Reading the Conversations
Students will be introduced to some of the major conversations or debates pertaining to the section theme. Students will also be introduced to parts of the ancient discussions about rhetoric. Students will learn about the resources available at McIntyre Library and the practices necessary for college-level research.
Understanding Perspective
Students will learn a variety of rhetorical terms and concepts and practice them with a variety of readings. Students will use information literacy and research skills to find and evaluate an authoritative source (such as a scholarly article) on a particular topic. Students will learn how to do rhetorical analysis and will write a rhetorical analysis paper on the source they selected.
Cultivating Complexity
Students will collect additional authoritative sources to read more deeply on their topic. Students will practice rhetorical knowledge by discussing and analyzing their new source materials. Students will write a paper that allows them to articulate the divergent views expressed in their readings and to put those views in conversation with one another.
Joining the Conversation
Students will bring together their skills and the course goals by undertaking scholarly research on a topic of their choice and by contributing to the existing conversation on that topic. Students will make decisions about the rhetorical aspects of their final paper or project (such as intended purpose, targeted audience, genre, format, etc.).
