7

Wed 2/7: In-class: First draft of Essay #1 due today. Peer reviews
[students exchange their paper with another student and respond to peer
review questionnaire to be provided]
Assignments: Record observation 6 in your Portfolio; Work on essay #1
peer review revision suggestions

Fri 2/9: In-class: Teacher conference and in-class writing on Essay #1.
Assignments: Continue work on Essay # 1

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 RHET 1302, Spring 2007

Mon 2/12: In-class: Teacher conference and in-class work on Essay #1

revisions
Assignments: Continue work on Essay #1

Wed 2/14: Final draft of Essay #1 due; In-class: Introduction to

Visual Rhetoric
Assignments: Record observation 7 in your Portfolio; Research
image(s)/ ideas to use for Essay #2 and bring some to class

Fri 2/16: In-class: Small group discussions of images and analysis of

arguments in images. Essay #2 assigned
Assignments: Examine images in online ad campaigns and note various
arguments

Mon 2/19: In-class: Discuss visual rhetoric in online ad campaign

Assignments: Record an observation in your Portfolio; decide on
image(s)/ ideas for your Essay #2 and bring to class on Wednesday [If
you are linking to the image elsewhere on the Internet, BE SURE TO
NOTE EXACT SOURCE OF IMAGE and OBTAIN PERMISSION TO LINK TO IT
IF IT IS NOT ON A PUBLIC SITE].

Wed 2/21: In-class: Discuss rhetoric in political cartoons and graphic

novels.
Assignments: Record ideas for visual rhetoric in your Portfolio; Work on
format and media decisions for Essay #2

Fri 2/23: In-class: Discuss Photo essays

Assignments: Start sketching main visual project components and
argument analysis

Mon 2/26: In-class: Further discussion of visual rhetoric .

Assignments: Record observation 8 in your Portfolio; Continue work on
Essay #2.

Wed 2/28: In-class: Individual work on Essay #2 in class. All work in

portfolio due in class today!
Assignments: Complete first draft of Essay #2 due 3/2; bring hard
copy of first draft to class on 3/2

Fri 3/2: In-class: First draft of Visual argument due; Peer reviews in
class
Assignments: Work on revision of Essay #2 based on peer review
suggestions

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March 5 – 10: SPRING BREAK (No classes)

Mon 3/12: In-class: Teacher-student conferences on Essay #2

Assignments: Complete final draft of Essay #2 due 3/16

Wed 3/14: In-class: Teacher-student conferences on Essay #2;

In class work on Essay #2
Assignments: Record observation 9 in your Portfolio; read assigned
online readings

Fri 3/16: In-class: Final draft of Essay #2 due; Discussion of assigned

online readings; Grammar and punctuation exercise
Assignments: Record observation 10 relating to online arguments
Mon 3/19: In-class: Continued discussion of online reading “Collegiate
Life: An Obituary” (AA710), and “On the Uses of Liberal Education: As
Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students” (AA721)
Assignments: Record observation 11 in your Portfolio; Read AA Ch. 7,
“Collegiate Life: An Obituary” (AA710), and “On the Uses of Liberal
Education: As Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students” (AA721)

Wed 3/21: In-class: Discussion of AA Ch. 7 and “On the Uses of Liberal
Education: As Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students” (AA721)
Discuss Essay #3 project, due 4/20
Assignments: Record observation 12 in your Portfolio; Start thinking
about your topic for Essay #3; Read “Collegiate Life: An Obituary”
(AA710)

**Wednesday, March 21 is the last day to drop with a WP/WF.**

Fri 3/23: In-class: Continued discussion of AA Ch. 7 and “Collegiate Life:

An Obituary” (AA710)
Assignments: Exercises on AWR website
Mon 3/26: In-class: Discussion of assignments from AWR
Assignments: Record observation 13 in your Portfolio; Read AA Ch. 8
and “Is Class an identity?” (AA763)

Wed 3/28: In-class: Discussion of AA Ch. 8 and “Is Class an identity?”

(AA763)
Assignments: Record observation 13 in your Portfolio; Choose possible
topics for Essay #3; Read “White Poverty: The Politics of Invisibility”
(AA772)

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Fri 3/30: In-class: Continued discussion of AA Ch. 8 and “White Poverty:

The Politics of Invisibility” (AA772); Small group discussions of paper
topics; Teacher conference on paper topics.
Assignments: Refine paper topic and begin work on first draft. Thesis
statement due in class 4/2

Mon 4/2: In-class: Thesis statement due. In-class work and conference
with teacher on thesis statements
Assignments: Work on first draft of Essay #3 due 4/6 in Portfolio

Wed 4/4: In-class: Writing in class on first draft of Essay #3

Assignments: Continue working on first draft; Bring hard copy of first
draft to class on 4/6

Fri 4/6: In-class: First draft of Essay #3 due in Portfolio; Peer

reviews of first draft of Essay #3
Assignments: Continue working on Essay #3 using peer feedback

Mon 4/9: In-class: Work on revisions of first draft of Essay #3

Assignments: Continue working on Essay #3

Wed 4/11: In-class: Discussion of revision techniques and elevating

style (bring AWR Handbook); In-class writing on Essay #3
Assignments: Continue work on Essay #3

Fri 4/13: In-class: In-class writing on Essay #3; Second draft of Essay
#3 due in Portfolio by end of class period
Assignments: prepare for conference with instructor

Mon 4/16: In-class: Conference with instructor

Assignments: Work on revisions of 2nd draft of Essay #3

Wed 4/18: In-class: Conference with instructor

Assignments: Complete final draft of Essay #3 in Portfolio for 4/20

Fri 4/20: In-class: Final draft of Essay #3 due in Portfolio; student

evaluations

Mon 4/23: LAST DAY OF CLASSES!

Grading Policy

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Assignment Percentages for Spring 2007

Essay 1, Inquiry Argument 15%

Essay 2, Analysis of Visual Image/Visual Rhetoric Essay 20%
Essay 3, Convincing or Motivating Argument 25%
Portfolio (Rough Drafts and Final Drafts) 20%
Homework/Short Assignments/Observations/Presentations 10%
Attendance and Participation 10%
Total 100%

You will receive individual grades for your final drafts of the three
major essay assignments and for the portfolio. However, at both
midterm and end of the semester you will present a written argument
for what you feel your grade should be based or your specific
assessment of the quality of your learning, especially with regard to
your attendance, participation, promptness, level of writing, effective
use of argumentation, creativity, collaboration, and sound rhetorical
skills.

Evidence supporting your claim(s) must be drawn from your portfolio

and should specifically demonstrate mastery of rhetoric, research,
collaboration, and critical thinking and your development across five
dimensions of learning (confidence and independence, skills and
strategies, knowledge and understanding, use of prior and emerging
experience, and reflectiveness).

The final interpretation and assessment of your grade(s), however,

remains the responsibility of the course instructor.

The following grade criteria describe very general indicators for

assessing your work and progress in the course.

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 development 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.

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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.

Course and Instructor Policies

Attendance and Participation

Both regular and active attendance and participation are required for
the successful completion of this course. If you miss any class for any
reason, you remain responsible for class expectations, requirements,
and/or changes. Alternative assignments are generally not given, nor
will missed classes be "re-taught" for absent students. After three
absences your final course grade will be negatively affected and/or you
may be encouraged to drop the course. Chronic tardiness is
unacceptable and will also negatively affect your final grade.

Participation IN THIS COURSE does not include doing work that is not
for this course during class, sleeping in class, or using 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.

Major Assignments
Essay #1
An essay that presents an inquiry argument using the principles and
criteria in The Aims of Argument (Chapter 6). Essay should be 4-5
double-spaced pages using MLA format for Works Cited.

First draft due: 2/7

Final draft due: 2/14

Essay #2

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An integrated textual and visual essay that examines and analyzes the
argument of a visual image (or images) using the criteria in Chapter 4 of
The Aims of Argument. Your image may come from the visuals in The
Aims of Argument, other publications, Internet, or other media. This
project should be 5-6 double-spaced pages and should cite all sources
using MLA format for online sources.

First draft due: 3/2

Final draft due: 3/16

Essay #3
An essay that presents a convincing or motivating argument using
the principles and criteria in The Aims of Argument (Chapter 7 or 8).
This essay should be 6-7 double-spaced pages and should use MLA
format for all works cited.

Thesis statement for essay due: 4/2

First draft due: 4/6
Second draft due: 4/13
Final draft due: 4/20

Late Work
All drafts, including final, must be submitted when and as required in
order to successfully complete this course. Late assignments will suffer
grade deductions, or may not be accepted.

Personal Communication Devices

Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other personal communication
devices before the start of class. Do not use them during class.

Student Conduct and Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas
have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their
business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student
organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations
which govern student conduct and activities. General information on
student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to
Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic
year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within

the procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures
are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of
Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section

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3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the

university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules
and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in
interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the
responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal,
state, and local laws as well as the Regents' Rules, university
regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline
for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes
place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also
imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and
academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends
upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that
degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of
individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts

or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a
degree, and/or the submission as one's own work or material that is
not one's own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of
the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying
academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are
subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other
classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt
with under the university's policy on plagiarism (see general catalog
for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which
searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of
communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic
mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security
and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The
university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent
only to a student's U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff
consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD
student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree

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of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the

security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student
with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T.
Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail
forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal
of any college-level courses. These dates and times are published in
that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be
followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal
requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or
withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure
that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose
not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on
Student Services and Activities, of the university's Handbook of
Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades,

evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the
obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the
matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee
with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the
respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility
for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved
at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the
respondent with a copy of the respondent's School Dean. If the matter
is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent,
the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the
grievance is not resolved by the School Dean's decision, the student
may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate
Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals
Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results
of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved
parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the

Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to
assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

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 RHET 1302, Spring 2007

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for
work unavoidably missed at the semester's end and only if 70% of the
course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be
resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent
long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to
remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified
deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of
F.

Disability Services
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities
educational opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers.
Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union.
Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.;
Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those
reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the
basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove
classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case
of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus
an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes
enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be
rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need
to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.

It is the student's responsibility to notify his or her professors of the

need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students
with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student
has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring
special accommodation should contact the professor after class or
during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

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 RHET 1302, Spring 2007

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or

other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious
holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from
property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor

as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of
the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the
exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the
absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and
completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for
the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment
within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam
or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence

[i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is
similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a
reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations,
either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief
executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative
intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by
the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

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