Persuasion - COM 230 - Spring 2015

Name: James G. Beggs, Ph.D.

Office location: COM 107

Office phone:

Email address: jgbeggs@hotmail.com

Office hours: available in COM 107 after class T- Thurs

Course meeting: T-TH 9:00 am - 10:15 SCI 105

Course Description: Students will learn classical theories of persuasion, including ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as modern theories of argument construction. They will discover how persuasion works in both mediated and non-mediated contexts, such as advertising and debate. Students will apply theories of persuasion to a contemporary media campaign of their own creation.

Course Student Learning Outcomes: Student’s will be provided opportunities to more fully:

Understand:

1. Classical concepts of rhetoric as foundational to all modern persuasive theory.

2. Mediated communication and its influence on our conceptions of reality and collective social norms.

3. All communication is inherently persuasive.

4. We all need to continue building, “Defenses against the seductions of eloquence.” Neil Postman.

Further, the course will allow the exploration and application of various creative and analytical tools enhancing the student’s ability to:

1. Identify, define, and analyze arguments in a variety of persuasive forms.

2. Identify, distinguish between, and apply elements of classical and modern persuasive theory.

3. Apply various techniques of persuasion to created course projects.

4. Identify, describe, and apply Toulmin's model in the construction and analysis of arguments.

5. Articulate a Christian worldview of persuasion.

Texts and Resources:

Required: Textbooks:Lundsford, et al. Everything’s an Argument, with Readings. 6^th ed. Bedford St. Martins, 2012. [ISBN: 978-1-45760-6069]

Arizona Christian University complies with Section 133 of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008. Faculty are required to provide complete bibliographic information for all textbooks and other supplemental materials, including the title, edition, author(s), publisher, publication date, ISBN number, and other information needed to identify the specific textbooks and supplemental materials for each course. The syllabus statement must include an indication of whether textbooks and other supplemental materials are required or recommended and should include to the extent possible an indication of whether an alternate edition of the textbooks or supplemental materials, such as an earlier edition, may be used. Information should also be included on optional available textbook formats, whether paperback, hardcopy or digital, that can be purchased by students at their discretion. Model the preferred citation style used by your discipline by formatting citations for course textbooks and supplemental materials in this publication style.

TENTATIVE Course Schedule:

Week	Day	Date	Topic	Read Chapter	What’s Due
		JAN
1	T	27	Intro to course, syllabus, Student Profile, Why	1, 2
	Th	29	Human Communication – Symbols and Argument	3, 4	Quiz: notes, 1-4
		FEB
2	T	3	Classical background – occasions - kinds FVPD	8, 9
	Th	5	Classical background – rhetoric – Plato	10, 12	Quiz: notes, 8-10,12
3	T	10	Classical/Modern: Pathos – CX using pathos	5
	Th	12	CX – Lab with presentations due		Quiz: notes, 5
4	T	17	Classical/Modern: Ethos and Logos– CX or speech
	Th	19	Lab with presentations due
5	T	24	Toulmin	7
	Th	26	Toumin
		MAR
6	T	3	Toulmin	13, 14
	Th	5	Toulmin Analysis Presentations – Political ads due		Quiz notes, 13, 14
7	T	10	Stock issues and MS
	Th	12	Stock issues and MS
8	T	17	Midterm Review and Workshop for Stock Issue CX
	Th	19	Midterm exam – comprehensive
9	T	24	Stock issues and MS
	Th	26	30, 60 second cx presentations due
10	T	31	Spring Break
		APR
	Th	2	Spring Break
11	T	7	Reading Images
	Th	9	Reading composed Images
12	T	14	Commercial Images
	Th	16	Image Analysis due
13	T	21	Reading the Moving Image
	Th	23	Reading the Moving Image
14	T	28	Moving image presentations due	17, 18, 19	Quiz notes, 17-19
	Th	30	Moving image presentations due
		MAY
15	T	5	Arguing to Make Clear
	Th	7	Arguing to Make Clear
16	T	12	Final Presentations: Debate due
	Th	14	Final Presentations: Debate due
		18-22	Comprehensive Final

Assignments and Activities: Details of each required assignment, along with a grading rubric will be handed out in class.

MIDTERM and FINAL EXAMS are comprehensive. You will have graded QUIZZES.

No make-up work will be accepted. without a formal written request asking permission for the change in a course policy such as an assignment deadline. Structure the request using the Toulmin format below.

1. CLAIM: Ex. I should be allowed to make-up the quiz you gave on Friday, January 25, 2015.
2. QUALIFIER: Ex. As an ACU scholar-athlete, or I feel justified in asking,
3. DATA, REASONS, or EVIDENCE: Ex. The two reasons I have for making this request are:

1. I was out town on a road trip for my sport.

2. As an ACU scholar-athlete I am required to go on team road trips.

4. WARRANT: Ex. Since absences required by a university sport’s program are not penalized.
5. BACKING: Ex. The coach and administration would agree.
6. RESERVATIONS: Ex. Unless, I am failing the course and getting my grade up is important to my scholarship and team.

Assessment and Grading:

Points	ASSIGNMENT	%
50 (10 points each)	5 Quizzes	5
50	CX using pathos	5
50	Artifact using Ethos or Logos	5
50	Toulmin Political ads	5
50	Midterm	5
100	Stock Issues application	10
100	Image analysis	10
200	Reading the Moving Image	20
200	Arguing to Make Clear	20
200	Final Exam	10
50	Class Citizenship Requirements	5
1000	Total	100

Points	Percentage	Grade Point	Letter
900-1000	90-100	4.0	A	Excellent
800-899	80-89	3.0	B	Far Above Average
700-799	70-79	2,0	C	Average
600-699	60-69	1.0	D	Far Below Expectations
0-599	0-59	0	F	Failing

Expectations for Students: Expectations for Students:

Responsible participation in our Learning Community. Be:

· present and fully engaged in class activities. Having read the reading assignments. This benefits you, your classmates, and me!

· aware of any behaviors that negatively impact teaching and learning. Multi-tasking – Sleeping - Texting or Facebooking - Using cellphone - Talking while I or others are talking are only a few.

· a good steward of your interpersonal relationships and your communication. Words are powerful tools. Consider how your comments impact others and the learning atmosphere.

· excited about the opportunity to learn and apply the subject matter. If, as some scholars say, “All truth is God’s Truth,” then learning is just another way we worship God. To desire excellence and seek the truth of our subject matter is a noble goal.

Student Conduct: All procedures regarding conduct, including computer conduct, will be followed as outlined in the ACU Student Handbook. Cheating, fabrication (making up information or sources), and plagiarism (copying) will be subject to strict disciplinary action. A student found cheating, fabricating, or plagiarizing may receive a 0 for that activity and referred to the Department Chair or Dean for disciplinary action. This may result in withdrawal from class. Since this rule is strictly enforced, please avoid all appearance of academic dishonesty.

Disruptive behavior in class will not be tolerated. This includes behavior that others find unwelcome or offensive. Students who misbehave or disrupt class will be contacted by the instructor or given a verbal warning. Any subsequent misbehavior can result in the student being sent to the Department Chair or Dean for disciplinary action or withdrawal from the course. If cell phones and pagers need to be turned on during classroom time, then they must be set to the vibrate mode. All calls must be made and received outside of the classroom as this type of activity is disruptive to the teaching and learning environment and is disrespectful to others in the classroom. Students who do not abide by this policy may be asked to leave the classroom and continued abuse of this policy will result in disciplinary procedures. This includes sending and receiving text messages.

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to be on time for all lectures, exams, and laboratories. Roll will be taken at the beginning of class. Students must be registered in this class in order to attend. Visitors, including children of students are not allowed in lecture. Students who have an unforeseen temporary need to bring a child into the classroom must receive prior approval from the lecturer. Attendance (tardy/late) is at the discrepancy of the instructor.

Study Time: Most University courses require that students spend a significant amount of time outside of class in individual study time.  A guideline is to spend 2 – 3 hours per week for every credit hour. This means that in a 3 credit course 6 – 9 hours of outside study per week would be expected at a minimum. The actual in-class meeting time is short in University courses because it is expected that students work independently outside of class in order to meet the course requirements.

Accommodation and Special Needs: Your instructor is willing to make any reasonable adaptations for limitations due to any disability, including learning disability, in keeping with ACU policies and the Student Handbook. Any student with documented certifiable special needs should contact the office of the Academic Advisor on campus and they will inform me of the proper accommodations you require. If you have a special need, even on a temporary basis, it is your responsibility to contact this office as soon as possible to disclose your disability information and discuss your accommodation needs. Students are required to make their requests in writing using the Accommodation Request and Documentation Form and document their disability in accordance with ACU policies and procedures. Documentation of the disability must be current (not older than1 year) and provided by a qualified health care professional such as a diagnosing or current physician, psychiatrist or psychologist. It must comply with the requirements for documentation outlined on the Accommodation Request and Documentation Form. Accommodations are not retroactive. ACU reserves the right to verify all professional documentation and determine reasonable accommodation for any disability, including learning disability. Please see the Student Handbook for current detailed information regarding accommodation and special needs.

Retention of Examinations and Assignments: Instructors will retain copies of student examinations and assignments not returned to students for one semester in case of dispute between a faculty member and a student in assigning or recording a grade. After that time, instructors may discard course materials in a manner that preserves student confidentiality.

E-mail Policy: Students are issued an official Arizona Christian University student email address when they are admitted to the University. These addresses all have the same form: firstname.lastname@arizonachristian.edu. This is the only electronic mailing address recognized by the University. Students are responsible for all official University communications, including attachments, transmitted to this address.  ACU faculty and staff are not responsible for forwarding email to personal email accounts that are not assigned by the University. Students are required to check their ACU email on a daily basis.

References and Supplemental information: List any additional references and supplemental resources.

Withdrawal: Withdrawal From a Course

To withdraw officially from a course, students must complete a Change of Class Schedule (Add/Drop) Form from the Registrar’s Office or on-line and secure all required signatures. There is a $15.00 processing fee for each Change of Class Schedule Form submitted. Withdrawals are not permitted after the 10th week of class. Withdrawals are considered official as of the date the completed Change of Class Schedule (Add/Drop) Form is filed with the Registrar’s Office. Failure to follow these procedures will result in a grade of “F” and forfeiture of any refund.

WARNING: The University is required to notify the VA or other financial aid provider of any reduction of course load below that which had been initially reported. They are notified of the number of hours dropped, date of drop, and the student’s status after the reduction in course load.

Disclaimer note: This syllabus is subject to modification.  The instructor will communicate with students any changes.