1/28 - Modern Theories of Rhetoric

"Our discipline has been long in knuckling from its eyes the sleep of the ninetheenth and early twentieth centuries, and the real lesson of the modes is that we need always to be on guard against systems that seem convenient to teachers but ignore the way writing is actually done."

- Connors, "Fall and Rise of the Modes"

• What are some definitions for "rhetoric"?
• What are the features of a rhetoric?
• What were the influences on early modern American rhetorics and writing instruction?
• What was the role of textbooks in the development of early modern rhetorical theories?
• What is the difference between the modes of discourse and Kinneavy's aims of discourse?  
• How are theories of discourse "built," what method do they use?
• How do these readings fill in the "gap" in composition scholarship from week 1, i.e., the early 20th century? 
• How would a "timeline" of composition scholarship look, as we know it today?
• What are the major contributions of modern theories of invention to comtemporary rhetorical theory and pedagogy?
• What is the issue between rational and non-rational forms of invention?
• What are some of the emphasese of more contemporary forms of invention (social, critical, etc.)

1/21 - Comp Studies Origins

Part I: Open Discussion

• Read the blog of the person following your name on the ENG 701 blog roll.
• Post a thoughtful response
• Read and respond to someone eles’s if you have time.
• Class discussion

Part II: Histories, Problems, and Methodologies

• Do a binary comparison the “old” American college to the “new” research university, including how writing instruction faired in both systems.
• Identify the main elements of the Harvard model of composition? (curriculum, philosophy, leaders…)
• What are some alternative models?
• What is the rationale for English A given by Hill?
• What is the significance of Hill’s piece to the history of composition studies?
• What is the "domain" of composition studies?
• What are the areas of research in the field of rhetoric and composition?
• What are the research methodologies used in composition studies?
• What larger intellectual movements influenced composition research?
• What is unique about composition studies?
• What is the relationship of composition to literature and English departments?

Welcome

If you are reading this you are probably sitting in CBC C309 on the UNLV campus. I'm sitting in front of you. You may be wondering why you are taking this course in a computer classroom. You might be wondering why you are taking this class at all. Hopefully, I'll answer any questions you have, and you might decide to stay.

After discussing the course and syllabus, we'll spend some time reading some recent news and articles related to the course. The readings can be found on the course reading list.

According to the reading list, the texts for the course on any given week can be found in one of two places:

1. Required textbook, Cross-Talk in Comp Theory by Victor Villanueva (2nd ed.)
2. Webcampus course

For next week's class, you'll need to do the following:

1. Pick up or order a copy of Cross-Talk
2. Read the articles for 1/21
3. Write your blog entry for the articles before the start of class next week
4. E-mail me the link to your blog and post your URL of your blog to Webcampus

-Dr. J