Modern Rhetoric – ENGL 608
CG • Section 8WK • 07/01/2018 to 12/31/2199 • Modified 02/01/2024
Course Description
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.
Rationale
This course provides students with a thorough examination of various rhetorical theories from Renaissance and Enlightenment to more Modern and Postmodern Rhetoric. Students will discover how rhetoric 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 their 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.
Course Assignment
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Discussions (5)
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, student participation in each is necessary for greater understanding of the subject matter. Each thread must address the given prompt, be 500 words minimum, and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, 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. The student will select a book with a modern rhetoric focus published within the last three years, describe the value it has to the student, and ask any potential questions he or she may have related to the review. The assignment must be between 300–500 words and follow current APA format. This proposal corresponds to the Book Review Assignment.
Book Review: Final Submission Assignment
The Book Review Assignment will be the fully completed extension of the Book Review: Proposal Assignment. The primary objective is for students to read a book specifically related to the content of this course and have a greater understanding of a modern rhetoric topic than he/she did before. The review must be 1,400–1,700 words and fulfill the expectations of the review genre.
Term Paper: Proposal Assignment
This is a formal proposal that clearly defines the student’s term paper topic. The student will select one of the general prompts provided in the assignment description, modify the prompt to a more specific focus, and explain how the student envisions the final paper might look. The assignment must between 300–500 words and follow current APA format. This proposal corresponds to the Term Paper Outline Assignment and the Term Paper Assignment.
Term Paper: Outline Assignment
This is a formal, full sentence outline that reflects the structure of the final term paper. The outline should reveal what the key points will be, what primary sources the student will utilize, and what type of support they will use for main ideas. This outline corresponds to the Term Paper Proposal Assignment and the Term Paper Assignment.
Term Paper: Final Submission Assignment
This conference length research paper will be a product of all the readings, the DB discussions, and the student’s specific focus developed during the semester. The student will synthesize material read in class as well as part of their outside reading to formulate an original idea(s) about a rhetorician, theme, or concept in modern rhetoric. The paper must be between 4,500–5,000 words and include a minimum of 10 secondary sources. This paper corresponds to the Term Paper Proposal Assignment and the Term Paper Outline Assignment.
