Discourse I:
Reasoning and Values
Niki Casady
Email: necwcb@mail.umkc.edu
Office phone: 2414
Office location: Scofield Hall, room 2
Office hours: Wednesday 2:00-3:00 or by appointment
Required Texts:
·
Art of Fact
·
Woe is I a Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English
in Plain English (3rd
edition)
Course
Description:
Discourse 100: Reasoning and Values: “Discourse”
refers to the language, images, styles, genres, behaviors and other forms of
communication used by specific social and professional groups. The techniques
of discourse analysis and language awareness taught in this course will enable
you to position yourself socially and professionally, helping you understand
the reasoning and values, discourse conventions, and “commonsense” assumptions
that create and define academic, political, professional, and other discourse
formations and communities. Students will produce, perform, and
analyze college-level, oral and written texts; and they will
learn how written and oral performances function together in specific
discourse communities. This course is
associated with Anchor courses in Reasoning and Values and it prepares
students for Discourse II: Culture and Diversity.
Individualized
description:
This course will focus on why
humanity has a love for categorizing everything and everyone. We love to put ourselves in groups and then
figure out our status in relation to others.
Are you a dog or cat person?
Baseball or football? Ravenclaw,
Gryffindor, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff?
Math or art? Upper, middle, or lower
class?
That’s not even getting into
race. The color of a person’s skin only
indicates how close their ancient ancestor’s were to the equator, but for some
reason, people have decided that it indicated something else—although it was
just an excuse for one group to assert their superiority over another.
We are going to look at why
and how we make these decisions and how they have impacted our society in big
and subtle ways.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students
will demonstrate an ability to:
·
Explore and analyze their own and others values
through the use of multiple strategies that engage different sources and
perspectives in written and oral discourse.
·
Identify
and analyze how cultural context and assumptions play a role in the analysis
and production of discourse.
·
Understand basic rhetorical concepts (audience, purpose,
genre, convention, logos, ethos, pathos, logical fallacies, structure, etc.)
and apply such concepts to the interpretation, analysis, and production of
written and oral discourse.
·
Develop an introductory understanding of critical discourse
analysis and critical language awareness.
·
Use written and oral discourse to develop and present
meaningful and interesting ideas that show the students’ voice, a willingness
to take intellectual risks, and an attempt to enter an academic conversation.
· Create academic discourse through a basic process that includes editing,
proofreading, and revising multiple drafts.
·
Interpret their own and others’ work and reflect on their
own development as producers of discourse.
·
Construct basic research strategies, use appropriate
research resources, learn to identify scholarly sources, and evaluate and cite
those information sources.
·
Develop an introductory understanding of citation and an
ability to appropriately cite sources using a consistent professional style
(MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
·
Identify and address personal impediments to discourse
production, including speech anxiety and writer’s block.
Core Assessment
Though there are different
sections and instructors of Discourse 100, certain general expectations apply
to every course: Discourse 100 students are required to draft, develop and
complete a minimum of 12-16 pages of
finished writing including at least two essays. Students are also required to draft,
develop and present at least two speeches with a combined minimum total of 8-12minutes. Major assignments will
engage in direct critical analysis of academic sources with an emphasis on
Human Values and Ethical Reasoning. This work will be presented
in a final
summative portfolio at the end of the term. Constructive
feedback and opportunities for comprehensive revision will be provided
throughout. All formal work, written and spoken, will be graded using a rubric
that applies the SLO's for Communications Skills.
Educational
Philosophy:
Everyone who wants to learn is capable of it. It might not be easy and it might not be fun,
but if you want to succeed, you can.
Attendance:
You are allowed 3 free absences for any reason. After your third miss, 5% (a half a letter
grade) will be deducted from your final grade for each additional
absence. School sanctioned events do not
count as one of the 3 free absences.
Consistent tardiness will be counted as a half absence.
Students are expected to attend and
participate in classes. Advance notice of attendance policies of academic units
and individual instructors should be given, and such notice should be in
writing.
Students should notify instructors of excused
absences in advance, where possible. Students who have an excused absence are
expected to make arrangements with instructors for alternative or make-up work.
Such arrangements should be made in advance of the absence, where possible.
Late Work:
You are expected to turn in assignments on time. If you have technical difficulties (like you are unable to upload it to Bb), I expect you to send me proof that you competed the assignment on time (email it to me).
All late work can be turned in late for half credit.
Cell Phone:
I understand using phones occasionally to look up something or to send an "I'm Busy" text, but excessive use--where you are no longer in class--I will give you one warning to put it away, one warning to put on the teacher's desk, and finally, I will ask you to leave and you will be counted absent.
Positive Learning Environment
We will be discussing sensitive topics in an academic setting. I expect you to be respectful.
In this course, a high degree of
professionalism is required from all students. This course will strive to
foster a respectful learning community. It is expected that community (class)
members will demonstrate intellectual maturity, democratic values and attitudes
(respect, sensitivity, responsibility, and cooperation). Please know that
display of unprofessional dispositions will affect your course grade. The instructor reserves the right to manage a
positive learning environment and thus will not condone inappropriate conduct
in the course. Generally, academic/professional misconduct by a
student shall include, but not be limited to: disruption of classes (side bar
conversation), rudeness toward the professor or other class members,
insensitivity, misrepresenting information presented in class, manipulative and
negative behavior, etc. Engagement in any of these behaviors carries penalty in
terms of dismissal from the course, significant point reduction including grade
reduction by one letter grade, or course failure.
Disability
Support Services:
To obtain disability related accommodations
and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of
Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) as soon as possible. To contact
OSSD call 816-235-5696. Once verified, OSSD will notify the course instructor
and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. For more
information go to: http://www.umkc.edu/disability/.
Discrimination
Grievances and Procedures:
http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/collected_rules/grievance/ch390/grievance_390.010
http://www.umkc.edu/diversity/documents/complaintprocess.pdf
Academic
Dishonesty: Plagiarism is the undocumented use of another’s ideas or
words. In this course, you will learn how to conduct academic research, how to
evaluate sources, and document them appropriately. Failure to adequately cite
your research is plagiarism and is a serious offense that could jeopardize your
future academic career.
If you get caught plagiarizing, you will not be allowed
to use bonus points and all assignments related to the plagiarized work
(drafts, conferences, etc.) will receive a 0.
http://www.umkc.edu/provost/policies/academic-integrity-dishonesty-and-plagiarism.pdf
Grade Appeals: http://www.umkc.edu/catalog/Procedure_for_Appeal_of_Grades.html
Writing Center: http://cas.umkc.edu/writingcenter/
A & S Life Coach:
For
more information regarding this program, please visit the following website: aslifecoach@umkc.edu<mailto:aslifecoach@umkc.edu.
Resources & Policy Statements
Academic Calendar: Students are
encouraged to review important add, drop or withdraw dates: http://www.umkc.edu/registrar/acal.asp
Academic Honesty: The Board of
Curators of the University of Missouri recognizes that academic honesty is
essential for the intellectual life of the University. Faculty members have a
special obligation to expect high standards of academic honesty in all student
work. Students have a special obligation to adhere to such standards. Academic
dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism or sabotage, is adjudicated through
the University of Missouri Student Conduct
Code and Rules of Procedures in Student Conduct
Matters.
(Academic units may have additional student codes of behavior to be
referenced, i.e. Honor Codes.)
Academic
Inquiry, Course Discussion and Privacy: (Choose one of the
following to include in the syllabus-- Faculty allowing recording or Faculty
not allowing recording.)
Faculty allowing
recording - University of
Missouri System Executive Order No. 38 lays out principles regarding the
sanctity of classroom discussions at the university. The policy is described
fully in Section 200.015 of the Collected Rules and
Regulations. In this class,
students may make audio or video recordings of course activity unless
specifically prohibited by the faculty member. However, the redistribution of
any audio or video recordings of statements or comments from the course to
individuals who are not students in the course is prohibited without the
express permission of the faculty member and of any students who are recorded,
including those recordings prepared by an instructor. Students found to have
violated this policy are subject to discipline in accordance with provisions of
Section 200.020 of the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of
Missouri pertaining to student conduct matters.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and participate
in classes. Advance notice of attendance policies of academic units and
individual instructors should be given, and such notice should be in writing.
Students should notify instructors of excused absences in advance, where
possible. Students who have an excused absence are expected to make
arrangements with instructors for alternative or make-up work. Such
arrangements should be made in advance of the absence, where possible.
Instructors should accommodate excused absences to the extent that an
accommodation can be made that does not unreasonably interfere with the
learning objectives of the course or unduly burden the instructor. Attendance
policies shall be applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
Campus
Safety:
Inclement weather, mass notification, and emergency response guide: http://www.umkc.edu/umkcalert/
Counseling
and Health Services Available at UMKC: UMKC students may experience many challenges in
their lives while attending college – stress, depression, suicidality, trauma,
relationship issues, health concerns, etc. As your professor I care about your success and well-being, and
want to make you aware of some helpful resources on campus. The UMKC Counseling
Center (www.umkc.edu/counselingcenter), located at 4825 Troost in Room 206, offers a wide range of
supportive services to students. Appointments can be made by calling
816.235.1635. UMKC Student Health and Wellness (http://info.umkc.edu/studenthealth/), located at 4825 Troost in Room 115, offers a full range of health
care and promotion services. Appointments can be scheduled online orSection 200.015 of the Collected Rules and
Regulations. In this class,
students may not make any audio or video recordings of course activity
(including those recordings prepared by an instructor), except students
permitted to record as an accommodation under Section 240.040 of the Collected
Rules. All other students who record and/or distribute audio or video recordings
of class activity are subject to discipline in accordance with provisions of
Section 200.020 of the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of
Missouri pertaining to student conduct matters.
Those students who have written
permission from the course instructor to record are not permitted to
redistribute any audio or video recordings of statements or comments from the
course to individuals who are not students in the course without the express
permission of the faculty member and of any students who are recorded,
including those recordings prepared by an instructor. Students found to have
violated this policy are subject to discipline in accordance with provisions of
Section 200.020 of the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri
pertaining to student conduct matters.
Disability
Support Services: To
obtain disability related accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, students with
disabilities must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities
(OSSD) as soon as possible. To contact OSSD, call (816) 235-5696. Once
verified, OSSD will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation
and/or auxiliary aids to be provided.
For more information go to: http://www.umkc.edu/disability/
English
Proficiency Statement: Students
who encounter difficulty in their courses because of the English proficiency of
their instructors should speak directly with their instructors. If additional
assistance is needed, students may contact the UMKC Help Line at 816-235-2222
for assistance.
Grade
Appeal Policy: Students
are responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established
for each course in which they are enrolled. The establishment of the criteria
for grades and the evaluation of student academic performance are the
responsibilities of the instructor.
The University grade appeal procedure is available only for the review of
allegedly capricious grading and not for review of the instructor's evaluation
of the student's academic performance. Capricious grading, as that term is used
here, comprises any of the following:
• The assignment of a grade to a
particular student on some basis other than the performance in the course;
• The assignment of a grade to a
particular student according to more exacting or demanding standards than were
applied to other students in the course; (Note: Additional or different grading
criteria may be applied to graduate students enrolled for graduate credit in
300- and 400-level courses.)
• The assignment of a grade by a
substantial departure from the instructor's previously announced standards.
Discrimination Grievance Procedures for
Students: Discrimination Grievance
Procedures for Students can be found here: http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/collected_rules/grievance/ch390/grievance_390.010
Statement of
Human Rights: The
Board of Curators and UMKC are committed to the policy of equal opportunity,
regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin,
age, disability and status as a Vietnam era veteran. Commitment to the policy
is mentored by the Division of Diversity,
Access & Equity,
but it is the responsibility of the entire university community to provide
equal opportunity through relevant practices, initiatives and programs.
Title IX: Under the University of Missouri’s Title IX policy,
discrimination, violence and harassment based on sex, gender, and gender
identity are subject to the same kinds of accountability and support applied to
offenses based on other protected characteristics such as race, color, ethnic
or national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, ancestry, disability,
military status, and veteran status. If you or someone you know has been
harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources by visiting UMKC’s
Title IX Office webpage (http://info.umkc.edu/title9/) or contacting UMKC’s Title IX Coordinator,
Mikah K. Thompson (816.235.6910 or thompsonmikah@umkc.edu). Additionally, you can file a complaint
using UMKC’s online discrimination complaint form, which is located at http://info.umkc.edu/title9/reporting/report-online/.
While most UMKC
employees are required to report any known or suspected violation of Title IX,
students may seek confidential guidance from the following campus locations:
UMKC Counseling Service
Volker Campus
4825 Troost Ave, Suite 206 Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone – (816) 235-1635
|
UMKC Counseling Service
Health Sciences Campus
Health Sciences Building 1418 2464 Charlotte Kansas City, MO 64108 Phone – (816) 235-1635
(open Tuesdays, 1-5pm)
|
Student Health and Wellness
4825 Troost Ave., Suite 115 Kansas City, MO 64110 Phone - (816) 235-6133 |
UMKC Connect:
Important information is available to undergraduate students in UMKC Connect
accessed through Blackboard. Throughout the term, students may receive
emails regarding course grades or academic performance. Students are expected
to address information posted in a timely fashion. This information may
be shared with the student’s Success Network made up his or her academic
advisor(s) and other campus resources so that UMKC may fully support the
student’s success.
College of Arts & Sciences Course Policies
& Resources
Discrimination Grievance Procedures for
Students: Discrimination Grievance
Procedures for Students can be found here: http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/collected_rules/grievance/ch390/grievance_390.010
UMKC Connect:
Important information is available to undergraduate students in UMKC Connect
accessed through Blackboard. Throughout the term, students may receive
emails regarding course grades or academic performance. Students are expected
to address information posted in a timely fashion. This information may
be shared with the student’s Success Network made up his or her academic
advisor(s) and other campus resources so that UMKC may fully support the
student’s success.
College of Arts & Sciences Course Policies
& Resources
Please refer to the following web page and the
linked resources for critical information regarding course policies and
resources. You are expected to abide by all the rules and regulations regarding
student conduct referenced in these pages.
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