| Current Rhetorical Theory | Bawarshi | MW 11:30-1:20 | 12889 |
In this course, we will examine contemporary rhetorical theory by way of genre theory, which will enable us to examine rhetoric not only as a dimension of all discourse, but also as integral to complex forms of social participation and organization. We will study how genres, as typified rhetorical formations, work to organize and generate social practices, relations, and identities within systems of activity. We will begin the course by briefly reviewing rhetorical theory and then, out of this historical framework, embark on an intensive introduction to current rhetorical genre theory, first locating it in relation to linguistic and literary genre traditions, and then exploring its claims that genres are not just ways we define, describe, and organize kinds of texts, but also ways we rhetorically define, organize, and generate kinds of social actions. Along the way, we will grapple with such questions as: What is/are rhetoric(s)? What is a rhetorical situation (and can there be such a thing as a non-rhetorical situation)? What is the relationship between social and rhetorical action, and what role does genre play in this relationship? Where do genres exist and how do they relate to one another within systems of activity? How do individuals resist genres, and how and why do genres change? What role can genres play in literacy instruction? We will examine how genre analysis enables us to inquire into and grapple with the above questions, which ultimately have to do with questions of power and cultural production, to which genres seem integral. Coursework will include presentations, a mid-term short essay, and a final research paper or its equivalent. Please note, there will be a cap of 10 students in the course.
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