English 550, Section 4, Spring 2004

STUDIES IN CRITICISM:
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF NONFICTION PROSE

University of Wisconsin-Madison

INSTRUCTOR: David Fleming, PhD

CLASS MEETINGS: TR 9:30 - 10:45, 360 Science Hall.

CLASS EMAIL LIST: english550-04@lists.students.wisc.edu

OFFICE: 6187D  H. C. White Hall

OFFICE HOURS: W 1:00 - 3:00; & gladly by appt.

PHONE: 263-3367 (o)

EMAIL: jdfleming@wisc.edu

1.  DESCRIPTION

2. TEXTS

• Murphy, James J., & Richard A. Katula (with Forbes I. Hill & Donovan J. Ochs).  A Synoptic History of Classical Rhetoric, 3rd ed.  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2003.
  
• Darwin, Charles.  The Origin of Species (J. W. Burrow, Ed.).  London: Penguin, 1985.
• Gross, John, Ed.  The Oxford Book of Essays.  New York: Oxford UP, 2002.
• Warner, Michael, Ed.  American Sermons: The Pilgrims to Martin Luther King, Jr.  New York: Library of America, 1999.

3. ASSIGNMENTS, GRADES, & POLICIES

• active participation in class.  I ask that you come to class every meeting prepared to contribute to class discussions.  You needn’t be brilliant when you speak, only thoughtful.  I expect you to speak up at least once a week.
• exercises and minor assignments.  I will ask you to turn in several brief written exercises, typically less than a page long, and intended to help you practice the analytic methods we learn in class.
• a unit test on rhetorical theory.  At the end of the 4th week, you'll be tested on your knowledge of classical rhetoric.  The test will consist of definitions, identifications, and a brief analysis of a sample text.
• three formal papers.  At the end of Units II, III, & IV, you'll turn in a medium-length paper (3 total, about 4-6 pp. ea.), either analyzing or imitating one or more texts from our reading.

I use a 4 point system for evaluating your work: 4 for excellent; 3 for good; 2 for fair; 1 for poor; and 0 for unacceptable or missing.  Intermediate grades may be used (e.g., 3.5).  Final grades will be computed using the following formula:
 

Participation	10%
Exercises (5@3% ea.)	15%
Test on Classical Rhetoric	15%
Paper 1: Sermon Analysis	20%
Paper 2: Science Analysis	20%
Paper 3: Essay Analysis or Imitation	20%
Final Grade	100%

Finally, attendance is required for this class.  A poor attendance record (2 consecutive or 3 total absences) will adversely affect your grade.  If you miss class 4 times over the course of the semester, you will not pass the class.  You are responsible for making up work missed due to absence, although such work may still be penalized.  Late arrival to class may also be counted as an absence.  Exercises and papers, including drafts, should be turned in at the beginning of class on the date due.  Late work will be penalized one letter grade or check level for each day late.

4. CALENDAR     (tentative)