Aristotle defines rhetoric as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. This course will teach you to identify the rhetorical strategies available in select discursive genres. In this course, you will utilize analytic and inductive reasoning, document evidence to support your reasoning, and hone your research methods.
The first third of this class will be built around an argumentative essay that will be built around two major themes: transformations in visual culture, and the rise of indigenous futurisms. Working in large groups, the class will engage in an a series of in-class debates about these topics, which will provide scaffolding and organization for a short argumentative paper.
The second two thirds of the class will revolve around an independent research project that you will develop in conjunction with the instructor. You will develop a topic that is pertinent to your ongoing interests. In the development of this major research project, you will develop an annotated bibliography.
The majority of the grade for this class will be based an analytic essay, an annotated bibliography, a final research project, a student presentation on an article related to your final project, and daily postings to Laulima. Through these assignments, you will become familiar with composition methods, strategies for finding and evaluating academic sources, and with the resources of the UH Manoa Library.