Communications Studies (COMS) 361 - Lecture 12
Spoken and Written Discourse
Winter 2007
Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00-12:50  

Instructor:	Ms. Rebecca Carruthers Den Hoed
Office Location:	SS 301
Office Phone:	220-2580
E-Mail:	rcarruth@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	http://blackboard.ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	by appointment

Additional Information

Pre-requisites: Completion of the Effective Writing Requirement

Course Description

An introduction to the principles of written and spoken discourse as informed by both classical and modern rhetorical theory. Tutorials provide extensive practice in producing and analyzing various forms of discourse.

Objectives of the Course

This course has three main objectives:

1. To give you a basic understanding of the principles and techniques of (mostly classical) rhetoric.

2. To help you improve your performance and level of comfort in academic writing and public speaking by putting into practice the principles you learn.

3. To stimulate thoughtful discussion about the rhetorical dimensions of contemporary discourse and to practice rhetorical analysis of a wide range of texts.

Textbooks and Readings:

The Aims of Argument: A Brief Guide. 4th Edition with 2003 MLA Update. Timothy Crusius & Carolyn Channell. McGraw Hill.

Selected Online Readings (available on the course website).

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

Essay #1 (minor rhetorical analysis--verbal argument) February 14, 2007 15%

Speech #1 (minor rhetorical analysis--visual argument) February 26 & 28, 2007 10%

Essay #2 (argument to convince) March 21, 2007 25%

Speech #2 (argument to persuade) March 28, April 2, 4, 9, 2007 20%

Take Home Exam (major rhetorical analysis) April 16, 2007 30%

Note: Please return assignments directly to the instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Do NOT submit assignments by email (unless you have received explicit permission from the instructor to do so).

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: No

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you wish help with your writing at any stage, including drafts, you are invited to contact the Writing Centre, SS110, 220-7255.

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people’s words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS110) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Additional Information

REWRITING ESSAYS

Essay #1 and Essay #2 may be revised and resubmitted for an improved grade. However, rewrites must be negotiated (1) in person with the instructor, (2) within 1 week of the day the original graded essay was returned to the student. Revising and resubmitting an essay does not guarantee that the original grade will improve; the grade might stay the same or improve by *at most* one full letter grade (e.g., from a B- to an A-); the grade will not go down. Essays that originally receive an A- or higher are not eligible for revision and resubmission. Essays that are revised and resubmitted are still subject to late penalties.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

A detailed course schedule, a list of online readings, and detailed assignment descriptions can be found on the course website.