COMMUNICATION STUDIES 302 - History and Criticism of Public Address

 

Spring Semester 2008

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday  2:00-2:50 p.m.

Room 232, Moreau Center for the Arts

 

Dr. Michael Kramer

Office Address:   105 Moreau Hall               

Office Hours:  Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00-4:30 p.m. and by appointment    

Phone:  284-4648 (office), 251-0262 (home)       

Email:  mkramer@saintmarys.edu

Home Page: http://www.saintmarys.edu/~mkramer/

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

                  This course is an introduction to rhetoric, rhetorical criticism, and public address studies.  We will study, in a critical and analytical way, how public communicators (journalists, politicians, activists, celebrities and other public figures) use language and images to influence society.  Everyday, these communicators attempt to shape and reshape the ÒmeaningÓ of certain people, issues, and ideas in society in order to change our perceptions and beliefs about the world. The ability to better understand and critically analyze public communication is important because of the potential impact of such widely-distributed and widely-consumed discourse.  For those pursuing the Senior Comprehensive Project in Rhetoric, this course provides the intellectual foundation and analytical tools for completing that project during fall semester.  For the rest, the course offers the opportunity to develop highly sophisticated critical abilities for a lifetime of consuming public persuasion.

                   As suggested above, the course is related to the following goals: 

                  1.  Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of communication theory and history, and of critical thinking skills, and

                  2.  Students should understand the contexts (political, social, legal, ethical and cultural) in which messages are produced, disseminated, and interpreted.

  

REQUIRED TEXTS

 

                  1.  Karlyn Kohrs Campbell, Man Cannot Speak For Her:  Volume II – Key Texts of the Early Feminists.  Praeger Paperbacks.

                  2.  Sonja K. Foss, Rhetorical Criticism:  Exploration & Practice.  3rd Edition.  Waveland Press.

                  3.  Other readings will be provided in class for assigned reading or for classroom reading and discussion.

 

ATTENDANCE

 

                  Attendance and participation are an important part of this course.  I will excuse absences that are verified with official written documentation from the college or a physician.  Second, students are permitted 3 unexcused absences during the semester.  Each unexcused absence after that will result in a 10-point deduction from your final point total for the course.

                  Students are held responsible for all material covered during the class sessions.  For any absence, you are responsible for obtaining lecture notes from a classmate and assignments and handouts from me.  You cannot make up missed exams unless you provide the documentation above.

 

 

 

                   

 

ASSIGNMENTS

 

                  Detailed directions will be provided as we get closer to a particular assignment.  Generally, the papers will be 5-7 pages in length, and the exams will consist of multiple choice, true-false, matching, short answer and essay questions.

 

Regarding participation, each student is expected to contribute regularly to classroom discussions.  Also, conduct that contributes to a productive classroom conversation, such as listening, attentiveness, and not coming to class late, is important and will be taken into account here.  Finally, turn off cell phones, pagers, and IM devices before entering the classroom.

 

 

POINTS AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION

 

Participation                                                               50 points

Descriptive Analysis Paper                               100 points

Background Analysis Paper                             100 points

Rhetorical Evaluation Paper                             100 points           

Exam #1                                                                       50 points

Exam #2                                                                       50 points

Exam #3                                                                       50 points

TOTAL                                                                          500 points

 

Final Grades will be based upon the following scale:

 

Percentage                            Points                                               Grade

93-100                                      465-500                                                     A

90-93                                         450-464                                                     A-

87-90                                         435-449                                                     B+

83-87                                         415-434                                                     B

80-83                                         400-414                                                     B-

77-80                                         385-399                                                     C+

73-77                                         365-384                                                     C

70-73                                         350-364                                                     C-

67-70                                         335-349                                                     D+

60-67                                         300-334                                                     D

  0-60                                              0-299                                                       F

 

GRADE DISPUTES AND INCOMPLETES

 

                  Students who disagree with a grade on an assignment or exam must submit a written appeal to me within one week of the assignment being returned.  That appeal should make an argument as to why the grade should be changed.  Incompletes are allowed only in very rare and extraordinary circumstances. 

 

PAPER REQUIREMENTS

 

                  All written work must be stapled, typed, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and a standard 10 or 12-point font.  Sources should be cited on a Works Cited page using MLA style.  Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation is expected. Failure to follow any of these instructions will result in point deductions.  Also, a paper from this course could be used for your Advanced W portfolio, so paying attention to mechanics now will save time later.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

 

                  Consult the Saint Mary's Academic Honesty Policy, 2007-2009 Bulletin, p. 43.  

 

                  According to the policies of the Department of Communication and Performance Studies, Òa student who violates the policy will be given an ÔFÕ (0) on the assignment at issue.  A student who violates the policy twice in the same course will receive an ÔFÕ in the course.  A student who violates the policy in two or more courses will be dropped from the major.Ó

 

COURSE CALENDAR - schedule may be modified if needed

 

M              1/14        Introduction and syllabus                

W              1/16        Rhetoric and Rhetorical Criticism  READ Foss Chapters 1 & 2

F               1/18        Neo-Aristotelian Criticism  READ Foss Chapter 3 (Read Brown essay carefully)

 

M              1/21        Martin Luther King, Jr. - Current Rhetorical Scholarship  READ King Speeches Handout         WF       1/23&    Descriptive Analysis  READ Handout 

                  1/25        Assign Descriptive Analysis Paper

 

M              1/28        Women as Orators in the U.S. – Early Obstacles  READ Handout of Gannett speech

W              1/30        Applying Descriptive Analysis to WomenÕs Rights Rhetoric of the 19th Century

                                                      READ and ANALYZE Maria Miller Stewart Speech in Campbell pp. 1-23 

F               2/1           Early Arguments Against WomenÕs Rights  READ Sojourner Truth, Campbell pp. 99-102

                                                                                         

M              2/4           Early WomenÕs Suffrage Movement Rhetoric  READ S.B. Anthony, Campbell pp. 279-316

W              2/6           Expediency Rhetoric – Temperance & Suffrage  READ F. Willard, Campbell pp. 317-338

F               2/8           Descriptive Analysis Paper Due – Be Prepared to Discuss Findings; Read Both

                                    Assigned Speeches    

                                                     

M              2/11        ÒThe Solitude of SelfÓ  READ E.C. Stanton, Campbell pp. 371-419                    

WF           2/13&   Rhetoric to Re-energize a Social Movement:  The Anti-Suffrage Movement and Carrie

                  2/15                          Chapman Catt  READ C.C. Catt, Campbell pp. 483-502 for Friday

 

M              2/18        Exam#1                                 

W              2/20        BitzerÕs Theory of the Rhetorical Situation; Assign Historical Context Paper               

F               2/22        Audience Issues                

 

MWF       2/25-      Narrative Criticism  READ Foss, Chapter 10             

                  2/29       

                                                                       

MID-SEMESTER BREAK -- MARCH 1-9     

 

MWF       3/10-      Generic Criticism  READ Foss, Chapter 7                    

                  3/14                                           

                                                                       

M              3/17        Historical Context Paper Due – Be Prepared to Discuss Findings

                        Assign Rhetorical Criticism Paper

                        Note:  5 points extra credit for attending Bonnie Dow lecture on 3/18                            

W              3/19        Pentadic Criticism  READ Foss, Chapter 11            

 

EASTER HOLIDAY – MARCH 21-24 

 

 

W              3/26        Cluster Criticism  READ Foss, Chapter 4 

F               3/28        Exam #2

 

MWF       3/31-      Metaphor Criticism  READ Foss, Chapter 9                                

                  4/4            

 

MW          4/7&       Mythic Criticism

                  4/9                                                                

F               4/11        Class Cancelled – Central States Communication Convention  

 

MWF       4/14-      Feminist Criticism  READ Foss, Chapter 6

4/18       

 

M              4/21&    Ideological Criticism  READ Foss Chapter 8             

W              4/23

F               4/25        Rhetorical Criticism Paper Due – Be Prepared to Discuss Critique 

 

M              4/28        Course Wrap-up

W              4/30        Meet with Senior Comp Students

 

FINAL EXAM – Wednesday, May 7, 4:15-6:15 p.m. (Moreau 232)