GSM Syllabus

Issues in Rhetoric, Writing, & Linguistics
English 585
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Fall 2009

Time: TTh 2:10-3:25 p.m.

Place: HSS 206-A

Phones: 974-6952 (o); 5401 (sec); 6926 (fax)

Office hrs.: TBA

Course Description
Here’s the basic shape of the 585 course:

First 2/3 of semester, I will mostly lecture and lead discussion, and y’all shall read, about several important issues that are being or have been discussed/debated in the professional RWL literature. Our first set of issues falls into the category of “style.”

Also during this first 2/3 of the semester, I'll invite guests (other RWL faculty) to talk with you about their research and to lead discussions about the RWL issues that most interest them. You shall write a few brief reactions to readings and discussions and shall be pondering which issues you’d like to explore in greater depth. You may even land upon an issue that hasn't been brought up in class, but I'll ask you to consult with me about it. Last 1/3 of semester, each of you shall deliver a 15-minute "conference talk" on an RWL issue of your choosing, then lead discussion about the issue during that class period. You’ll get helpful feedback this way, both from me and from your peers.

At semester's end, each of you must submit a paper describing and contributing to the discussion on an RWL-related issue. Usually, your paper deals with the issue upon which you’ve presented and led discussion in class. About 15 pages. Your written paper is your final exam.

Additional readings, assigned by visiting scholars, will not be burdensome or numerous. Usually, photocopies will be made for you in anticipation of the scholar’s visit, or you’ll be given a link to free online copies of the material.

This course looks at issues in invention, style, and audience from multiple disciplinary perspectives. These perspectives come from theories of rhetoric, composition, readability, literature, linguistics, cognitive science, and visual design. My research focuses on efficient and ethical style as informed by these perspectives, and also on historical rhetoric, especially homiletics.

For your “conference talk” and final paper, I’m guessing that many of you will take up issues in areas like civic & political rhetoric, linguistics, history & theory of classical rhetoric, discourse analysis, judicial language, composition studies, scientific & technical communication, genre studies, writing across the curriculum, Second Language studies, and so on. We’ll talk about options as the course progresses. I’m fairly tractable when I see that someone has genuine interest in something.

You are not expected to demonstrate mastery of each topic discussed. But you will emerge with an excellent sense of research going on in the rich, broad fields of Rhetoric, Writing, & Linguistics.

Required Texts

Aristotle on Rhetoric: A Theory of Civic Discourse, trans. and notes by George Kennedy.

Analyzing Prose, 2nd Edition, Richard A. Lanham

Figures of Speech: 60 Ways to Turn a Phrase, Arthur Quinn.

A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms, 2nd Edition
--Both of these are by Richard A. Lanham. Get paperbacks; I recommend using Amazon.com.

You'll also read articles that will be made available to you as files linked to my web site. Texts not thus available will generally be photocopied and provided to you in class.

Note: Handlist or Figures of Speech will be resources (we won't read them cover to cover), but we'll read and use most of Analyzing Prose. For review of AP go to UT e-journals and find vol.19 issue 1 (January '05) of the Journal of Business & Technical Communication, pages 117-121. The review is by Nancy Christiansen.

Assignments
Write brief responses to readings as assigned.

Final Paper: TBA

Participation
Attend class regularly and discuss readings/issues/questions with Dr. Hirst and visiting faculty.

Grading
As described first day of class.

Schedule
August
25 Course objectives, structure, materials, and policies.

27 Commonplace books, articles by Mazur and Thrush.

September
1 Article by Clements. The Philosophy of Style, Spencer.

3 Herbert Spencer's Philosophy of Style: Conserving Mental Energy" by Dr. Hirst.
This article appears in JTWC Vol. 34, No.4

Style tutorials, fyi.

8 Conference talk presentation by Dr. Hirst.

"Virtues and Vices of Omission," Hirst (class handout).

Jargon article by Dr. Hirst, JTWC Vol. 33:3 (2003) pp. 201–229.