Argument and Place in Public Discourse
The classical rhetoricians of Ancient Greece believed for
one to be a responsible citizen, one must be educated in rhetoric—the study of
how language is used to persuade—so that he could participate in public
deliberations (yes, it was mostly “he” then). In the 21st century,
it is equally important to understand the arguments bombarding us as it is to
construct our own arguments. In studies for rhetoric, it has become
increasingly apparent that accounting for place is essential when constructing arguments
effective with particular audiences. Thus, focusing on the places we inhabit
and the discourses specific to those places, in this course we will examine the
rhetorical strategies employed in various texts as well as practice using
rhetorical strategies so as to participate in the public discourses we are
affected by—and such texts can be focused on local issues like development along the North Shore of O‘ahu or GMO production, or global as with oil production or climate change. Specifically, we will both analyze and construct arguments to further
understandings of how such skills can be employed in our own communities to
affect/resist change.
This is a Writing Intensive Course, and as such we will spend time discussing and practicing writing as a process. Formal assignments will all go through a process of drafting, giving and getting feedback, and revising.
Course Requirements
- Attendance
and Participation - 4
Response Papers (2-3 pages) - Critical
Rhetorical Analysis (5-6 pages) - Final
Project to include audience analysis (this will involve some fieldwork in
the form of interviews, surveys, etc.) and creation of a multi-media
argument (e.g., PSA) (equivalent to 10-12 pages) - Oral
Presentation
Required Texts (Available
at UHM Bookstore)
Sharon
Crowley and Debra Hawhee’s Ancient
Rhetorics For Contemporary Students, 5th ed. (Available at Revolution
Books)
Other
forms of media accessible through the newspaper, magazines, and Internet.