Discourse I: Reasoning and Values

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Course Description:

Discourse 100:Reasoning and Values: “Discourse” refers to the language, images, styles, genres, behaviors and other forms of communication used by specific social and professional groups. The techniques of discourse analysis and language awareness taught in this course will enable you to position yourself socially and professionally, helping you understand the reasoning and values, discourse conventions, and “commonsense” assumptions that create and define academic, political, professional, and other discourse formations and communities. Students will produce, perform, and analyzecollege-level, oral and written texts; and they will learnhow written and oral performances functiontogether in specific discourse communities. This course is associated with Anchor courses inReasoning and Values and it prepares students for Discourse II: Culture and Diversity.

Individualized description:

(Instructors will provide a more specific course description, depending on the anchor course with which their section is connected.)

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will demonstrate an ability to:

  • Explore and analyze their own and others values through the use of multiple strategies that engage different sources and perspectives in written and oral discourse.
  • Identify and analyze how cultural context and assumptions play a role in the analysis and production of discourse.
  • Understand basic rhetorical concepts (audience, purpose, genre, convention, logos, ethos, pathos, logical fallacies, structure, etc.) and apply such concepts to the interpretation, analysis, and production of written and oral discourse.
  • Develop an introductory understanding of critical discourse analysis and critical language awareness.
  • Use written and oral discourse to develop and present meaningful and interesting ideas that show the students’ voice, a willingness to take intellectual risks, and an attempt to enter an academic conversation.
  • Create academic discourse through a basic process that includes editing, proofreading, and revising multiple drafts.
  • Interpret their own and others’ work and reflect on their own development as producers of discourse.
  • Construct basic research strategies, use appropriate research resources, learn to identify scholarly sources, and evaluate and cite those information sources.
  • Develop an introductory understanding of citation and an ability to appropriately cite sources using a consistent professional style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
  • Identify and address personal impediments to discourse production, including speech anxiety and writer’s block.

Core Assessment

Though there are different sections and instructors of Discourse 100, certain general expectations apply to every course: Discourse 100 students are required to draft, develop and complete a minimum of 20 pages of finished writing (5000 words), including at least two essays. Students are also required to draft, develop and present at least two speeches with a combined minimum total of ten minutes. Major assignments will engage in direct critical analysis of academic sources with an emphasis on Human Values and Ethical Reasoning. This work will be presented in a final summative portfolio at the end of the term. Constructive feedback and opportunities for comprehensive revision will be provided throughout. All formal work, written and spoken, will be graded using a rubric that applies the SLO's for Communications Skills.

Educational Philosophy:

Attendance:

Students are expected to attend and participate in classes. Advance notice of attendance policies of academic units and individual instructors should be given, and such notice should be in writing.

Students should notify instructors of excused absences in advance, where possible. Students who have an excused absence are expected to make arrangements with instructors for alternative or make-up work. Such arrangements should be made in advance of the absence, where possible.

Disability Support Services:

To obtain disability related accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) as soon as possible. To contact OSSD call 816-235-5696. Once verified, OSSD will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. For more information go to:

Discrimination Grievances and Procedures:

Academic Dishonesty:Plagiarism is the undocumented use of another’s ideas or words. In this course, you will learn how to conduct academic research, how to evaluate sources, and document them appropriately. Failure to adequately cite your research is plagiarism and is a serious offense that could jeopardize your future academic career.

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A & S Life Coach: For more information regarding this program, please visit the following website: <mailto:.

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