AAS XYZ-A01W: "Cultural Rhetoric: Exploring Contemporary Africana Studies

3 hours, 3 credits
Fall 2017
Edna M. Norman Assistant Adjunct Professor
Edna.Norman@Lehman.cuny,edu
Office hours: M 12:00:1:00 to 5:30, or by appointment. Youre always welcome to post questions to
the Discussion Board labeled Questions or to email me.
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Course Overview

Undergraduates at Lehman will understand contemporary African-African-American Studies from a cultural

rhetorical perspective, expanding the reach of this field to both majors and non-majors alike. This course will

cover cultural rhetoric allowing students to think critically about race and class from a rhetorical viewpoint

within the digital humanities.

Learning Goal
Upon completion of this course, you will understand what a rhetorical approach to culture offers one regarding

race and class.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the three modes of persuasion ethos, pathos, and logos. (Aristotles

ingredients for persuasion)

Understand how cultural theories can influence visual rhetoric as well as learning

to think critically about power and values.

Write informative and persuasive essays, blogs, tweets, and other

communications appropriate for cultural rhetoric and digital humanities

Required Materials and Access

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 1 Access to Microsoft Office

2 Access to Blackboard and the Internet.

Blackboard is a large, integrated system, and all such systems do have unscheduled

down time, however unusual and short-lived. Furthermore, there is no CUNY or

Lehman College policy to restore courses in which all or part of the content is deleted,

damaged or otherwise becomes inaccessible. Therefore, students (as all users) are

strongly urged to keep a print and electronic backup of all the class work they have

submitted.

Be sure to have on hand your instructors email address in case of any system failure: in

such a case you should check the Blackboard link on the Lehman home page for the

latest information on service interruptions and email your instructor for specific

instructions, should you need them.

For help with Portal/Blackboard Username or Password problems: visit the

Lehman HELP DESK in the IT Center in Carman Hall (or call x1111). Off campus: (718)

960-1111

For videos and up-to-date Blackboard status information:

http://www.lehman.edu/academics/blackboard/index.php

Online Student Orientation:

http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/rwhittaker/oo/ooselect.html

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 Grading

A 3.68-4.00 92 - 100
A- 3.34-3.67 84 - 91
B+ 3.01-3.33 75 - 83
B 2.68-3.00 67 - 74
B- 2.34-2.67 59 - 66
C+ 2.01-2.33 50 - 58
C 1.68-2.00 42 - 49
F 1.01-1.67 25 - 41
F 0.01-1.00 1 - 24
F 0

Grading Details

Assignment/Factor Percent of your grade

Class Participation: To earn all 25 25 percent

percent, you must: (1) complete all

assignments, including meeting all

Blackboard deadlines; and (2) offer

respectful, forward-thinking, deeply

considered comments when responding

to your colleagues postings.

Homework, including Assignments and Discussions: 25 percent

Discussions, board post.

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 Presentation 20 percent

Your final project 30 percent

Class Policies

Absences/Lateness: You must complete each assignment by the deadline. No late work

is accepted. If you miss posting assignments (or other deadlines), your grade will

be affected in two ways: (1) as described above in the assessment model; and (2)

as described below. Specifically, beginning with the third missed deadline, one

half letter grade will be subtracted from your final grade. For instance:

Plagiarism

CUNY defines plagiarism the act of presenting another persons ideas, research, or

writings as your own. There is a zero tolerance for plagiarism in this class. If you

use more than three words taken directly from an outside source, you need to cite

them. All facts need to be cited. If you plagiarize, you will receive a zero for the

assignment; you will also be reported to Student Affairs. The following are some

examples of plagiarism; by no means is it an exhaustive list.

Copying another persons actual words without the use of quotation marks and

MLA-approved attributions.
Presenting another persons ideas or theories in your own words without

acknowledging the source.

Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the

source.
Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework.

Student Services

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The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and the Science Learning Center (SLC):

Lehman College has two tutoring centers on campus. The ACE provides

appointment based and drop-in tutoring in the humanities, social sciences,

and writing, as well as general writing skills and test preparation workshops for

the CPE. The SCL provides drop-in tutoring for natural and computer science

courses. More information about the ACE and the SLC is available on their

website at http://www.lehman.edu/issp, or by calling ACE at 718-960-8175, and

the SLC at 718-960-7707.

Office of Student Disability Services Lehman College is committed to providing access

to all programs and curricula to all students. Students with disabilities who may

need classroom accommodations are encouraged to register with the Office of

Student Disability Services. For more information, please contact the Office of

Student Disability Services, Shuster Hall, Room 238, phone number, 718-960-

8441.

Course Calendar

Please note that the schedule below may change. Any changes will be announced on the

Information page in Blackboard. It is your responsibility to be keep current with any

changes that might occur.

I encourage you to check into Blackboard regularly; get in the habit of logging on every Monday and
Wednesday, for instance. Check in once over the weekend, too! Stay current with the Discussion Board
comments. Dont put yourself in the position of trying to do everything at the last minute. Give yourself time to
think, research, think some more, write, revise, and proofread.

Week Assignments
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1 School Starts August 25, 2017 - Classes meet Mondays from 9:00 11:00am

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 Cultural Rhetoric

Monday, August 28, 2017 In class discussion:

Readings:

Introduction to the Special Issue: Entering the Cultural Rhetorics Conversations

Our Story Begins Here: Constellating Cultural Rhetorics Act 1, Scene 1:

http://enculturation.net/our-story-begins-here

During first half of class - Review of course outline and an overview of blackboard course work.
Discuss three modes of persuasion & the three forms of cultural rhetorics that will be
covered this semester.
During second half of class Discuss Act, 1 Scene 1; of journal reading.

Modes of Persuasion
Ethos the writers credibility
Pathos Logical reasoning
Logos the audiences emotions

Forms of Cultural Rhetoric

Cultural Rhetoric
Feminism Rhetoric
African American Rhetoric

Review examples and meaning of Ethos, Pathos & Logos located in the week one folder on
Blackboard.

Due by Wednesday, August 30, 2017, 11:59 p.m.

Small Group Discussion: Post a PowerPoint Introduction with audio (Instructions in your
Blackboard week one folder)
Within your introduction, give an example of one of the three modes of persuasion.
(examples in week one folder)
Read the short journal titled - Introduction to the Special Issue: Entering the Cultural
Rhetorics Conversations. http://enculturation.net/entering-the-cultural-rhetorics-
conversations

2 Readings: Our Story Begins Here: Constellating Cultural Rhetorics Act ,1 Scene1:

Monday, September 4, 2017, 11:59 p.m. In class discussion

Discussions continue of Act 1, Scene 1: & Entering the Cultural conversation

Examine which definition of culture is being referenced in the Act 1, Scene I: reading, also
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 describe the mode of persuasion used within the reading.

Due by Wednesday, September 6, 2017, 11:59 p.m.

Small Group Discussion - Rhetoric is always cultural and culture is persistently rhetorical
In 200 words or less analyze the quote. (See Blackboard week two folder for instructions)

3 Readings: Our Story Begins Here: Constellating Cultural Rhetorics Act ,1 Scene 2:

Monday, September 11, 2017, 11:59 p.m. - In class discussion

Act 1, Scene 2: Decolonial Practices & are cultural and rhetoric the same?

Due by Wednesday, September 13, 2017, 11:59 p.m.

Small Group Discussion: Are culture and rhetoric the same thing? In 200 words or less
analyze this quote. (See Blackboard week three folder for instructions)

4 Readings: Our Story Begins Here: Constellating Cultural Rhetorics Act I, Scene 3:

Monday, September 18, 2017, 11:59 p.m. In class discussion

Act 1, Scene 3:

Due by Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 11:59 p.m.

Small Group Discussion: Why use the term cultural rhetorics.? In 200
words or less analyze the quote (See Blackboard week four folder for instructions)

Readings: Our Story Begins Here: Constellating Cultural Rhetorics Act Il, Scenes 1 3:
In class discussion - of Qwo-Li Driskill
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Monday, September 25, 2017, 11:59 p.m. In class discussion
Qwo-Li Driskill
Driskill is a rhetoric scholar based on reading and class discussion.

Due by Wednesday, September 27, 2017, 11:59 p.m.

Small Group Discussion: Comment on two post from September 20, 2017 (see blackboard
week five folder)

6 Readings: Act IlI, Scenes 1 3

Monday, October 2, 2017, 11:59 p.m. In class discussion

Class Discussion of YouTube video - Writing Center: Rhetorical Analysis (Shaun Roundy 15
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 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s84EDd8jFgw

Mid-Term Review Act IlI, Scenes 1 3 questions posted on blackboard

Expectations! Homework
Plan your paper before writing.
Respond not to the topic at hand, critique the way the author presented the work.
I am looking for your critical thinking and your options - defend your options.
Create solid effective arguments.
Prove your argument.
Give this work the time deserved as these readings are difficult.
Analyze either Logos, Pathos, Ethos within the work.
Do not summarize or reiterate the facts in the reading. Do tell me what the author
has said.

Due by Wednesday, October 4, 2017, 11:59 p.m.

Review: Writing Center: Rhetorical Analysis - YouTube Video
Mid Term review (writing a rhetorical analysis) Act IlI, Scenes 1 - 3:

7 Monday, October 9, 2017, -

In class Mid-Term - Act IlI, Scenes 1 - 3:

You have 90 minutes to write a 400 work Rhetorical Analysis of the reading. Use outside
sources to prove arguments.
Incorporate one or two of the modes of persuasions within your writing.

Feminist Rhetorical Practices

Due by Wednesday, October 11, 2017, 11:59p.m.

Review Kairos Website http://kairos.technorhetoric.net/

View - A Feminist Approach to Social Media Video Essay (16 Minutes)
Prepare to discuss the six guidelines in the video during our next class.
(Note transcript of video essay in the link)

8 Readings: Review Kiros Video Essay Continues

Monday, October 16, 2017, in class discussion.

A Feminist Approach to Social Media

Due by Wednesday, October 18, 2017, 11:59p.m.

In 200 words or less write a rhetorical analysis of the video essay (See Blackboard week
eight folder for instructions)

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9 Readings: Establishing Rhetorical Feminism by Challenging Normative Identities
http://enculturation.net/establishing-rhetorical-feminism

Monday, October 23, 2017, in class discussion.

Establishing Rhetorical Feminism by Challenging Normative Identities

Transnational feminist (class discussion)

Due by Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 11:59p.m.

In 200 words or less write a rhetorical analysis using this the term Transnational feminist
(See Blackboard week nine folder for instructions

10 Readings: Considering Rhetoric as a Global Human Enterprise: A Review of Feminist

Rhetorical Practices

http://enculturation.net/considering-rhetoric

Monday, October 30 2017, in class discussion.

Considering Rhetoric as a Global Human Enterprise: A Review of Feminist Rhetorical Practices

Due by Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 11:59p.m.

In 200 words or write a Rhetorical Analysis of the journal (See Blackboard week ten folder
for instructions.

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African American Rhetoric

Readings: The Bodies That Push the buttons Matter: Vernacular Digital Rhetoric as a form of
Communicative Agency
http://enculturation.net/the-bodies-that-push-the-buttons-matter

Monday, November 6, 2017, in class discussion.

In class review and discussion of 778 Bullets from Angela Agyayo on Vimeo (18 minutes)

Due by Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 11:59p.m.

Read the journal up until the header titled Digital Rhetoric as Communicative Agency

In 333 words or write a rhetorical analysis of this section of the article (See Blackboard week
eleven folder for instructions.

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12 Readings: The Bodies That Push the buttons Matter: Vernacular Digital Rhetoric as a form of
Communicative Agency

Monday, November 13, 2017, in class discussion.

Group discussion of reading and several of your Rhetorical Analysis submissions.

Discussion of presentation topics (one of the three topics covered this semester)
Selection of groups to present their individual presentations

Due by Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 11:59p.m.

Continue reading the journal up until the header titled Historical (Re)construction

In 333 words or write a rhetorical analysis of this section of the article (See Blackboard week
twelve folder for instructions.

13 Readings: The Bodies That Push the buttons Matter: Vernacular Digital Rhetoric as a form of
Communicative Agency

Monday, November 20, 2017, in class discussion.

Group discussion of reading and several of your Rhetorical Analysiss submitted
Presentations Discussion
Final Project Discussion

Due by Wednesday, November 22, 2017, 11:59p.m.

Complete the journal reading
In 333 words or write a rhetorical analysis of this section of the article (See Blackboard week
thirteen folder for instructions.

Monday, November 27, 2017

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In class individual Presentations Group 1 - Topic - Cultural Rhetoric

(Links to additional articles and journals attached on Blackboard)

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Monday, December 4, 2017

In class individual Presentations Group 2 Topic - Feminist Rhetoric

(Links to additional articles and journals attached on Blackboard)

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Monday, December 11, 2017

In class individual Presentations Group 3 Topic - African American Rhetoric

(Links to additional articles and journals attached on Blackboard)

Monday, December 18, 2017

FINAL PROJECT DUE during finals week - Instructions posted to Blackboard

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