English 4620A/6000I: Survey of the History of Rhetoric

Fall 2004
TR 12:30-1:45pm
West Hall 303

Dr. Lee Campbell
Department of English
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698-0025

West Hall 216
229-333-7351 (office)
229-333-5946 (Department)
229-259-5529 (fax)
jlcampbe@valdosta.edu
http://www.valdosta.edu/~jlcampbe
Office hours: TR 2:30-3:30, W 9:30-12:30, and by appointment

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION: ENGL 4620 will improve a student's ability to analyze and produce rhetorical discourse, to engage, that is, in the raucous, always timely art of rhetoric. What is rhetoric? Narrowly defined, rhetoric is the study of persuasion. Defined more broadly, rhetoric is the study of the ways in which people accomplish any of their communicative purposes. Using as our primary text a work that details the classical (Greek and Roman), foundational perspectives on rhetoric, the class will also examine modern approaches to the traditional divisions of the art: finding available means of persuasion (invention), arrangement (organization), style, delivery, and memory. The study of rhetoric benefits any student of writing, literature, or language arts education.

2. TEXT AND MATERIALS: The text introduces classical rhetorical traditions: Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students (3/e), by Sharon Crowley and Debra Hawhee (Pearson, 2004). Class members will also need necessities for word processing and, depending on their skills, a grammar handbook. All members should have or obtain an email account, which can be used to ask questions and get help with rough drafts. Please do not send the instructor attachments, however, which can carry viruses and which often do not open. Copy and paste documents you wish to send into the regular message text area.

3. ASSIGNMENTS: Class members will learn about rhetorical theory primarily by applying it, that is, by writing classical rhetorical exercises after digesting readings and lectures. According to the ancients, people acquire rhetorical skills by studying proven techniques or principles (these constitute the “art” of rhetoric), by imitating successful rhetorical performances, and by practicing—by trying to achieve one’s own rhetorical effects. This course will follow this ancient logic. The following chart outlines readings, exercises, and writing assignments over the fifteen weeks of the semester.

Readings	Exercises	Writings
1-35, 353-59	#4, 33-34: 4 points	Copy: 2 points
36-52, 359-366		Imitations: 4 points
53-94, 366-83	#1, 92: 4 points	Paraphrase of prose or poetry: 4 points
95-132, 384-92	#4, 131: 4 points	Fable or tale: 6 points
392-396		Chreia or proverb: 8 points
133-162, 396-399	#2, 161: 4 points	Confirmation and refutation: 8 points
163-204
205-219, 399-401	#5, 219: 4 points	Commonplace: 8 points
220-238
239-256, 401-412	#1, 256: 4 points	Encomium, invective, and/or comparison: 8 points
257-277
278-315, 412-420	#2, 314: 4 points	Character or description: 8 points
316-329, 421-424		Thesis: 8 points
330-352, 424-427		Introduction of law: 8 points

4. ATTENDANCE: Attendance is crucial because much of the material will strike members as new and unusual. Class periods will also be devoted to working on exercises and writings collaboratively. In accordance with University policy, class members who miss more than six periods (20% of classes) without an excuse will not pass the course.

5. CIVILITY: Late arrivals, early exits, ringing cell phones, and grumpy behavior are disruptive. Arrive on time, do not leave early, turn off cell phone ringers, and cheer up.

6. GRADING: The grading system is based on a four-point GPA-like system according to which

· 4.0 = A+

· 3.5 = A-

· 3.0 = B

· 2.5 = B-

· 2.0 = C

· 1.5 = C-

· 1.0 = D

· 0.5 = D-

· 0.0 = F

When applied to assignments that are worth 2, 6, and 8 points, the scale looks like this:

· 2/2 or 6/6 or 8/8 = A+

· 1.75/2 or 5.25/6 or 7/8 = A-

· 1.5/2 or 4.5/6 or 6/8 = B

· 1.25/2 or 3.75/6 or 5/8 = B-

· 1/2 or 3.0/6 or 4/8 = C

· .75/2 or 2.25/6 or 3/8 = C-

· .5/2 or 1.5/6 or 2/8 = D, and so on

Final grades will be determined on the following scale:

· 100 = A+

· 87.5 = A-

· 75 = B

· 62.5 = B-

· 50 = C

· 37.5 = C-

· 25 = D

· below 25 = F

Written assignments be will be scored according to criteria presented, explained, and discussed in class appropriate to each document. Members must complete all writing assignments in order to earn higher than a C in the course.

7. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: The purpose of ENGL 4620/6000 is to make students better writers and readers of rhetorical discourse. Plagiarism, of course, defeats that purpose. It is also completely unnecessary. All writing in 4620 can be done honestly and well. Any plagiarized document will receive a zero. Inadvertent plagiarism will be penalized appropriately. Members should ask when they are unsure whether the use of a source constitutes plagiarism.

8. SCHEDULE: The following due dates are tentative; class members are expected to keep up with changes announced in class. Assignments that are handed in after the instructor has graded the rest of the class's documents will be considered late. Late assignments will be penalized the equivalent of one letter grade.

Week 1—Overview of Art of Rhetoric: read 1-35, 353-59
T Aug 17
R Aug 19 COPY DUE

Week 2—Kairos, the Rhetorical Situation, and Imitation: read 36-52, 359-366
T Aug 24 #4, 33-34 DUE
R Aug 26

Week 3—Stasis and Paraphrase: read 53-94, 366-83
T Aug 31 IMITATION DUE
R Sep 02 #1, 92 DUE

Week 4—Common Topics, Commonplaces, and Fable or Tale: read 95-132, 384-92
T Sep 07 PARAPHRASE DUE
R Sep 09

Week 5—Common Topics, Commonplaces, and Chreia or Proverb: read 392-396
T Sep 14 FABLE OR TALE DUE
R Sep 16 #4, 131 DUE

Week 6—Logical Proof and Confirmation and Refutation: read 133-162, 396-99
T Sep 21 CHREIA OR PROVERB DUE
R Sep 23

Week 7—Ethical Proof and Confirmation and Refutation: read 163-204
T Sep 28 #2, 161 DUE
R Sep 30

Week 8—Pathetic Proof and Commonplace: read 205-219, 399-401
T Oct 05 CONFIRMATION AND REFUTATION DUE
R Oct 07

Week 9—Extrinsic Proofs and Commonplace: read 220-238
T Oct 12 #5, 219 DUE
R Oct 14

Week 10—Sophistic Proofs and Encomium, Invective, and/or Comparison: read 239-256, 401-412
T Oct 19 COMMONPLACE DUE
R Oct 21

Week 11—Arrangement and Encomium, Invective, and/or Comparison: read 257-277
T Oct 26 #1, 256 DUE
R Oct 28

Week 12—Style and Character or Description: read 278-315, 412-420
T Nov 02 ENCOMIUM, INVECTIVE, AND/OR COMPARISON DUE
R Nov 04

Week 13—Style and Character or Description
T Nov 09 #2, 314 DUE
R Nov 11

Week 14—Memory and Thesis: read 316-329, 421-424
T Nov 16 CHARACTER OR DESCRIPTION DUE
R Nov 18

THANKSGIVING BREAK

Week 15—Delivery and Introduction of Law: read 330-352, 424-427
T Nov 30 THESIS DUE
R Dec 02

Finals Week
R Dec 09 INTRODUCTION OF LAW DUE

9. SPECIAL SERVICES: Class members requiring classroom accommodations or modifications because of a documented disability should discuss this need with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Class members who require assistance but who are not registered with the Special Services Program should contact the Special Services Office in Nevins Hall (245-2498).

10. GRADUATE STUDENTS: Graduate students enrolled for ENGL 6000 credit will complete one extra assignment, which can be worked on gradually through the term if it is started on early enough (which the instructor suggests). In consultation with the instructor, graduate students are to select a non-classical work in rhetoric, such as Richard Whately’s nineteenth-century Elements of Rhetoric, and write a report comparing and contrasting the non-classical approach to the art with the ancient rhetorical theories concentrated on in class.

---

Back to Topos