309C W22 Slethaug

English 309C

Contemporary Rhetorical Theory

Winter Term 2022

Professor: Dr. Gordon Slethaug

Class time: T/R 1:00-2:20

Classroom: QNC 1506 or Online

Office: HH 262, ext. 33398

Office hours: 11:30-12:30 T/R Online

E-mail: slethaug@uwaterloo.ca

Course Description

In Contemporary Rhetorical Theory, we will survey the key concepts, issues, authors, and debates of contemporary rhetoric and place them in a practical context. The course will be organized around six pillars that have contributed to contemporary rhetoric: 1) Semiotics, Language, and Discourse; 2) Feminist Rhetorical Theories; 3) Traditional Rhetorics and Argumentation; 4) Cultural Rhetoric, Critical Rhetoric, and Power; 5) Postmodern Theory; and 6) Mass Media, Communications Theories, Technology, and Propaganda. Hence, following an introduction to semiotic theories (de Saussure, Peirce, Barthes, and Derrida) and feminist theories, the first half of the course will focus on three of the most important contemporary rhetoricians (Weaver, Burke, and Toulmin). The second part will concentrate on contemporary rhetoric at work in culture through cultural rhetoric, postmodernism, and media, including power relations, discourse, race, advertising, and technology. Recognizing with Kenneth Burke “how overwhelmingly much of what we mean by ‘reality’ has been built up for us through nothing but our symbol systems,” we will examine theories of rhetoric to better understand the pervasiveness of rhetoric in our ways of knowing and saying. The class will consist of lectures, presentations, discussion, and workshop exercises.

Texts

Timothy Borchers and Heather Hundley, Rhetorical Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition

Karen A. Foss et al, Readings in Contemporary Rhetoric.

Various articles on PDF/LEARN as required

Assignments

Participation/Discussion                                                       16%

Reflections                                                                                16%

Group PowerPoint Presentation                                           20%                

Essay (submitted electronically by midnight)                    20%                 Apr.   4

Final Examination                                                                     28%

Assignments are due as noted. Unless we make prior arrangements, assignments will lose 5% per late day.

Discussions    

Discussions will be an important part of your learning, and that is reflected in the mark distribution. Online you should create one post on each due date and then post at least two responses when others comment on your post.  This is the bare minimum and better marks will be earned by carrying the discussion forward and making sure that every person has a chance to contribute. 

           Discussion 1 due on Monday of Module 2—Jan. 10

            Discussion 1 due on Monday of Module 4—Jan. 24

            Discussion 1 due on Monday of Module 6—Feb. 7

            Discussion 1 due on Monday of Module 8—Feb. 28

Reflections

Four reflections of at least 300 words each are due during the term.  In each case, a topic is posted online, and you should respond to that question.

            Reflection 1 due on Monday of Module 3—Jan. 17

            Reflection 1 due on Monday of Module 5—Jan. 31

            Reflection 1 due on Monday of Module 7—Feb. 14

            Reflection 1 due on Monday of Module 9—Mar. 7

Presentation Groups

In groups of 3 (depending on enrolment), students should make an oral PPT presentation of no more than 30 minutes applying some aspect of the day’s rhetorical theory to specific communication and media issues, cases, advertisements, aspects of popular culture, etc. Each student in a group should take an equal share in the presentation.

The Essay

The essay itself should be about 10 pages and should apply premises of one or more rhetorical figures/theories to some part of the University of Waterloo culture. This could be advertising, program descriptions, bulletins, announcements, newspapers, websites, etc. The paper should be clear about governing theories and methodology, which should be stated upfront and then integrated throughout.

Final Examination

The Final Examination will cover all material in the course and will consist of essay questions that compare the views of rhetoricians in the course.

Schedule of Classes and Readings

Date

Topic

Readings

Jan. 6

     

 

Introduction to course:

Six Pillars of Modern Rhetoric

  1. Semiotics, Language, and Discourse, 2) Feminist Rhetorical Theories, 3) Traditional Rhetorics and Argumentation, 4) Cultural Rhetoric, Critical Rhetoric, and Power, 5) Postmodern Rhetoric, 6) Media, Technology, and Advertising

Jan. 11

        13

Defining Rhetoric

Semiotics, Language, and Discourse: Saussure and Peirce

Borchers & Hundley, 3-26

Chandler, 13-35 (PDF); Borchers & Hundley, 126-129, 153

Choose Presentation Groups

Jan. 18

         20

Rhetoric and Media

Barthes

Derrida

Borchers & Hundley, 129-136; Barthes, “Myth Today” 217-249 (PDF); “Rhetoric of the Image” from Image Music Text (PDF)

Derrida, “Structure, Sign, and Play” (PDF)

Jan. 25

        27

Feminist Rhetorical Theories

Workshop

Borchers & Hundley, 201-244; Mehlenbacher and Harris, “Figurative Mind,” 75-109 (PDF); Women in the History of Rhetoric (PDF).

Guest presenter, Dr. Ashley Mehlenbacher

Dr. Mehlenbacher and Dr. Slethaug

Feb. 1

       3

Traditional Rhetorics: Weaver as Anti-epistemic

Traditional Meaning and Values

Borchers & Hundley, 162-169; “The Phaedrus and the Nature of Rhetoric” (Foss et al)

Fish, “Rhetoric” (PDF)

Feb. 8

 

        10

Burke

Burke (cont.)

Borchers & Hundley, 171-197; “Terministic Screens” (PDF); “Definition of Man” (PDF) (Foss et al)

“Dramatism” (Foss et al)

Group Presentation 1:

Feb. 13

        15

Toulmin: Argumentation

Workshop

Borchers & Hundley, 96-110; “The Tyranny of Principles,” “Theory and Practice” (Foss et al)

Feb. 22-

Feb. 24

Mar. 1

         

          3

READING WEEK

Critical Rhetoric and Power:

Marx and Cultural/Critical Rhetoric

Borchers & Hundley, 263-290

Mar. 8

         10

Cultural Rhetoric:

Foucault

Postmodernism:

hooks

Borchers & Hundley, 291-316; Foucault, “History, Discourse and Discontinuity”; “The History of Sexuality” (Foss et al)

Presentation 2:

Borchers & Hundley, 317-339; “Reflections on Race and Sex,” “Teaching Resistance” (Foss et al)

Presentation 3:

Mar. 15

                       

         17

Baudrillard

Eco

Borchers & Hundley, 317-339; Baudrillard, “A Marginal System: Collecting” (Foss et al)

Presentation 4:

Eco, “Travels in Hyperreality” (PDF)

Presentation 5:

Mar. 22

      

         24

Media and Technology

Propaganda

Borchers & Hundley, 113-137; McLuhan, “The Medium Is the Message” and “Media Hot and Cold” from Understanding Media (PDF)

Loebs, “Hitler's Rhetorical Theory,” Relevant Rhetoric Vol 1, 2010*; Ellul, Propaganda (3-32 PDF)

Presentation 6:

Mar. 29

                 

Mar. 31

Advertising: Politics

Workshop

Borchers & Hundley 331-333; McNair, “Party Political Communication 1: Advertising” (PDF)

Apr. 5

Essay Due

The essay must be submitted by midnight on April 4. 

* available online:

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.

Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm

Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm

Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm

Academic Integrity website (Arts): http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/arts/ugrad/academic_responsibility.html

Academic  Integrity Office (UW): http://uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

Note for students with disabilities: The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum.  If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term.

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