WRD104: Composition & Rhetoric II Rotating Header Image

Course Calendar

Please note that this calendar is designed to be flexible: we may make changes along the way, depending on your interests and the needs of the class. Should you miss a class, you are responsible for finding out what you missed from a classmate and for knowing about—and adjusting for—any calendar changes. Professional protocols and collegiality ask you to alert us if you’ll be missing on a day when we’re having a workshop or when you are scheduled to present materials.

Week 1
“We Are What We Find, Not What We Search For”
Monday 1/3 In class: Introductions, key terms, course goals; WRD103 portfolio review and plans for integrating your WRD104 work

  • Digication: log in, create “Summary” section, and compose summary
Wednesday

1/5

 Reading: “Stoned”
In class:  article summaries
Due: article summary via Digication and Course Survey

Background: review in e-Handbook — summary and paraphrase (14f) and elements of argument (9a-g), especially claims, assumptions, and premises
Week 2
Relationships Between Research, Audience, & Purpose
Individual Conferences, TBA
Mon. 1/10 Reading: NYT article “Bloodshed Puts New Focus on Vitriol in Politics”
In class:  Rhetorical précis method of summary
Editorials:
NYT: “Bloodshed and Invective in Arizona”
WSJ: “The Arizona Tragedy and the Politics of Blood Libel”
Due: Rhetorical précis
Wed. 1/12 Reading: NYT, continued nyt
In class:  Rhetorical précis method of summary
Due: Rhetorical précis on “Sweet Home Arizona”
Week 3
Analyzing Arguments & Advocacy
Mon. 1/17 Reading:

  • NYT article TBA Sunday
  • Butler, “Much Respect: Toward a Hip-Hop Theory of Punishment,” 2004 (PDF)”
  • Butler, “A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice,” 2009 (PDF)

In class:  From text to context
Due: Rhetorical précis
Wed. 1/19 Reading: Butler, continued
In class:  Argument analysis workshop
Due: Argument analysis draft #1
Week 4
Analyzing Arguments & Advocacy: Text, Image, and Sound
Mon. 1/24 Reading: Butler, continued
In class:  Argument analysis revising workshop
Due: Argument analysis draft #2 — multimodal version
Wed. 1/26 Reading: NYT Sunday Styles section; Week in Review; Sunday Magazine In class:  NYT and multimodal reviews, continued

  • Textual analysis in the service of argument (p11)
  • Reader’s comment: “BINGO — For example. Folks who major in ‘finance’ and ‘business administration’ often don’t have much interesting to say about the financial crisis.”While folks who were forced to study marx, read samuelson’s texts, familiarze themselves with Hamilton’s work on forming a central bank — they often have very interesting things to say.”

Due: Online library workshop

Week 5
Choosing and Narrowing a Topic: Argument, Persuasion, and Advocacy
Mon. 1/31 Reading: NYT Art & Style, Week in Review; St. Martins e-Handbook, “Choosing and Narrowing a Topic” (12a-c)
In class:  Review and discuss initial inquiry questions
Due: Initial inquiry questions, based on assignment examples (75-100 words)
Background:

NYT: Record Level of Stress Found in College Freshmen
CHE: Sobering News on Emotional Health
HERI: The American Freshman: National Norms for 2010
Trib: More college freshmen feeling overwhelmed, survey finds (note caption context)

Aljazeera livestream
Wed. 2/2 Meet at Library, room #417: Research Orientation and Instruction
Canceled — Snow Day

Reading: St. Martins e-Handbook, “Conducting Research” (16)
Due: Revised inquiry questions and Argument analysis final draft
* Fri. 2/4 Mid-term reflective essay: 350-500 words

Things to write about in your mid-term self assessment & reflection:

In terms of writing, reading, critical thinking, and class participation:
* What have you been doing well so far? (provide specific examples)
* What do you need to work on more? (provide specific examples)

NYT: please provide a self-ethnographic narrative on your experience:
* Describe your reading strategies: do you skim? focus on specific sections? follow particular stories or themes? Do you read leisurely or under pressure?
* Where do you read? dorm? train? library? cafe? elsewhere?
* How do you think those strategies and locations affect your understanding and comprehension of the NYT?
* Context: how is the NYT the same or different than other things you usually read?
Week 6
Writing with a Method, a Perspective, and with Authority
Mon. 2/7 Reading: NYT article TBA Sunday
In class:  Project proposal workshop
Due: Project proposal draft
Wed. 2/9 In class:  Rescheduled Library Instruction Workshop
Background: Sample Contextual Analysis
Week 7
Method, Perspective, Authority, Con’t: Multimodal Research & Composing
Mon. 2/14 Reading: NYT — “Protests Reach Yemen and Algeria” (A1) and the Chicago stories, pp 31A-31B.
In class:  Workshop & peer review: St. Martin’s 14c (sources)
Due: Contextual analysis project first draft
Wed. 2/16 Reading: St. Martin’s 6b: Peer Review
In class:  Workshop & peer review
Week 8
Workshop: Making Connections Between Primary Texts, Secondary Texts, and Your Ideas

Individual Conferences, TBA
Mon. 2/21 Reading: NYT article TBA Sunday
In class:  Workshop & peer review
Due: Contextual analysis project second draft
Wed. 2/23 Reading: NYT, continued
In class:  Editing & proofreading workshop
Due: Source Remix
Week 9
Mon. 2/28 Reading: NYT: Front page news & analysis
St. Martin’s Companion site: the Top 20 and integrated quotations
In class: Proofreading workshop
Due: Contextual analysis project final draft
Wed. 3/2 Reading: NYT, continued
In class:  Proofreading, continued
Preview: WRD104 course portfolios

Option #1: WRD Learning Outcomes-based Digital Portfolio
Option #2: WRD Curated Digital Portfolio
Option #3: WRD Digital Portfolio

Week 10
Mon. 3/7 Reading: NYT article TBA Sunday

In class:  Portfolio workshop

Wed. 3/9 Reading: NYT, continued

In class: Portfolio workshop
Finals Week

Section #206: Wednesday, March 16th, 11:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Section #207: Monday, March 14th, 11:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Due: WRD104 Course Portfolio & Digital Portfolio survey (10-12 minutes)

We will meet during our assigned Final Exam time for the final, official delivery of your WRD104 Portfolios. Extra optional office hours will be available if you need help with your portfolio before and during Finals Week:
Tuesday 3/8: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Thursday 3/10: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. in 143 McGaw
Friday 3/11: noon-2:00 p.m.
Sunday 3/13: noon-5:00 p.m.
Monday 3/14: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday 3/15: 9:30-11:30 a.m.