COM 304: Rhetorical Criticism

Purpose: The course is intended to provide students with a grounding in the qualitative research method of rhetorical criticism and with practice using many of this method’s theoretical approaches. Rhetorical criticism aims to accomplish systematic investigation, analysis, and explanation of symbolic acts and artifacts to better understand rhetorical processes. Rhetorical critics are interested in discovering what a text or artifact teaches about the nature of rhetoric.

What you will need (required)

Textbook: Sonja Foss, Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice (5th ed.) (Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press)

What you may want (recommended, not required)

Carl R. Burgchardt and Hillary A. Jones, eds., Readings in Rhetorical Criticism, 5th ed. (Strata)
James Jasinski, ed., Sourcebook on Rhetoric (Sage)
Jim A. Kuypers, ed., Rhetorical Criticism: Perspectives in Action (Strata)
John Louis Lucaites, Celeste Michelle Condit, and Sally Caudill, Contemporary
Rhetorical Theory: A Reader (Guilford)

Catherine Palczewski, Richard Ice, and John Fritch, Rhetoric in Civic Life, 2nd ed. (Strata)

Stuff you need to know:

Professor: Dr. Brian Carroll
Office: Laughlin Hall 100
Office phone: 368.6944
E-mail: bc@berry.edu
Home page: cubanxgiants.berry.edu
Blog: WanderingRocks.wordpress.com

Office hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 1-5pm; Wednesdays 3-5pm, by appointment, or just drop by

Policies

Attendance: Be here every day on time, just as you would for a job, surgery or even a haircut. Everyone gets one unexcused absence or late arrival, maybe two, with no questions asked. Stuff happens. After that, unexcused and/or unexplained absences and/or lateness will result in point deductions from the "professionalism and participation" portion of your grade -- one point for each unexcused absence and/or late arrival. What is excused is at the instructor's discretion, so you are best served by discussing situations and extraordinary circumstances prior to class whenever possible.
Distractions: The instructor needs your attention and your respect, as do your peers. And this instructor is easily distracted. So, no unauthorized device use, therefore, including Apple watches for texts. Put your phones away, and make sure they are silent. Do homework for other classes somewhere else. If your phone goes off on class, or if you are seen texting or reading texts, etc., you will be treated as absent, with appropriate point deductions. It’s a respect thing.
Preparation: Complete the assignments, do the readings and be ready to tackle the activities of the day. Be ready to discuss and debate ideas and approaches.
Academic integrity: Because academic integrity is the foundation of college life at Berry, academic dishonesty will have consequences. You are invited to consult the College Catalog for an articulation of the College’s policies with respect to academic integrity. Specific to this course, academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: unauthorized collaboration (you will be instructed as to when collaboration is allowed and encouraged), plagiarism, fabrication, submitting the same work in multiple courses, hiring a ghostwriter (or its functional equivalent), and aiding and abetting academic dishonesty by another student. Violators will be reported to the Office of the Provost. Students who are sanctioned for violating the academic integrity policy forfeit the right to withdraw from the class with a grade of “W.”
Class recording (Zoom): Per Berry policy, students are required to attend class in-person. Classes will not be available for remote learning, at least not regularly or without advance warning and authorization/permission. Any recordings will only be available to students registered for this class and cannot be re-transmitted, distributed, or otherwise shared without the expressed, written consent of the instructor, who owns the copyright to the intellectual property contained in or by the recording.

How you will be graded:

Discussion questions	15%
Project proposal	10%
Literature review	10%
Analysis	15%
Smooth draft and peer review	20%
Final, finished paper & presentation	20%
Professionalism and participation	10%
Total	100%

To compute your final grade, add up your point totals, apply the appropriate percentages, then refer to the grading system summarized here:

A	93-100
A-	90-92
B+	88-89
B	83-87
B-	80-82
C+	78-79
C	73-77
C-	70-72
D+	68-69
D	60-67
F	59 and below

Definitions of the grades can be found in the Berry College Bulletin. “A” students will demonstrate an outstanding mastery of course material and will perform far above that required for credit in the course and far above that usually seen in the course. The “A” grade should be awarded sparingly and should identify student performance that is relatively unusual in the course.

Academic Success Resources

Consultants at the Berry College Writing Center are available to assist students with all stages of the writing process. To schedule an appointment, visit berry.mywconline.com. The Academic Success Center provides free peer tutoring and individual academic consultations to all Berry College students. The ASC Session schedule is available on ASC Website: berry.edu/ASC.

Specifically, Morgan Thoem is a tutor specific to this course, an alum of the course. You can visit her in the ASC during her office hours, Mondays 8-10pm or Wednesdays 6-10pm.

Accommodation Statement

The Academic Success Center provides accessibility resources, including academic accommodations, to students with diagnosed differences and/or disabilities. If you need accommodations for this or other classes, please visit berry.edu/asc for information and resources. You may also reach out at 706-233-40480. Please note, faculty are not required, as part of any temporary or long-term accommodation, to distribute recordings of class sessions.

Finally, I believe we are here for a good time, not a long time, so let’s have some fun!