Assignments

Unit I

Rhetorical Analysis and Close Reading
1,800-2,100 words / ~ 6-7 double-spaced pages | 15% of course grade

Close reading/comparison of texts with a similar thematic focus across a variety of genres: essays, film, short fiction, poems, songs, film, cultural artifacts such as video games, television shows, music videos, using interpretive methods based on:

• Rhetorical criticism (audience, purpose, genre, medium, delivery/circulation);
• Literary criticism (metaphor, plot, setting, point of view, theme); and
• Historical and cultural criticism

Unit 2

Reflective Annotated Bibliography
2-4, ~ 3 double-spaced pages each | 10% of course grade

Research-Based Argument Essay
~ 3500 words; 9-10 double spaced pages | 25% of course grade

This assignment connects to the following course learning goals:

• Critical thinking and reading (engaging with credible sources to help shape your own views)
• Drawing conclusions based on compelling and credible evidence
• Developing a position (thesis) and tailoring prose to fit a particular rhetorical situation and audience (in this case an academic research paper written for an academic audience)
• Supporting a position with compelling and credible evidence
• Organizing writing in logical and coherent ways, and
• Revising and editing so that ideas evolve over a period of time rather than right before the deadline.

Unit 3

Creative Remix and Digital Remediation of Research Project
Multimodal work plus writing component (4 double spaced pages) | 20% of course grade

Use a variety of media to compose in multiple rhetorical situations: Apply rhetorical knowledge in your own composing using the means of persuasion appropriate for each rhetorical context (alphabetic text, still and moving images, and sound), including academic writing and composing for a broader, public audience using digital platforms.

Digital remediation is “re-mediating”—adapting a message from its current page-based medium to some other medium using digital technology. This part of the course and assignment sequence asks you to consider how techniques, audiences, language use and other qualities change as they adapt to new media.

Portfolio Reflection
~1000 words; 3 double-spaced pages | 10% of course grade

Extended Writer’s Cover Letter for all of your writing in the course that explains how your writing for the course has addressed the course goals.

Reading/Writing Responses
Weekly written responses to course readings | 20% of course grade

Low-stakes writing done before class on Blogs@Baruch that generally contribute thought towards your major assignments.

In order to receive credit on a writing response assignment, you must:

• Post the response to Blogs @ Baruch
• Comment thoughtfully and meaningfully on at least three peers’ responses (not: “good job!” or “bad job!”), prioritizing those without comments already
• Bring a printed version of your own response to class