Senior Seminar Rhetoric 497 Fall 2007

Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00; T 11:00-12:00. I‟m generally around the office during the day, regardless of office hours; feel free to drop in. Course Description: The Senior Seminar is a capstone course for Rhetoric Majors. Majors read and discuss relevant texts and journal articles as a class. They conduct an original and extended research project in a sub-area of the field. The course addresses procedures for conducting research and writing a significant, original project. This includes the discovery and refinement of an interpretive argument/research question, selection of materials for study, review of the relevant literature, development of theoretical approach, writing of rhetorical analysis, and the revision and editing process. This course also provides Senior majors a forum for the investigation and discussion of the ethical issues and responsibilities they have as communicators. Objectives and Goals: 1. To gain a greater understanding of rhetorical studies as a developed academic discipline. 2. To demonstrate the ability to critically read leading scholars in the field. 3. To demonstrate the ability to develop, research, and write a significant original research project of outstanding quality. 4. To gain an enhanced understanding of the ethical implications of rhetoric and its worldly applications. 5. To demonstrate the continued development of skills in oral presentation, particularly in the ability to present advanced theoretical concepts and complex analysis to an audience