Grades & Assignments

Due to other workflows, no late assignments can be accepted for assignments designated “Submission,” or “Provide Helpful Feedback,” (see schedule for assignment descriptions). All other late work must meet requirements, will not be commented on, and will receive a maximum grade of 60%.

GPA Percentage

Assignments

Note that these are just brief overviews—full‐length assignments and examples will be provided in class. All written assignments, with the exception of peer feedback, can be revised and resubmitted with a revision cover letter that clearly outlines changes between drafts as well as strategic choices in the drafting process within two weeks for a new grade.

Micro Rhetorical Analyses, 100 points (12.5%)

Usually in class, you will practice writing very short rhetorical analysis, along with revisions in which you describe and evaluate a text’s rhetorical strategies. The text you will analyze for these assignments will be provided from the Historical Newspapers Archive or Pessimists Archive. In your brief analysis, you’ll identify and describe the rhetorical situation as well as applying that week’s germene theoretical lens. These assignments will be pass/fail and can not be made up.

“Bad Argument,” presentation and workshop, 100 points (12.5%)

In this assignment, you will work in teams and be responsible for choosing a “bad take,” text for the class as well as preparing a presentation that does a rhetorical analysis of the text as well as depicting why the text is a “bad argument.” Additionally, the students will provide the class with a handout or equivalent media that contains a complete rhetorical analysis, references, methods used, findings, and with citations and examples from the text.

Midterm: Rhetorical Analysis – Short Form, 200 points (25%)

You will be given a selection of “bad takes,” from NC State Libraries’ Historical Newspapers archives and/or the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America websites and asked to perform a rhetorical analysis of one or more in class. Very similar to In Class Rhetorical Analysis assignments to plenty of practice. 

Provide Helpful Feedback, 200 points (25%)

As part of your participation, you will share your writing and offer feedback to others that helps them improve their own thinking and their drafts. We’ll spend a good deal of time talking about how to improve in this area, as it is a key leadership skill needed to advance in any knowledge worker career paths.

Final Paper: Rhetorical Analysis – Long Form, 200 points (25%)

In order to cultivate a deeper understanding of course concepts, you will be asked to write an academic paper that critically engages with a contemporary nonfiction text. Drawing on the skills you have assembled from the readings in the class you will choose a theoretical lens to focus your rhetorical analysis. Papers should not merely summarize key texts, but should draw connections, highlight shortcomings, and/or apply theoretical concepts to contemporary contexts in order to demonstrate the explanatory power of rhetoric theory in a contemporary culture.