TEXTBOOKS:
John D. Ramage and John C. Bean, Writing Arguments (4th ed.)
Christine A. Hult and Thomas N. Huckin, eds., The New Century Handbook (1st ed.)
 

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 upon are those directly related to the analysis and production of persuasive arguments, both written and oral.
 

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 develop your ability to read and listen critically and to write and speak clearly and effectively in standard English,
3. to develop your critical reasoning skills in the use of analogy, deduction, and induction,
4. to develop your ability to collect, analyze, and interpret information and to communicate the results to others,
5. to develop your ability to make informed judgments concerning ethical values, and
6. to develop a greater sense of responsibility for your own learning and work.

REQUIREMENTS.  This course consists of the following assignments (in accordance with the requirements specified by the Rhetoric program for all Rhetoric I courses):

1. one no-credit, diagnostic, in-class writing,
2. five essays of 2-3 typewritten pages,
3. three speeches of 3-5 minutes, and
4. participation in the "library experience."

ATTENDANCE.  Regular attendance is a virtual necessity for successful completion of the work 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).  In addition, extra-credit assignments must be done on the day assigned and cannot be made up if you are absent. If you positively must miss a class, moreover, I expect you to find out what you missed and to come fully prepared -- without excuses -- to the next class meeting.
 

OFFICE HOURS.  My office is Bliss 216. My office hours this semester will be 2:00-3:20 p.m. TF. If you cannot come to see me at those times, please feel free as needed to call my office (771-2106) or talk to me before or after class to arrange an appointment to see me 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.
 

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES.  An e-mail discussion list has been created for this course.  I may on occasion use this discussion list to send important announcements about class by e-mail.  You should therefore subscribe to the list and check your e-mail regularly for messages. To subscribe, send the message, "SUBSCRIBE FROSH-L your name" to listproc@list.TCNJ.EDU.  You must, however, send this subscription message from your own personal e-mail account (not from a generic "student@tcnj.edu" account in one of the computer labs). After you have subscribed to the list, you will receive all messages sent to the list.  In addition, you may circulate messages to all the members of the list just by sending what you want to circulate to FROSH-L@list.TCNJ.EDU (although, again, you must send such messages from your personal e-mail account).  I encourage you to use the discussion list. It's a great way to get in touch with your classmates, form writing groups, ask me or your classmates questions, and generally share information about class.
 

COURSE SCHEDULE.  (This schedule is subject to revision at the discretion of the professor.)
 

Date	Topic	Assignment
F Sept 3	Introductions	----------
T Sept 7	Argument	Writing Arguments, pp. 3-23, 81-94 IN-CLASS DIAGNOSTIC
F Sept 10	Reading and Summarizing	Writing Arguments, pp. 24-39, 544-552
T Sept 14	Refuting	Writing Arguments, pp. 39-51, 95-112
F Sept 17	Writing	Writing Arguments, pp. 52-74
T Sept 21	Writing Workshop	The New Century Handbook, Section 5e PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOP (2 extra-credit points) DRAFT OF ESSAY 1 (5 extra-credit points)
F Sept 24	Research and Rewriting	ESSAY 1 DUE
T Sept 28	LIBRARY EXPERIENCE	Meet in the front lobby of the Library
F Oct 1	Evidence	Writing Arguments, pp. 113-138, 143-144
T Oct 5	Writing Workshop	PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOP (3 extra-credit points) DRAFT OF ESSAY 2 (6 extra-credit points)
F Oct 8	Speaking	ESSAY 2 DUE Sign up for Speech 1
T Oct 12	Revision	The New Century Handbook, Sections 5a and 5b SPEECH 1 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (2 extra-credit points)
F Oct 15	Editing	The New Century Handbook, Section 5c SPEECH 1 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (2 extra-credit points)
T Oct 19	Proofreading	The New Century Handbook, Section 5d SPEECH 1 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (2 extra-credit points)
F Oct 22	Paragraphing	The New Century Handbook, Chapter 6
T Oct 26	Grammar, etc.	The New Century Handbook, Sections 27b, 31a-d, 32a-e, 35a-c, 36a, 40c, 40e, 41a, 44b-c, 47e, 49a-d
F Oct 29	Expertise	ESSAY 3 DUE Sign up for Speech 2
T Nov 2	Group Work	Writing Arguments, pp. 435-442
F Nov 5	Review	Writing Arguments, pp. 421-434
T Nov 9	----------	SPEECH 2 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (3 extra-credit points)
F Nov 12	----------	SPEECH 2 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (3 extra-credit points)
T Nov 16	----------	SPEECH 2 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (3 extra-credit points)
F Nov 19	Audience	ESSAY 4 DUE Sign up for Speech 3
T Nov 23	Moving	Writing Arguments, pp. 145-165
F Nov 26	NO CLASS	Thanksgiving
T Nov 30	Accomodating	Writing Arguments, pp. 166-187
F Dec 3	----------	SPEECH 3 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (3 extra-credit points)
T Dec 7	----------	SPEECH 3 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (3 extra-credit points)
F Dec 10	----------	SPEECH 3 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (3 extra-credit points)
Finals Week	No Class	ESSAY 5 DUE

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