Winter 2000, Monday
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Instructor |
Neil Randall |
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HH 255, M11:30-2:00; W10:30-1:00 |
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Ext 3397; nrandall@uwaterloo.ca |
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Required |
Loucaites et al, eds. Contemporary Rhetorical Theory: A Reader |
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Recommended |
Hodge & Kress. Social Semiotics |
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Introduction |
English 700B introduces students to recent primary texts in rhetorical theory and social semiotic theory, two important fields underlying the analysis and design/production of communicative texts of all types. Students read some of the most important essays in rhetorical theory published in the past thirty years, as well as a foundational text for the social semiotic field. They prepare an academic paper on the theories themselves as well as a professional writing project whose design and content draw closely from these theories. The goal of the course is for students to gain a strong theoretical basis for professional projects, to engage in the discourse of these theories, and to produce a theoretically-driven practical project suitable for inclusion in their portfolios. |
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Assignment 1: |
A weekly column on a topic of your choice
for a professional non-academic publication of your choice (newspaper,
magazine, Web site). The column will be graded according to how well it is
written, according to the publication’s apparent audience, topic selection,
editorial policy, and must consider these issues in accordance with the
theories studied in class. The column is 500 words long (no more, no
fewer), and will run for five weeks beginning January 24, the
date the first installment is due. Please note that since Monday, February 21
is a holiday, you must submit the column for that date by the previous Friday
(weekly publications don’t stop for the columnist’s time off). The assignment
is worth 20% of your grade. |
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Assignment 2 |
A portfolio project, worth 40% of your grade, due Monday, March 13. This project is be team-based in preparation, but your actual submission is individual. You may choose from among a range of topics, to be distributed in the class of January 17. These will possibly include a comparative review of online services (written for a computer magazine), the preparation of a Web site (designed for an organization to be determined), the editing and compilation of a volume of shortened published essays on a specific topic, a user-specific software manual, the collaborative writing of an in-depth newspaper article, and others. Groups will be determined, and will begin deliberations, on January 17 and 24. The project must include a 4-page rationale for its rhetorical and social semiotic choices. |
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Assignment 3 |
An academic paper encompassing rhetorical and semiotic theory, worth 40% of your grade and due Monday, April 10. This essay will analyze one text according to rhetorical and social semiotic considerations. An assignment sheet will be available on Monday, February 14. |
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Jan 10 |
Introductions |
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Jan 17 |
Assignments 1 and 2 – introduction, requirements and guideslines, groups, getting started |
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Jan 24 |
Group work on Assignment 2 |
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Jan 31 |
Hodge & Kress chpts 1 and 3 |
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Feb 7 |
Hodge & Kress chpt 5 and 6 |
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Feb 14 |
Hodge & Kress chpt 7 and 8 |
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Feb 21 |
Reading Week – no class |
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Feb 28 |
Lucaites TBA |
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Mar 6 |
Lucaites TBA |
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Mar 13 |
Lucaites TBA |
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Mar 20 |
Lucaites TBA |
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Mar 27 |
Lucaites TBA |
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Apr 3 |
Lucaites TBA; Conclusions |