CMS 390R: Basic Rhetorical Criticism

Late Papers: No late papers will be accepted. Acts of God/Goa/Nature/Alien Slave Masters may
find exception.
Incompletes: An incomplete will not be allowed; withdrawals are your best option.
Complaints and grade disputes: You should submit grade disputes in writing within one week
of receiving the contested grade. All other complaints are welcome during office hours or by email.
Academic misconduct: If you cheat you will receive an "F" for the course and royally piss me off.
Acknowledgements
This syllabus was created by raiding the ideas of the syllabi of a number of colleagues. My thanks to
Barbara Biesecker, Carole Blair, Karlyn Kohrs Campbell, Dana Cloud, Rod Hart, Marty Medhurst, John
Murphy, Angela Ray, Ed Schiappa, Rachel Smith, and Kirt Wilson.
COURSE SCHEDULE
This schedule is tentative. Departures will be announced in advance. All the readings listed below
the date and topic should be read for that date. The "focal reading" will function as an illustration of
the theoretical and methodological issues raised in the other readings, as well as a common object for
class discussion. The Readings are denoted with the following abbreviations: PR = packet reading;
RRC = Readings in Rhetorical Criticism; CCR = Critiques of Contemporary Rhetoric.
August 28th: What is Rhetorical Criticism?
Campbell, Karlyn Kohrs and Thomas A. Burkholder,"Rhetoric, Language, and Criticism," CCR 2-16.
Roderick P. Hart and Suzanne M. Daughton, "The Rhetorical Perspective." In Modern Rhetorical
Criticism, 3rd. ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2005), 1-20. PR
Roderick P. Hart and Suzanne M. Daughton, "The Critical Perspective." In Modern Rhetorical
Criticism, 3rd. ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2005), ----. PR
James Jasinski, "The Status of Theory and Method in Rhetorical Criticism." Western Journal of
Communication 65 (2001): 249-270.
Lloyd F. Bitzer, "The Rhetorical Situation." Philosophy and Rhetoric 1 (1968): 1-14. RRC
Richard E. Vatz, "The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation." Philosophy and Rhetoric 6 (1973): 154-161.
PR
Dilip Parameshwar Gaonkar, "Object and Method in Rhetorical Criticism: From Wichelns to Leff and
McGee." Western Journal of Communication 54 (1990): 290-316. PR
Focal Reading:
David A. Frank and Mark Lawrence McPhail, "Barack Obama's Address to the 2004 Democratic
National Convention: Trauma, Compromise, Consilience, and the (Im)possibility of Racial
Reconciliation." Rhetoric & Public Affairs 8 (2005): 571-594. PR
September 4th: The Values and Purposes of Rhetorical Criticism
PROJECT PROPOSAL IS DUE!
Rhetorical Criticism Syllabus 4