English 312 Persuasive Writing

Instructor: Kathy Cowley

• Office: 3004 JKB
• Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 2-3 p.m.; Thursday 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Box: English Composition Office 4110 JFSB 8-5 M-F
• Feel free to contact me by email or cell.

Required Texts:

1. Making Rhetorical Arguments by Grant Boswell
2. Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
3. Reading Packet (available in bookstore)

Reading Packet includes:

1. Aristotle. On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civil Discourse. Second Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.  37-46.
2. Dewey, John. The Public and its Problems. Chicago: Gateway Books, 1946. Print. 143-219.
3. Hauser, Gerard A. Introduction to Rhetorical Theory. 2nd ed. Illinois: Waveland Press, 2002. Print. 39-60.
4. Lanham, Richard A. The Economics of Attention: Style and Substance in the Age of Information. 1st ed. University Of Chicago Press, 2006. Print. xi-xiv; 1-41; 157-190.
5. Levinson, Paul. New New Media. 1st ed. Allyn & Bacon, 2009. Print. 17-28; 35-38; 46-47; 133-142.

Course Description and Goals:

Every single day, we’re faced with situations in which our communication influences the opinions and actions of others. Every single day, others use communication to influence us, through billboards, text messages, verbal conversations, and countless other forms. Every single day, decisions are made in the communities in which we live—decisions which affect our lives, our rights, our potential, our dreams. This course is about persuasive writing, and over the course of the semester we’ll learn to use communication both responsibly and persuasively.

To do so, we’ll draw on principles of both classical rhetoric and contemporary theory. Throughout the semester, you’ll write at least 25 polished pages of work, targeted to specific audiences and communities. You’ll learn to evaluate communities you want to persuade, to ask, “What is the rhetorical task?” and, using the words of Aristotle, over 2000 years ago, “What are the available means of persuasion?”

We’ll also consider the forms, the modes, the genres, and the tools used by communities in persuasion. Much—if not most—of persuasion now occurs online, so throughout the semester we’ll explore various ways to use new media to both create and distribute an argument.

Ultimately, this class should enable you to better write—considering writing in its broadest sense—for your academic, work, civic, and personal responsibilities.

By the end of the semester, you should be able to

• Understand, analyze, and respond to different rhetorical situations with their own constraints, contingencies, exigencies, timing, history, and audience.
• Deliberately use principles of classical rhetoric including invention, pathos, ethos, reasoned argument, proofs, evidence, commonplaces, style, document design, and oral delivery.
• Revise your writing thoroughly and effectively.
• Use library and internet research to support an argument—a stance—while acknowledging, addressing, and/or refuting opposing viewpoints.
• Recognize and use the rhetorical conventions of your discipline.
• Respond with responsible rhetoric to a timely public problem that needs to be addressed with effective public discourse (i.e., good reasons, thorough research, collaborative action).
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of new media and use new media forms to create and distribute arguments.
• Integrate persuasive text with other modes such as visual, audio, film, and interactivity.

Major Assignments

Continuous New Media Assignments – as part of the class, you will write a persuasive blog which lasts the duration of the semester (worth 75 points). You will also maintain a twitter account (worth 50 points). You will also contribute to (and read) the class blog, which will act as a discussion board (worth 25 points).

Argument 1 – You will write an initial argument of approximately 1000 words on a public issue or interest.

Argument 2 – The class will choose a public issue. You will make a write a 2000 word well-researched argument on this issue.

Argument 3 – Using the topic of your persuasive blog, you will write a final argument in a multimodal/new media writing form; this should include at least 1000 words of text.

Final Exam – TBA.

Minor Assignments

• Paragraphs Exercises
• Library Assignments and Research Days
• Style Exercises
• Debate Participation
• Annotated Bibliography
• Enthymeme and style analyses
• Cover Letter/Online Profile
• Peer Reviews
• Class participation

Grading Breakdown:

150	Continuous New Media Assignments (Blog, Twitter, etc.)
150	Argument 1
200	Argument 2
350	Argument 3
100	Final Exam
50	Minor Assignments/Participation

Course Schedule

Please note, the course schedule is not written in stone. In fact, it’s entirely digital. Small adjustments may be made throughout the semester to adapt to students’ needs and writing progress.

Class Policies/Procedures:

Late Assignments: The major papers for this course won’t be accepted late. If you are leaving town, plan to hand me your paper early. If you have an emergency, please come talk to me. We can find a solution if you come to me at the time of crisis. I prefer that you hand in all other assignments on time. You may choose not to, however. If this is your choice, it will cost me extra time and will therefore cost you 10% off your grade per day. If you have trouble keeping up, talk to me before it becomes a problem.

Attendance: I will not beg you to be here. If you miss class, you and the class will miss your learning and comments. Any absence after your second missed class period results in a 1/3 loss of grade.

Please don’t be late. It disrupts the class experience for everyone.

Expectations: I commit to coming to class prepared—I will not spend the five minutes before class doing the reading assignment, so I expect you won’t either. At the beginning of class you will indicate whether you read the entire assignment before class. You should always bring the assigned readings to class with you.

Plagiarism: Do NOT claim writing that is not your own. If you are having trouble, come talk to me and I will be happy to help. This is a class to sharpen your writing skills, not your copy-and-paste or pretend-I-wrote-Wikipedia skills. I cannot accept any paper that contains plagiarism. The plagiarist-student will receive zero points for the assignment, may fail the course, and/or may be referred to the Honor Code Office. It’s just not worth it.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: BYU’s policy against sexual harassment protects both employees of the University as well as students. Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, students who encounter sexual harassment from other students are protected. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please talk to your professor; contact the campus EEO office (422-5895) the 24 hour hotline (367-5689); or contact the Honor Code Office (422-2847).

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: The Americans with Disabilities Act (enacted in 1990) prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, public service, public accommodations, telecommunications, and transportation. The Act is intended to afford the disabled equal opportunity and full participation in life activities. If you have a disability and need accommodation, please contact the office of Services for Students with Disabilities (378-2767).