Fall 2016 - ENGL 114W D100
Language and Purpose (3)
Class Number: 7898
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2016: Tue, Thu, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Dec 14, 2016
Wed, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Sean Zwagerman
szwagerm@sfu.ca
Office: 6141 AQ
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30 and by appointment
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Introduces students to the relationships between writing and purpose, between the features of texts and their meaning and effects. May focus on one or more literary or non-literary genres, including (but not limited to) essays, oratory, autobiography, poetry, and journalism. Includes attention to writing skills. Students with credit for ENGL 104W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
COURSE DETAILS:
Language and Persuasion: from Plato to Trump
According to Aristotle’s Rhetoric, a public figure effectively persuades others by showing good sense, goodwill, and a good moral character. One should come across as learned and logical, emotionally stable and mature.
2300 years later, Donald Trump may become the next President of the United States.
In order to figure out how such a thing is possible, we will take a close look at the art of persuasion, traditionally known as rhetoric: how it works in theory and how it really works in practice. We will read Aristotle’s analysis of, and recommendations for, effective persuasion, and see what others have written about persuasion over the last couple of millenia. We will also consider the equally long history of scorn and suspicion toward rhetoric and persuasion, beginning with Plato. We will discuss some famous examples of persuasive writing—old and new, fiction and nonfiction, serious and humorous—to figure out what they do and how they work, and what we might borrow from them in our own attempts to speak and write persuasively. And we will, for better or worse, pay close attention to the verbal and visual rhetoric of the American presidential race. If you put the effort into it, you will leave this course a more effective and thoughtful user of persuasive language and a more astute interpreter of the rhetoric around you.
Grading
- attendance and participation in tutorial 10%
- reading quizzes in lecture 15%
- first short essay (c3 – 4 pages) 10%
- second short essay (c3 – 4 pages) 15%
- notes toward the longer essay 5%
- longer essay (c 6 pages) 25%
- final exam 20%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
A Custom Courseware collection available at the SFU Bookstore.
Numerous works in the public domain, available free on-line.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.
For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS