Courses

ENG 6313.01

Studies in Rhetorical Criticism and Discourse Analysis:

 Mikhail Bakhtin and Fydor Dostoevsky 

Spring 2008

Mikhail Bakhtin

Fydor Dostoevsky

Course Name, Number, and Description: 

Studies in Rhetorical Criticism and Discourse Analysis (ENG 6313.01).  Course Catalog Description: "Directed investigation of topics in semiotics, narratology, discourse analysis, and stylistics as approaches to written texts and other forms of symbolic communication.  May be repeated for credit when the specific topic of investigation varies.  Three lecture hours a week.  Credit: Three hours."  Over fifteen weeks, we will read Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics closely along with selected works of Fydor Dostoevsky with the goal of understanding Bakhtin's approach in depth and applying in rhetorical analysis of other works.  

Location: Thursdays 6-9 p.m.  ASB 305.

ENG 6313 counts as one of the required research tools for the Master of Arts in English and the Ph.D. in Rhetoric. 

Faculty Contact Information: Office Location, Phone, Hours:
Russell Greer, Ph.D.  Associate Professor.  Office: CFO 803.  E-mail: rgreer@twu.edu. Fax: (940) 898-2297.  Office telephone: (940) 898-2346. Web Site: www.russellgreer.com

Most students find they can communicate with me quickly by e-mail (rgreer@twu.edu).  In addition, I will host office hours in CFO 803 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and and noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays unless otherwise indicated.  Typically, if I cannot hold those regularly scheduled office hours, I will post that information on my web site.  You may also leave me a voice mail at (940) 898-2346.  I check for messages once a day (usually in the evenings) and try to return calls promptly. 

Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes:

1.  Course Goal: To master the key philosophical concepts articulated by Mikhail Bakhtin in Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics as applied to selected works by Fyodor Dostoevsky.  Student Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate this mastery in mid-term and final examinations.

2.  Course Goal: To apply knowledge from PDP to analysis of works other than Dostoevsky's texts.  Student Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate this mastery in a classroom presentation, a short paper, and a research paper.

List of textbooks and supplies: 

Required:

(1) Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics by Mikhail Bakhtin (PDP).  (333 pages.  Edited and Translated by Caryl Emerson.  Introduction by Wayne Booth.  U of Minnesota P, 1984.  ISBN: 0816612285);

 

(2) Notes from Underground; The Double  by Fyodor Dostoevsky (288 pages.  Penguin Classics.  ISBN: 0140442529);

(3) The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky (320 pages.  Modern Library.  ISBN: 0375756884);

(4) The Brothers Karamazov (1050 pages.  Oxford World's Classics.  ISBN: 0192835092 ;

(5) Crime and Punishment (704 pages.  Norton Critical Edition.  ISBN: 0393956237. 

Disability Statements:
1.  ”Texas Woman's University seeks to provide appropriate academic adjustments for all individuals with disabilities.  The University will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines, specifically Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with respect to providing appropriate academic adjustments to afford equal educational opportunity.  It is the responsibility of the student to register with and provide medical verification and academic schedules to Disability Support Services (DSS) at the beginning of each semester and no later than the second week of school in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate academic adjustment.  For further information regarding Disability Support Services or to register for assistance, please contact the office at 898-3835 (voice, 898-3830 (TDD), or visit CFO 105” (Texas Woman’s University Office of Academic Affairs).

2.  "If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the office of Disability Support Services (CFO 106, 940-898-3835, dss@twu.edu ) in order to obtain the required official notification of your accommodation needs.   Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss approved accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate." (email from JoAnn Nunnelly, Director of Disability Support Services on 9 January 2008)

Grading Policy, Major Course Assignments and Examinations and Attendance:

Daily Participation and Attendance: The Texas Woman's University Handbook and Planner 2007-2008 Handbook states the following about attendance:

"Consistent and attentive attendance is vital to academic success, and is expected of all students.  Grades are determined by academic performance, and instructors may give students written notice that attendance related to specific classroom activities is required and will constitute a specific percentage of students' grades.

 

Instructors are strongly encouraged to keep a record of student attendance.  They should note absences due to documented student illness, serious illness or death in the student's immediate family, official school activity, state-recognized religious holiday, or other verified absences deemed appropriate by the instructor.  Students must consult with instructors regarding the completion of make-up work.

 

Absences are verified through the Office of Student Life.  Absences do not exempt students from academic requirements.  Excessive absences, even if documented, may result in a student failing the course.  An incomplete may be granted if the student has a passing grade, but only if the instructor determines that it is feasible for the student to successfully complete remaining assignments after the semester.  Pursuant to university policy, such determinations are within the discretion of the instructor." (pages 143-144)

Grading Policy

Student Presentation: 5%

Short Essay: 10% (due 6 March)

Research Paper: 30% (due 1 May)

Annotated Bibliography: 10% (due 10 April)

Mid-term Examination: 20% (13 March)

Final Examination (Comprehensive): 25% (8 May)

Academic Dishonesty:

“Honesty in completing assignments is essential to the mission of the university and to the development of the personal integrity of the student. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment, failing the class, or being suspended or expelled.  Suspected cases in this course may be reported to Student Life. The specific disciplinary process for academic dishonesty is found in the TWU Student Handbook.  Tools to help you avoid plagiarism are available through the TWU Libraries’ “Quick Links” under “Research Help” (http://www.twu.edu/library/literacy/index.htm)” (This statement was authorized and mandated by the TWU Provost.  November 10, 2005).

Plagiarism

The following definition of plagiarism appears in Joseph F. Trimmer’s A Guide to MLA Documentation (Sixth Edition), published by Houghton Mifflin Company (2004): “Plagiarism is theft.  It is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit—or without giving any credit at all—to the writer of the original.  Whether plagiarism is intentional or unintentional, it is a serious offense…You can avoid plagiarism by taking notes carefully, by formulating and developing your own ideas and by using quotes responsibly to support, rather than replace, your own work” (25).  Note that I have used this quotation from a source and have given it full attribution.  You should do the same with your sources.  I strongly urge you to read the discussion of academic dishonesty that appears in Section Four of The Student Handbook and Planner 2005-2006 (pages 133-135).  I intend to follow TWU policy as outlined in this handbook exactly.  It defines plagiarism in this way: “Plagiarism occurs when a student obtains portions or elements of someone else's work, including materials prepared by another person or agency, and presents those ideas or words as her or his own academic work.  The intentional or unintentional use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement shall constitute plagiarism.  Students are responsible for following guidelines of the appropriate course or discipline (ie; MLA, APA)" (153).  In this course, we will use the Modern Language Association (MLA) format.  Penalties for first-time offenses include, at the instructor’s discretion, any of the following: (1) “Written reprimand”; (2) “Assignment of a lower grade on the test/paper/project in question, with an explanation from the instructor”; (3) “Assignment of a 0 on an assignment"; (4) “Assignment of a grade of F in the course" (154). A discussion of the more severe penalties for second offenses appears on pages 154-155.  If you have any questions about whether or not a practice constitutes plagiarism, please contact me before you turn in the assignment. 

Mandatory Conference: If you receive a grade of "C" or lower after the mid-term examination, please meet with me individually in my office so that we can create a strategy that will allow you to improve your grade.

Academic Calendar for Spring 2008

Tentative calendar of classes, assignments.
Please note that this daily syllabus is for planning purposes only and is subject to change.

17 January 2008

24 January 2008

31 January 2008

7 February 2008

14 February 2008

21 February 2008

28 February 2008

6 March 2008

13 March 2007

20 March 2008.  No class. Spring Holiday.

27 March 2008

3 April 2008

10 April 2007

17 April 2007

24 April 2007

1 May 2007

8 May 2007

Final Examination 6-8 p.m.

Student Presentation (5%): Each presentation should be about 20-30 minutes long and present a rhetorical analysis using a concept articulated in PDP.

Short Essay (10%.  Due 6 March): This essay will be between 5-10 pages long.  You should consider this essay preparation for writing your final research paper, but if you wish you change your topic you may do so.  I will give you written feedback as well as a grade. 

Research Paper (30%.  Due 1 May): This research paper should be between ten and twenty pages long and be suitable for presentation at a scholarly conference or published in a scholarly journal.

Annotated Bibliography (10%.  Due 10 April): You will present an annotated bibliography describing five to ten works on a topic of your choice related to the content of the course.

Mid-term Examination (20%.  13 March): For your midterm examination, I will ask you to write three, short, in-class essays.  You will be able to choose the three topics or questions from a list of six.  The purpose of the examination will be to test your knowledge of key concepts from PDP and your reading comprehension of the assigned works by Dostoevsky.

Final Examination (Comprehensive.  25%.  8 May):  For your comprehensive final examination, I will ask you to write three, short, take-home essays. 

 

Last updated: 1 May 2008