English 350-853-001 Seminar in Contemporary Rhetorical Theory: Ethos, Techne, and Public DiscourseInstructor: Bill Van PeltWed. 5:30-8:10 Curtin 477 Office: Curtin 505, 229-4326e-mail: [email protected] Semester, August 2001Course Description: This course examines theories of writing in relation to ethos,technology, institutional settings, and the social construction of knowledge in publicdiscourse. We will begin with a critique of Enlightenment rationalism, referential theoriesof language, and how those theories alter or reinforce our understanding of rhetoric, ethicalappeal, and the pragmatic applications of institutional writing practices within discoursecommunities. The course will draw on the works of Aristotle, Nietzsche, Heidegger,Lyotard, Habermas, Baudrillard, Rorty, Faigley, and Feenberg, among others, to examinethe assumptions of discourse communities, their belief systems, and their writingconventions. Examples will be drawn from the composition classroom, professional writing,and public discourse. Rather than considering writing as merely a form of representation ora means of communication, we will also consider the consequences of writing as a form oftechne rhetorike, or rhetorical art, that unifies theory and application in the act of knowledgeproduction and integrates belief with social action. We will analyze rhetorical situationswhich reveal the consequences of writing as a techne and focus on the rhetoricalperspectives of the authors mentioned above. In addition to the topics mentioned above,other course topics will include, but will not be limited to, a critique of post-structuralist andpost-modern theories of language, American pragmaticism, and the consequences ofviewing writing from diverse perspectives, such as writing as a collection of techniques,writing as a habit of arranging arbitrary signifiers, writing as a definable process, writing associal action, and writing as a way of knowing. The following syllabus provides a general, initial overview of the class as of August 2001. A new, more specific syllabus will issued and discussed in the first two class meetings.Reading may include, but will not be limited to selections from the following list:1. Handouts: Nietzsche, Friedrich: "On Truth and Lies in a Non-Moral Sense," from Herzberg and Bizell'sRhetorical Tradition, NY: St. Martins, 1990, 888-896; selections from Aristotle, the writing of JurgenHabermas, Foss, et. al. on Habermas, and J. Hillis Miller: "Grammar and the Teaching of Writing."2. Lyotard, Jean-Francois. The Postmodern Condition. Minneapolis: Univ of Minnesota Press, 1984.3. Rorty, Richard. Contingency, irony, and solidarity. Cambridge University Press, 1989.4. Heidegger, Martin. The Question Concerning Technology and Other Essays. trans. with intro. by WilliamLovitt. N. Y.: Harper and Rowe, 1977. 5. Feenberg, Andrew. Questioning Technology. London: Routledge 1999.6. Baudrillard, Jean. trans. Glaser. Simulacra and Simulation. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan, 1994.7. Faigley, Lester. Fragments of Rationality: Postmodernity and the Subject of Composition Studies. Pittsburgh:Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, 1992.8. Kent, Thomas. Paralogic Rhetoric. Lewiburg: Bucknell, 1993.Recommended: Sonja K. Foss, Karen Foss, and R. Trapp. Contemporary Perspectives on Rhetoric, SecondEdition. Prospect Heights, Il: Waveland Press, 1991; Dobrin, David. Writing and Technique. Urbana, Il:NCTE, 1989; Berlin, James A. Rhetorics, Poetics, and Cultures: Refiguring College English Studies, NCTE:1996; Kent, Thomas ed. Post-Process Theory: Beyond the Writing Process Paradigm, Urbana: SIU, 1999.Selections from these recommended texts may be handed out as supplemental reading as time permits.Van Pelt: English 853 Syllabus (August 2001)--page 2 Course Requirements and Grading:Participation (20%): Participation in class discussion, a team or individual oral presentation onthe required reading, occasional responses to the readings either in class, by e-mail, or tobe brought to class for discussion groups. 20% of grade. Individual Writing and Presentations (30%): A preliminary report (oral) on your idea andresearch for a final seminar paper, along with an statement of the project's problem ordirection and an annotated bibliography or critical bibliographical essay on readings youhave done toward the project (5 to 7 pages). Due midsemester. Multiple copies of a draft or partial draft and outline of your final paper for peer response: duein the 10th week.A 15-minute oral presentation of your research findings in the final seminar paper (during last2 weeks). Final Seminar Paper (50%): Approximately a 20-page paper closely related to the topics andreadings required in the course. Topic must be approved by me in advance. Your finalseminar paper must include research on secondary sources or critical literature directlyrelated to the books covered in the course. The following weekly schedule is tentative and will be revised before the 3rd week.Week 1: Introductions; What is Rhetoric? Begin overview of Nietzsche and Habermas(Handouts for reading).Week 2: Read Handouts: Nietzsche "On Truth, Lies, and the Nonmoral Sense," Foss, et. al. onHabermas; and selections on Habermas. A 1 to 2 page response to Nietzsche, 3 questionsyou have about the Nietzsche reading, and 3 questions you have about Habermas reading,will be due for class discussion at the second class meeting. Week 3: Finish Habermas; Lyotard. The Postmodern Condition.Week 4: Finish Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition.Weeks 5 & 6: Rorty, Richard. Contingency, irony, and solidarity. Weeks 7 & 8: Heidegger, Martin. The Question Concerning Technology and Other Essays. (Otherreading to be announced.) Week 9 & 10: Jean Baudrillard. Simulations. Weeks 11 & 12: Faigley, Lester. Fragments of Rationality; and Feenberg, Andrew. QuestioningTechnology. Week 13: Kent, Thomas. Paralogic Rhetoric; Feenberg, Andrew. Questioning Technology. Week 14: Final oral reports. Final Seminar Papers Due.Late papers will only be accepted with a written excuse. The penalty for late papers will be alower participation grade and limited responses from the instructor and