| Instructor: |
Kirt H. Wilson |
| Mailbox: |
250 Ford Hall |
| Office Hours: |
Mon. 2:00-4:00 p.m.; Tues. 10:00-11:30 a.m.; Fri. 9:30-10:30 a.m. and by appointment |
| Office: |
263 Ford Hall |
| Office Phone: |
612.624.5235 |
| Email: |
|
| Web Page: |
During the 1980's and '90's, a group of rhetorical critics, most of whom had an interest in history and public address, turned away from "theory" and toward "the text." In essays that purported to be thick descriptions, textured interpretations and close textual analyses, these critics argued that discursive practice, as embodied in coherently bounded objects, were excellent objects of study. Emphasizing variously the internal dynamics of single texts, the relationship between text and context, and inter-textuality, this criticism revitalized the analysis of public address, but simultaneously it was attacked as thinly veiled New Criticism, Neo-Aristotelianism, and classist/sexist scholarship.
This course investigates the strengths and weaknesses of textual analysis as a mode of inquiry in rhetorical studies, and, in the process, it enhances the participants' skills of critical inquiry and interpretation. This course asks the following fundamental questions. What is textual criticism, what are its variations, and how does it differ from other critical enterprises? What are the philosophical and methodological underpinnings of textual analysis, and can they be applied to critical inquiry, generally? How does a critic produce and evaluate textual scholarship?
The course is arranged in three parts. The first considers the history and practice of textual criticism in Communication Studies (e.g., NCA). The second examines textual critique as it relates to the New Criticism movement, Rhetorical Hermeneutics, and New Historicism. The course's third unit considers specific dimensions of rhetorical analysis including metaphor, irony, style, and syntax. In short, this seminar challenges students to theorize what supposedly cannot be theorized and to practice a critical "art" that takes its shape from the object of study.
These books, except for Mailloux's text, are available at the University bookstore. Rhetorical Power along with the other texts are listed at various online resources. Ask Kelley Skillin for details J.
Class participation will comprise 15% of everyone's final grade. Since this admittedly subjective evaluation often causes concern, I will try to provide you with a mid-term review. This review will reveal your standing and how you might improve. Please note that an A at mid-term does not guarantee an A at semester's end.
Everyone will create, distribute, and present one precis of seven to ten pages in length during this semester. The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with a rich context for the coming analyses and to give the class some sense of your overall project.
Your precis should detail the following contexts:
On the day that you distribute your precis you also will give a 35 to 45 minute presentation of the material you researched. Try not to read from the precis you distribute; rather, creatively explore the ideas you engaged. Use of visual aids, music, film, group exercises, performance theater, and discussion questions are encouraged.
Each participant in this seminar will chose a single text for analysis. During the third unit, you will write six critical essays on this text using the theoretical/methodological concept of that class period. For example, on November 20th we will be reading about metaphor; therefore, your essay will consider how metaphor operates in your text. Essays should run about seven pages in length. In addition, each participant will pair with someone else in the class. You will read each other's short essays, offer informal feedback, and act as a resource when the going gets rough. Use these papers to deepen your understanding of the text you choose.
When we meet during the final exam period, every member of the seminar will turn in a final research project that synthesizes the contextual precis and the insights gained in the short essays. The key to this assignment is in choosing a single interpretive narrative that unpacks the richness of your text. You will not want to include everything you've written about this text. Rather, your final essay should be informed by all of your work this semester, but it should not be determined by it. I would anticipate an essay approximately 25 pages in length.
Please Note: To receive a passing grade you must complete every assignment for this course. Furthermore, I will allow incomplete's only for extraordinary circumstances. If you feel that you require an incomplete, come and speak with me. If we concur, we will construct a schedule of expectations that we both will sign.
In this course, A signifies achievement that is outstanding relative to the course requirements. B signifies achievement that meets the course requirements . C signifies achievement that is worthy of credit, although it fails to meet the course requirements. F signifies that the work was not worthy of credit or not completed.
A+ = 100%-97% A = 96%-94% A- = 93%-90%
B+ = 89%-87% B = 86%-84% B- = 83%-80%
C+ = 79%-77% C = 76%-74% C- = 73%-70%
I will be maintaining a course web page at http://www.comm.umn.edu/~kwilson/8504.html. In addition to the web pages, class participants are subscribed to an email list called "8504." This list will allow me to send announcements, changes to the schedule, reading questions, etc. You also are welcome to use this list to inform the class about activities, events or opportunities that relate to our discussions.
The list is open only to students in the course; however, its content is not moderated. So long as participants are respectful of each other's opinions, I will allow the conversation to go in whatever direction you desire. To send email to the list simply address that email to: 8504@comm.umn.edu. When you press send your email will be forwarded to everyone on the list. Let me repeat that, if you send a message to the 8504 list YOUR MESSAGE WILL BE SENT TO THE ENTIRE CLASS. If you want to send a message just to me, then you will need to use the wilso092@umn.edu address.
If you do not want to be subscribed to this list send a message to majordomo@comm.umn.edu, and in the body of that message type the following: unsubscribe 8504. This message will remove you from the list provided you sent it from your campus email account. It will not work if you send the message from a Hotmail or Yahoo account.
If you wish to receive messages to an account other than your campus account first remove yourself from the list and then come and see me with the "new" email address you want to use.
The U of M has a policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate or complete assignments. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact me to discuss their individual needs for accommodations.
To plagiarize is to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source. I expect that you have read and understood that section of the CLA Bulletin that outlines your responsibilities regarding academic conduct. Any cases of academic misconduct will result in an F for the course.
.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer
This page was created and all rights are reserved by Kirt
H. Wilson
University
of Minnesota
URL: http://www.comm.umn.edu/~kwilson/8504.html
Last revised on September 4, 2002.
