Goals
RHE 306 Rhetoric and Composition is a course in argumentation that will enhance your understanding of academic writing and give you practice in producing it. You will learn how to:
- identify, evaluate, construct, and organize effective arguments;
- read critically;
- conduct library research and document sources;
- produce a clean, efficient style and adapt it to various rhetorical situations;
- edit and proofread your own and others' prose.
Textbooks
Everything's An Argument. John Ruszkiewicz et al.
The SF Handbook for Writers. Ruszkiewicz, Hairston, and Friend.
Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser.
Rules and guidelines from the Division of Rhetoric and Composition: RHE 306 Student Guide.
Additional Requirements
- Access to a computer and a photocopier.
- Your UT EID for the use of Webspace to transfer your papers to computers in the classroom. If you don't know your UT EID, find it online at: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/nlogon/eid_suite/general/index.WBX
Coursework
You will be writing the following papers this term:
Paper I: Definition Argument (25%).
Paper II: Causal Argument (25%).
Paper III: Proposal Argument (15%).
Paper IV: Rhetorical Analysis (15%).
Participation-10% (attendance-3% and discussions-7%).
Grammar quizzes-10%.
Grades
To pass the course, you must turn in on time a good faith rough draft and a polished final draft of each paper. Your peers and I will look at and comment on the rough drafts. To complete each final draft, you must consider the comments you received on your first draft thoughtfully, acting on them and going beyond them to improve your draft substantially. Although you will not receive a grade for the rough draft, failure to submit a rough draft will result in the loss of a whole letter grade on the final draft.
Your final semester grade will be calculated from your formal paper grades, your performance on daily assignments and class work, and your perfomance on the grammar quizzes. You may fail the course if you consistently fail to fulfill the course work assignments. Also, be aware that regular participation in the discussion board is considered course work. Do not discard any drafts, notes, papers or research materials you produce during the semester until you receive a final grade.
Consult the RHE 306 Student Guide for a complete explanation of grades in this course: Chapter 4.4: Grading and Grading Criteria
Format of Final Papers
Rough and final drafts of all out-of-class papers must be typewritten. The first page of your paper must include the following information: your name, my name, course, date, and paper title. Double space the lines and use 1-inch margins all the way around the text. Staple your pages together. Unless you're told otherwise, your papers should have the same format as the sample MLA paper in The SF Handbook for Writers (see pp. 822-31). Both rough and final drafts must always be submitted electronically as MS Word documents. Make sure that your name is part of the file name whenever you submit documents electronically.
Computer Use and Availability
Computers are available to you in the Student Microcomputer Facility (SMF) on the second floor of the Flawn Academic Center (FAC) (also known as the Undergraduate Library, or UGL). You should plan to get your IF number for the SMF immediately if you have not already done so. Some departments also provide computer labs, so check with your advisor. Also check the list of computer lab locations in The Student Guide to First-year Writing: Resources for RHE 306 Students.
Attendance
Attendance is required. You are expected to attend class regularly, to arrive on time, to have prepared assigned reading and writing, and to participate in all in-class editing, revising, and discussion sessions. If you have fifteen absences or more you will fail the course. For every absence you will lose .2% of your final grade. Save any absences to use when you are sick, or when you have an emergency. If you find that an unavoidable problem prevents you from attending class, please discuss the problem with me.
Late Assignments and Drafts
Papers, drafts, and other out-of-class assignments will be turned in at the time they are due. If you cannot attend class on the date an assignment is due, arrange to have a classmate or friend drop it off during scheduled class time. There is no make-up for in-class work. I refuse to accept late rough drafts. Generally, I will accept late final drafts but each workday that you are late costs you one third of a letter grade.
Scholastic Honesty
Turning in work that is not your own, or any other form of scholastic dishonesty, will result in a major course penalty, possibly failure of the course. A report of the incident will also be made to the Office of the Dean of Students. Be sure you read and understand the Statement on Scholastic Responsibility in chapter 6 of The Student Guide. I strongly encourage you to use the services offered by the Undergraduate Writing Center (FAC 211, 471-6222) and the Learning Center (JES A332A, 471-3614). The consultants at these centers are trained to help you resolve your own problems so that all your writing reflects what you have learned.
We will be covering the use of sources extensively in class. If you have any questions about the use you are making of sources for your assignments, see me before you turn in the project.
Students With Disabilities
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TDD.