ENGL 392B S21 CEL

Course Description and Learning Outcomes

Description

This course introduces students to the study of visual artifacts from a rhetorical perspective. You will become familiar with the basic principles of rhetoric, visual grammar, and visual semiotics, and then use those principles to analyze the rhetorical workings of visual artifacts in a variety of media, including two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and digital works. In addition to practicing visual analysis, you will also be using your knowledge of visual rhetoric to create a visual product of your own.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to do the following:

  • Use a variety of methods to analyze visual artifacts and understand how they function rhetorically.
  • Employ those tools to create rhetorically effective visual products of your own.

This online course was developed by Bruce Dadey, with instructional design and multimedia development support provided by the Centre for Extended Learning.

Grade Breakdown

The following table represents the grade breakdown of this course.

Activities and Assignments Weight (%)
Discussions 10%
Rhetorical Theory Analysis 15%
Close Visual Analysis 15%
Journal Assignments 15%
Visual Rhetoric Analysis 25%
Visual Production

20%

Materials and Resources

Readings

All readings and resources for this course will be accessible through the course LEARN site.

Resources

  • Library services for Co-op students on work term and students taking online courses

Course Schedule

Important: ALL TIMES EASTERN - Please see the University Policies section of your Syllabus for details

Module Activities and Assignments End / Due Date Weight (%)
Week 1: Introduction
(Complete all material as shown in Course Content)
Groups for Discussions and Visual Production will be created by Technical Support Check after Monday, May 10, 2021 at 8:00 AM  
Discussion 1.1 - Introduce Yourself Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Discussion 1.2 - Visual Rhetoric Posts Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, May 14, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Week 2: Rhetorical Theory and Visual Artifacts Discussion 2.1 - Analyze Visual Pathos Posts Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, May 21, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Discussion 2.2 - Analyze Visual Ethos Posts Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, May 21, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Week 3: Logos and Visual Arguments Discussion 3.1 - Analyzing Visual Arguments Posts Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, May 28, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Discussion 3.2 - Analyzing Topics and Figures Posts Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, May 28, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Week 4: Visual Analysis Rhetorical Theory Analysis Proposal Monday, May 31, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
Discussion 4.1 - Analyzing Content Posts Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 4, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Discussion 4.2 - Analyzing Symbols Posts Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 4, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Week 5: Visual Grammar 1 Discussion 5.1 - Audience Attention Posts Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 11, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Discussion 5.2 - Proportion and Arrangement Posts Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 11, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Week 6: Visual Grammar 2 Rhetorical Theory Analysis Monday, June 14, 2021 at 11:55 PM 15%
Discussion 6.1 - Contrast and Colour Posts Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 18, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Discussion 6.2 - Style and Other Visual Tools Posts Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 18, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Week 7: Visual Semiotics Close Visual Analysis Proposal Monday, June 21, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
Discussion 7.1 - Visual Semiotics Posts Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 25, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Discussion 7.2 - Visual Semiotics 2 Posts Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 10%
Replies Friday, June 25, 2021 at 11:55 PM
Weeks 8-12
In weeks 8-12, you will be choosing your own topics for completion. For each week, submit the appropriate assignment for that week's chosen topic.
Available Topics:

Fine Arts

Photography

Sculpture and Monuments

Graphic Narratives

Film

Digital Media
Week 8
READ FIRST:
  • 8a. Introduction, Weeks 8-12: Visual Media
  • 8b. Get Started!
Visual Rhetoric Analysis Proposal Monday, June 28, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
[Chosen Topic] Journal Assignment Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
Week 9 Close Visual Analysis Monday, July 5, 2021 at 11:55 PM 15%
Visual Production Proposal Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 20%
[Chosen Topic] Journal Assignment Friday, July 9, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
Week 10 [Chosen Topic] Journal Assignment Friday, July 16, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
Week 11 Visual Rhetoric Analysis Monday, July 19, 2021 at 11:55 PM 25%
[Chosen Topic] Journal Assignment Friday, July 23, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
Week 12 [Chosen Topic] Journal Assignment Friday, July 30, 2021 at 11:55 PM part of 15%
Visual Production Friday, July 30, 2021 at 11:55 PM 20%