Alfred C. Snider, Instructor 3:30-6:00 PM Tuesdays, 234 Hills
http://debate.uvm.edu/camprhet00.html
I. SCOPE OF THE COURSE
This course will attempt to focus on one area of public discourse (the Presidential election of 2000) for comprehensive rhetorical analysis. Students will learn about presidential campaigns and will also isolate a specific portion of this discourse for individual study. Students will also learn about theories or rhetoric, style, construction, strategies, and the criticism and evaluation of rhetoric as applied to the presidential campaign.
II. READINGS
Readings will be distributed in class or put on reserve in the library. This will be done in a legal way.
III. EDUCATIONAL METHOD
This class will utilize three primary educational methods.
1. A series of lectures given by the instructor. These will be reasonably brief and will highlight both material in the readings as well as new material.
2. The class will attempt to stage on-going discussions about class material. The lectures will often be punctuated with spots for class discussion to follow up on relevant ideas. Students are held responsible for contributing to these discussions.
3. Students will also be directly exposed to videotaped segments of the campaign for discussion and study.
Education is incorrectly seen as a process where the "teacher" imparts unquestioned "knowledge" to the docile and merely recipient "students." To be meaningful in an educational sense students and teachers must together pursue answers to questions which neither may have a full advanced understanding of. In our discussions it is essential that students engage in a process of critical analysis, questioning points made by he instructor as well as presenting alternative viewpoints. There are few, if any, absolute truths in this field, and student input is necessary for all of us to understand the "probable truths" which we may take away from this experience as useful knowledge. It is the duty of each person in this class to take part as a critical, active participant, and to learn about persuasion through direct experience and concerted inquiry.
IV. ASSIGNMENTS:
CLASS PARTICIPATION: Students are required and expected to take part in the seminar function of the class. This implies that students attend class, are familiar with the material assigned for that day, and volunteer opinions and perceptions about the content and process of class discussions. 25% of grade.
RESEARCH PAPERS: Students will pick one of the main characters in the campaign (Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates from the various parties) to make the focus of their research papers. There will be three such papers.
Paper #1: Descriptive Criticism. 20%
Paper #2: Analytical Criticism. 20%
Paper #3: Final Criticism. 35%
Students should be aware that the correct use of the English language in written work is assumed, expected, and required. Written work not meeting college-level writing standards will be returned without a grade.
Students should be aware that the academic honesty policy of UVM will be in force.
V. EVALUATION
Students will be evaluated on the basis of earned points only. No extra credit work is available. Each assignment has a given point value (adding up to 100) of which students will be awarded portions. Final grades will be awarded on the basis of natural breaks in the distribution of scores.
VI. CONCLUSION
Please feel free to meet with me outside of class, either during my office hours or by appointment. I am often on campus, mostly in my office. This is a tentative class syllabus.
Alfred C. Snider III "Tuna"
Associate Professor
Office: 475 Main Street 656-0097 Home: 18 Clark #3 238-8345
asnider@zoo.uvm.edu or drtuna@earthlink.net