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Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Department of English Language & Literature
2nd term, 2015-2016
Course Title: Persuasive Writing
Course Code: ENG 282
Year of Study: 2nd
Number of Credits: 3
Duration in Weeks: 15
Contact Hours per Week: Lecture (2 hours)
Tutorial (1 hour)
Prerequisites: 1st and 2nd-year foundation courses
Prepared by: Dr. Robert Kiely
Course Description:
This course builds on the composition skills learned in previous courses and centers on one mode of writing: persuasion or argumentation. It covers the basic tools and vocabulary of rhetoric, and examines various techniques of persuasion through discussion and critical evaluation of topical or controversial texts, both written and visual. The course assumes a process approach so that student writing is revised periodically through writing workshops, peer review, and instructor comments. The course is open to all students, but as most who take it are anticipated to be English majors, assignments will incorporate some texts about literature, language, or culture.
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Course Outcomes, Teaching Activities and Assessment
Course Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
ILO1 / identify rhetorical devices in visual and verbal texts through close reading
ILO2 / critically examine and revise their own writing
ILO3 / plan and compose essays with strong thesis statements
ILO4 / employ logical and emotional appeals based on audience and subject matter
ILO5 / select and incorporate relevant textual evidence into their writing
ILO6 / appreciate the importance of style in persuasive writing
Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)
TLA1 / Textual analysis of written and visual texts
TLA2 / Explanation of the rhetorical devices and techniques
TLA3 / Critical reading of texts with reference to critical issues
TLA4 / Test and in-class exercises on the texts
TLA5 / In-class discussions
TLA6 / Screening of film or videos
TLA7 / Essays and term paper
Assessment Tasks (ATs)
AT1 / Midterm Test / 20%
AT2 / Discussion, Peer Review, In-class Exercises / 10%
AT3 / Term Paper / 30%
AT4 / Essays (2) / 40%
TOTAL / 100%
Alignment of Course Intended Learning Outcomes, Teaching and Learning Activities and Assessment Tasks
Course Intended Learning Outcomes / Teaching and Learning Activities / Assessment Tasks
ILO1 / TLA1,2,6 / AT1,2
ILO2 / TLA2,3 / AT1,3,4
ILO3 / TLA2,3,7 / AT3,4
ILO4 / TLA1,2,3,7 / AT2,3,4
ILO5 / TLA2,3,5,6,7 / AT1,2,3,4
ILO6 / TLA1,4,7 / AT1,3,4
Course Outline:
Week 1 Course overview; the nature of argument and rhetorical analysis
Week 2 From topic to thesis; essay introductions, conclusions and titles
Week 3 Support and evidence; research, quotation, citation, documentation
Topic 1: Animal Rights (readings, discussion)
Week 4 Topic 1: Animal Rights (discussion, writing workshop)
Week 5 Essay analysis
Topic 2: Applying Theory: Orientalism and Occidentalism (readings,
discussion)
Week 6 Peer Review of Essay 1; refutation
Week 7 Midterm Test
Week 8 Topic 2: Screening of film (to be announced)
Week 9 Logical fallacies; discussion of film; writing workshop
Week 10 Peer Review of Essay 2; style as persuasion
Week 11 Topic 3: Sexuality in Literature
Lolita by Vladimir Nobokov
Week 12 Discussion of novel and selected critical commentary
Week 13 Peer Review of Term Paper
Week 14 Consultations
Academic Honesty
You are expected to do your own work. Dishonesty in fulfilling any assignment undermines the learning process and the integrity of your college degree. Engaging in dishonest or unethical behavior is forbidden and will result in disciplinary action, specifically a failing grade on the assignment with no opportunity for resubmission. A second infraction will result in an F for the course and a report to College officials. Examples of prohibited behavior are:
· Cheating – an act of deception by which a student misleadingly demonstrates that s/he has mastered information on an academic exercise.
Examples include:
· Copying or allowing another to copy a test, quiz, paper, or project
· Submitting a paper or major portions of a paper that has been previously submitted for another class without permission of the current instructor
· Turning in written assignments that are not your own work (including homework)
· Plagiarism – the act of representing the work of another as one’s own without giving credit.
· Failing to give credit for ideas and material taken from others
· Representing another’s artistic or scholarly work as one’s own
· Fabrication – the intentional use of invented information or the falsification of research or other findings with the intent to deceive
To comply with the University’s policy, the term paper has to be submitted to VeriGuide.
Learning and Teaching Approach
Assigned reading materials should be read before the lecture.
Specific guidelines for the term paper and class discussion will be provided.
You should bring some lined paper to each class meeting.
Assessment
Participation 10%
(class discussion, peer review, in-class exercises)
Midterm Test 20%
Essays (2) 40%
Term Paper 30%
100%
Primary Texts
Nabokov, Vladimir. (1991). The Annotated Lolita. Revised and Updated. Introduction
and Notes by Alfred Appel. Vintage: New York.
Regan, Tom. (2005). “Animal Rights, Human Wrongs.” Four in One. Rhetoric,
Reader, Research Guide and Handbook. eds. Edward A. Dornan and Robert Dees. New York: Longman. 551-554.
Rose, Stephen. (2005). “Proud to be a Speciesist.” Four in One. Rhetoric, Reader,
Research Guide and Handbook. eds. Edward A. Dornan and Robert Dees. New York Longman. 494-496.
Said, E. (1978). Orientalism. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Schiffer, Lisa. (2005). “Gay Marriage, an Oxymoron.” Contemporary Classical
Arguments. A Portable Anthology. eds. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedeau. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. 31-33.
Stoddard, Thomas B. (2005). “Gay Marriages: Make Them Legal.” Contemporary
Classical Arguments. A Portable Anthology. eds. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedeau. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. 29-30.
Supplemental Texts
Armstrong, Susan J. and Richard G. Botzler. (eds.) (1976) The Animal Ethics Reader.
Clegg, Christine (2000).Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita: A Reader's Guide to Essential
Criticism. Cambridge: Icon Books.
Connolly, Julian W. (2005).The Cambridge Companion to Nabokov. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
Macfie, Alexander Lyon. (2002)Orientalism. White Plains, NY: Longman.
MacKenzie, John.(1995) Orientalism: History, Theory and the Arts. Manchester:
Manchester University Press.
Regan, Tom and Singer, Peter (eds.) (1976).Animal Rights and Human Obligations.
Prentice-Hall.
Singer, Peter. (1979) Practical Ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
Sullivan, Andrew(ed.). (2004).Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con— A Reader.
New York: Vintage Books.
Taylor, Angus. (2009) Animals and Ethics: An Overview of the Philosophical Debate.
Peterborough: Broadview Press.
Wardle, Lynn D., Mark Strasser, William C. Duncan, and David Orgon Coolidge.
(eds.) (2003). Marriage and Same-Sex Unions: A Debate.Westport, CT: Praeger