Rhetoric 102 Section 83: 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. TF Recreation Center 119 Section 84: 3:30-4:50 p.m. TF Recreation Center 115

Prof. G. Steinberg Office: Bliss 216 Office Phone: 771-2106 Office Hours: 9:30-10:50 a.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.  This section was originally scheduled to be for business majors, but administrative miscommunication and enrollment mishaps resulted in its being opened to all majors. As a result, the focus of the course will not be business writing or business applications.
 

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 a greater sense of responsibility for your own learning and work,
3. to develop your ability to read and listen critically and to write and speak clearly and effectively in standard English,
4. to develop your ability to collect, analyze, and interpret information and to communicate the results to others, and
5. to refine your skills in constructing persuasive, responsible arguments within the context of an academic setting (specifically with an eye to your future writing in college courses in your major field).

REQUIREMENTS.  This course consists of 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. two argumentative essays (3-4 typewritten pages each),
3. a research paper (8-10 typewritten pages),
4. a substantial revision of the research paper (8-12 pages), and
5. two speeches (5-8 minutes each with at least one "supported" presentation).

A = 930 or more total points,
A- = 900-929 total points,
B+ = 870-899 total points,
B = 830-869 total points,
B- = 800-829 total points,
C+ = 770-799 total points,
C = 730-769 total points,
C- = 700-729 total points,
D = 600-699 total points, and
F = below 600 total points.

ATTENDANCE.  Regular attendance is a virtual necessity for successful completion of the papers and speeches in this class, and I fully expect you to attend every class meeting.  In-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 will expect you to find out what you missed and to come fully prepared -- without excuses -- to the next class meeting.  If, moreover, you are absent on a particular day, any extra-credit assignment in class that day 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 9:30-10:50 a.m. TF.  If you cannot come to see me at those times, please feel free as needed to call my office (771-2106) or to 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 note for me in my mailbox 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.  Be sure to send the subscription message from your own personal e-mail address (e.g., "name2@tcnj.edu" or "username@aol.com") -- not from one of the generic e-mail accounts on campus (such as "nobody@tcnj.edu" or "student@tcnj.edu"). 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 by sending what you want to circulate to FROSH-L@list.TCNJ.EDU (although, again, you must be sure to send the message from your own personal e-mail address not from a generic one in the labs). This is 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.  NOTE:  You can access your personal TCNJ e-mail account from the web anywhere -- including in the computer labs on campus -- just by going to https://secure-web.tcnj.edu/imp/index.php3.
 

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

Date	Assignment
T Jan 18	Introductions
F Jan 21	Writing Arguments, pp. 191-197 and 304-322
T Jan 25	Bring to class as many paper assignments from other courses as you can (especially courses in your major).
F Jan 28	Writing Arguments, pp. 95-112 (review)
T Feb 1	Writing Arguments, pp. 113-138 and 145-165 (review)
F Feb 4	ESSAY 1 DUE Sign up for SPEECH 1
T Feb 8	Writing Arguments, pp. 198-227
F Feb 11	Writing Arguments, pp. 228-263
T Feb 15	Writing Arguments, pp. 281-303
F Feb 18	Writing Arguments, pp. 435-441
T Feb 22	SPEECH 1 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (2 extra-credit points)
F Feb 25	SPEECH 1 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (2 extra-credit points)
T Feb 29	SPEECH 1 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (2 extra-credit points)
F Mar 3	The New Century Handbook, 5e and all of Chapter 6
T Mar 7	DRAFT OF ESSAY 2 DUE (6 extra-credit points) WRITING WORKSHOP (2 extra-credit points)
F Mar 10	ESSAY 2 DUE
T Mar 14	Writing Arguments, pp. 357-379 (For more detailed information, especially about Internet research, look at Chapters 8 and 9 in The New Century Handbook.)
F Mar 17	LIBRARY EXPERIENCE (Meet in the lobby of the main library.)
T Mar 21	SPRING BREAK
F Mar 24	SPRING BREAK
T Mar 28	The New Century Handbook, Chapter 10 Bring to class the sources you have found so far for your paper.
F Mar 31	Power Point training workshop (Meet in Cromwell computer lab)
T Apr 4	The New Century Handbook, Chapter 12
F Apr 7	Writing Arguments, pp. 380-420 (For more detailed information, look at Chapters 11 and 13 in The New Century Handbook.)
T Apr 11	DRAFT OF RESEARCH PAPER DUE (6 extra-credit points) WRITING WORKSHOP (2 extra-credit points)
W Apr 12- W Apr 19	CONFERENCES RESEARCH PAPER DUE at conference Sign up for SPEECH 2 at conference
F Apr 14	NO CLASS (conferences instead)
T Apr 18	The New Century Handbook 5a-d and 5f
F Apr 21	NO CLASS (Good Friday)
T Apr 25	SPEECH 2 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (4 extra-credit points)
F Apr 28	SPEECH 2 FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS (4 extra-credit points)
Finals Week	REVISED RESEARCH PAPER DUE in my mailbox in Bliss 124 by the last day of Finals Week

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