An essential element of the course will be the creation of a tolerant environment in which a robust and vigorous exchange of opinions is encouraged and respected. Grades will reflect performance in both oral and written participation. Course reading material will be drawn from a variety of sources, but in addition to the standard literary material I intend to include some classic examples of political texts. So, while the substance and focus of the course is the study of rhetoric, this will partially be set within the general social science rubric. Some people talk and talk and talk without saying much at all.
Many people write the same way.
Students of this class will learn how to avoid this dilemma by writing and rewriting numerous short papers concerning common problems. The papers will then be discussed in relationship to form and content. Reading assignments will be used as a framework of examples. A more effective means of written communication will be the goal. In this course, we will seek to develop our skills as effective writers capable of producing clear, cogent, reader-based essays.