Rhetoric 102 Term: Spring 2002 Section 31: 9:30-10:50 a.m. MR Kendall 134 Social Sciences 223

Prof. G. Steinberg Office: Bliss 216 Office Phone: 771-2106 Office Hours: 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. TF and by appointment E-mail: gsteinbe@tcnj.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION.  The Rhetoric Program at The College of New Jersey consists of a two-course sequence designed to develop skills in writing, speaking, and listening; logic and critical thinking; and library research.  The two courses are intended to support the college’s comprehensive learning goals and outcomes, specifically those concerning effective communication.  The courses are designed to teach students the effective communication skills they will need to succeed in college and beyond.  The specific skills which the rhetoric program focuses on are those directly related to the analysis and production of persuasive arguments, both written and oral.  For more information, visit the Rhetoric Program’s home page.

GOALS.  As my goals for this course, I want you

1. to perceive persuasion and argument primarily as a form of dialogue rather than as a form of debate or competition,
2. to perceive research primarily as a way to learn rather than as a way to confirm preconceptions or pad a “Works Cited” page,
3. to be able to read, understand, and summarize the arguments of others more accurately and more precisely,
4. to develop a better sense of the difference between research and plagiarism,
5. to develop and improve your criteria for evaluating sources in your research,
6. to develop a greater sense of responsibility for your own learning and work,
7. to develop your ability to read and listen critically and to write and speak clearly and effectively in standard English, and
8. to develop your ability to collect, analyze, and interpret information and to communicate the results to others.

REQUIREMENTS.  This course has the following required assignments (in accordance with the requirements specified by the Rhetoric Program for all Rhetoric II courses):

1. participation in the library experience,
2. three short argumentative essays,
3. a research paper, and
4. two speeches (at least one a “supported” presentation).

Click here to see my grading criteria for papers.  Click here to see my grading criteria for speeches.  There will be no final exam in this class.  The two speeches will each be worth 160 points; the three short essays will each be worth 140 points; and the research paper will be worth 260 points.  Your final grade will therefore be based on a 1000-point scale (2 X 160 + 3 X 140 + 260 = 1000):  A = 930-1000 points, A- = 900-929, B+ = 870-899, B = 830-869, B- = 800-829, C+ = 770-799, C = 730-769, C- = 700-729, D+ = 670-699, D = 600-669, and F = below 600.

In addition to your basic points for papers and speeches, you will have an opportunity to earn up to 27 extra-credit points for in-class exercises and participation.

ATTENDANCE.  Regular attendance is a virtual necessity for successful completion of the papers in this class. Class exercises and discussion constitute important, useful preparation for the course’s graded assignments. If you miss a class, you will essentially lose out on that day’s contribution to your preparation, since it is never really possible to reproduce or recapture the dynamics and flow of information for a missed class meeting (even if you get notes from someone). If, however, you positively must miss a class, I expect you to find out what you missed and to come fully prepared -- without excuses -- to the next class meeting.  Any in-class, extra-credit assignment that you miss, moreover, may not be made up or turned in late for credit.

OFFICE HOURS.  My office is Bliss 216.  My office hours this semester will be 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.  If you cannot see me at this time, please, feel free as needed to call my office (771-2106) or to talk to me before or after class to arrange an appointment at another time.  You may also contact me by e-mail (gsteinbe@tcnj.edu), or you may leave a message for me in my box at the English department offices in Bliss 124.  E-mail is generally the fastest way to contact me in an emergency.

In addition, you have other options for assistance besides me.  The Tutoring and Academic Enhancement Center is in Forcina 145.  You can call 771-3325 to make an appointment to consult with a tutor or go to the WRITE Site at http://owl.department.tcnj.edu/.  The WRITE Site offers online assistance about writing and includes a link for making appointments with the writing tutors.

E-MAIL.  I may, on occasion, want to e-mail everyone in class.  I generally only have access to your TCNJ e-mail addresses, however.  As a result, if you regularly use an e-mail address other than your TCNJ address, I recommend that you have mail from your TCNJ address forwarded to the address you use more regularly.  That way, if I e-mail your TCNJ address, my message will be forwarded to your other address.  To forward mail from your TCNJ address, just go to http://managemail.tcnj.edu/  and click “Mail Forwarding Manager.”  Follow the directions there to set up the mail forwarding.

If you would like to send an e-mail message to anyone or everyone in class, you can do so through SOCS.  Go to http://socs.tcnj.edu and log into the system with your TCNJ e-mail username and password.  Once logged in, choose this course (RHET 10231) from the drop-down menu.  Wait for our course page to come up and then click the “Email” button.  From there, you can select individual e-mail addresses or the entire class and send a message to the addresses you’ve selected.

COURSE SCHEDULE.  This schedule is subject to revision at the discretion of the professor.  I recommend that you check this online syllabus regularly over the course of the term for changes and updates (which will be indicated in red).

Date	Topic	Assignment
M Jan 21	Introductions	----------
R Jan 24	Causal and Resemblance Arguments	Read Writing Arguments, pp. 183-191, 228-279.
M Jan 28	Research Process	Read The New Century Handbook, pp. 155-186.
R Jan 31	Primary Research and Internet Research	Read The New Century Handbook, pp. 187-210.
M Feb 4	Logic and Re-Searching Evidence	Review Writing Arguments, pp. 88-125.
R Feb 7	Logic and Audience	Review Writing Arguments, pp. 88-106 and 132-178, and read The New Century Handbook, pp. 92-97.  Bring a draft of PAPER 1 to class.  Writing Workshop (5 extra-credit points).
M Feb 11	Literature Reviews, Annotated Bibliographies, and Scholarly Sources	PAPER 1 DUE.
R Feb 14	Evaluation Arguments	Read Writing Arguments, pp. 280-306.
M Feb 18	Reading, Summarizing, and Evaluating Sources	Review Writing Arguments, pp. 24-47.  Read Writing Arguments, pp. 607-622, and write in the margin what each paragraph says and what it does.  Sign up for SPEECH 1.
R Feb 21	Reading, Summarizing, and Evaluating Sources	Bring the sources that you have found so far for PAPER 2 to class.
M Feb 25	Paragraphing	Read The New Century Handbook, pp. 103-125.  SPEECH 1.  Speech Feedback (2 extra-credit points).
R Feb 28	Documentation	Skim The New Century Handbook, pp. 276-346.  SPEECH 1.  Speech Feedback (2 extra-credit points).
M Mar 4	Grammar	Skim The New Century Handbook, pp. 632-660.  SPEECH 1.  Speech Feedback (2 extra-credit points).
R Mar 7	Reading, Summarizing, and Evaluating Sources	Read Writing Arguments, pp. 465-466.  Bring a draft of PAPER 2 to class.  Writing Workshop (5 extra-credit points).
M Mar 11	NO CLASS	SPRING BREAK
R Mar 14	NO CLASS	SPRING BREAK
M Mar 18	REVIEW and PAPER 3’s assignment	PAPER 2 DUE.  Review Writing Arguments, pp. 280-306, and look carefully at the samples of literature reviews and of an annotated bibliography on the web.
R Mar 21	LIBRARY EXPERIENCE	Meet in the lobby of the main library.  Bring your topic for PAPER 3.
M Mar 25	Proposals and Research Papers	PAPER 2 DUE.  Be sure to bring copies of all your sources for PAPER 2 with you to class.
R Mar 28	Proposals and Definitional Arguments	Read Writing Arguments, pp. 192-227 and 307-345.
M Apr 1	Using Sources vs. Plagiarizing	Read Writing Arguments, pp. 387-430.  Bring the sources that you have found so far for PAPER 3 to class.
R Apr 4	Using Sources vs. Plagiarizing	Bring a draft of PAPER 3 and all your sources to class.  Writing Workshop (5 extra-credit points).
M Apr 8	Re-Search Papers and Definitional Arguments	Review The New Century Handbook, pp. 155-186, and Writing Arguments, pp. 192-227.
R Apr 11	PowerPoint	Meet in Bliss 28.  PAPER 3 DUE.
M Apr 15	Research Papers and Types of Arguments	Review Writing Arguments, pp. 183-191, and read The New Century Handbook, pp. 347-426.  Sign up for SPEECH 2.
R Apr 18	Longer Papers and Organization	Read The New Century Handbook, pp. 243-275.
M Apr 22	Wording	Read The New Century Handbook, pp. 708-760.  SPEECH 2.  Speech Feedback (2 extra-credit points).
R Apr 25	Style	Skim The New Century Handbook, pp. 661-707.  SPEECH 2.  Speech Feedback (2 extra-credit points).
M Apr 29	Format	Skim The New Century Handbook, pp. 427-450.  SPEECH 2.  Speech Feedback (2 extra-credit points).
R May 2	Documentation (again)	Review The New Century Handbook, pp. 276-426.  Bring a draft of your RESEARCH PAPER and all your sources to class.  We’ll have a Writing Workshop (but no extra-credit points).  SPEECH 2 make-up.
FINALS WEEK	No Final Exam	RESEARCH PAPER DUE.  Be sure to bring all your sources with you when you come to hand the paper in.

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