ENGL 608 Modern Rhetoric

A study of contemporary rhetorical approaches, focusing on theory and application.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

This course provides the student with a thorough examination of various rhetorical theories from the Renaissance and Enlightenment to more Modern and Postmodern Rhetoric. The student will discover how rhetoric is connected to pedagogical models and how this evolved according to the demands of each period, the relationship between language and thought, and what theories contribute to his/her own contemporary understanding of rhetoric. Considering these themes and concepts through a biblical worldview increases a student’s awareness of complex discursive practices and the power of language in broader contexts.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences; therefore, student participation in each is necessary for greater understanding of the subject matter. Each post must address the provided prompt, be 500 words minimum, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the original post, the student is required to reply to 1 other classmate’s thread. Each reply must be 200 words minimum.

Book Review: Proposal Assignment

This is a formal proposal that clearly defines the student’s Book Review Assignment. The student will select a book with a modern rhetoric focus published within the last 3 years, describe the value it has to the student, and ask any potential questions he or she may have related to the review. This assignment must be between 300-500 words in current APA format. This proposal corresponds to the Book Review Assignment.

Final Project: Proposal Assignment

Though a small part of the larger project, the proposal is an opportunity for the student to identify a specific topic he/she would like to research and write on for the Annotated Bibliography Assignment and the Final Project Assignment. The student will select and modify one of the threads within the proposal assignment to form his/her own unique paper topic. This assignment must be between 300-500 words in current APA format. This proposal corresponds to the Annotated Bibliography Assignment and the Final Project Assignment.

Book Review: Final Submission Assignment

The Book Review Assignment will be the fully completed extension of the proposal from the Book Review: Proposal Assignment. The review must be 1000-1500 words in current APA format and fulfill the expectations of the review genre. 

Annotated Bibliography Assignment

The Annotated Bibliography represents the continued research stemming from the student’s initial thread identified in the Final Project Proposal Assignment. The student will submit an annotated bibliography with 10 sources in current APA format to show focused research on the chosen subject, and this research will be the foundation for the discussion in the Final Project Assignment.

Final Project Assignment

The final project (2,500-3,250 words) is an opportunity for the student to synthesize the readings and discussion boards, along with any research he/she has found, to trace a specific thread he/she has chosen. Through careful analysis, the student will formulate his/her own conclusion when putting different voices in conversation with each other and reveal a deeper understanding of modern rhetoric.

Though the Final Project is one assignment, it contains two distinct sections (part 1 and part 2). This project corresponds to the Final Project Proposal Assignment and the Annotated Bibliography Assignment.