HUSL 7333 Special Topics in Rhetoric (Academic and Scholarly Writing)

Spring 2006, W, 5:30-6:45pm, JO4.124

NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at the instructor's
discretion. Any changes will be communicated to students.

Course Professor Office Telephone Email Office Hours

Dr. John F. Barber JO 4.128 972-883-2038 jfbarber@utdallas.edu MW 12-5 PM

Course Description
A writing seminar focused on various types of academic and scholarly writing expected in
the broadly defined field of Arts and Humanities. Prepares graduate students to better
engage in the larger discourse (textual and oral) of ideas related to their research foci.
Required reading and writing assignments, as well as presentations. Students may also
participate in writing online (email, blogs, etc.) for collaboration and research.

Students are required

• To submit a proposal to a professional conference designated by the instructor
• If accepted, to attend and deliver a professional presentation at that conference
• To write and submit a research article to a professional journal for publication

Course Rationale
Typically, graduate programs train students to think and analyze, but not to participate in a
larger professional discourse through written articles or professional conference
presentations. This lack of preparation makes the transition to university faculty member
more difficult. This course aims to address the need for training in the areas of professional
academic and scholarly writing.

Course Structure
Engaged seminar workshops and discussions and substantial writing assignments. Students
will participate in collaborative writing groups where they share and critique their writing.
Writing assignments will include
• A conference proposal for The South Central Modern Language Association
Convention, (SCMLA), 26-28 October 2006, Fort Worth, TX
• A conference presentation for SCMLA
• A publishable research article
• An academic book review (as part of conference presentation or article)
• An academic biography
• An academic curriculum vita
• Writing in online environments (blogs, hypertext/web genres, etc.)

Texts and Additional Resources

Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills
John M. Swales and Christine B. Feak
University of Michigan Press 2004

English in Today's Research World: A Writing Guide

John M. Swales and Christine B. Feak
University of Michigan Press 2000

Proposals and Annotated Bibliographies

Heather Avery and Paul Gamache
The Academic Skills Centre at Trent University
Writing Academic Reviews
Karen Taylor
The Academic Skills Centre at Trent University

Effective Seminar Presentations

Martin Boyne, Karen Taylor, and Paul Gamache
The Academmic Skills Centre at Trent University

The Essentials of College and University Writing

Robert Blake Truscott
Research and Education Association

MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing

Current Edition
Joseph Gibaldi
Modern Language Association

Grading
Final grades are determined by quality of work demonstrated for each assignment and the
instructor's evaluation of your participation in these and other course activities. Lack of
attendance and participation will lower your final grade.

All writing for this course will be produced solely for this course and not for other courses,
nor should any writing submitted for this course come from the work of other courses.

Incomplete grades will not be granted. All required course work must be completed as and
when required in order to pass this course. Late or incomplete work will lower your grade,
or will not be accepted. "+" and "-" grades will be used at the instructor's discretion and
only in special situations. Otherwise, all final grades will be "A-F." The instructor is the final
authority in all matters related to grades.

Academic Dishonesty
Discovery of any form of academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, collusion, etc.) will
result in a failing grade as well as possible further sanctions from standing University
policies.

Disability Accommodations
Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must contact Ms. Kerry Tate,
Coordinator, Disability Services (972-883-2098), to verify the disability and establish
eligibility for accommodations. Students with disabilities are responsible to make their
disabilities known and to meet all course expectations, including attendance, participation,
performance, and work standards.

Personal Communication Device Policy

Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other personal communication devices before the start
of class. Their sounding/signaling and/or use during class will result in your banishment.
HUSL 7333 Special Topics in Rhetoric (Academic and Scholarly Writing)
Spring 2006, W, 5:30-6:45pm, JO4.124
NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at the instructor's
discretion. Any changes will be communicated to students.

Week 1—First Class Meeting

1. Mon. Jan. 9, 2006
• Course introduction, discussion of requirements and expectations
2. Wed. Jan. 11, 2006
• Discussion of "excellent writing"; bring a sample, discuss why it is excellent

Week 2—Introduction
3. Mon. Jan. 16—University Holiday. NO CLASS!
4. Wed. Jan. 18, 2006
• Curriculum Vita, Introduction and Overview

Week 3—Curriculum Vita

5. Mon. Jan. 23, 2006
• Curriculum Vita workshops
6. Wed. Jan. 25, 2006
• Curriculum Vita draft; workshops and peer review

Week 4—Academic Biography

7. Mon. Jan. 30, 2006
• Curriculum Vita due
• Introduce Academic Biography
8. Wed. Feb. 1, 2006
• Academic biography draft; workshops and peer review
• Introduce Academic Conference Proposal

Week 5—Conference Proposal

9. Mon. Feb. 6, 2006
• Academic Biography due
• Academic Conference Proposal, Introduction and Overview
10. Wed. Feb. 8, 2006
• Academic Conference Proposal, workshops

Week 6—Book Review

11. Mon. Feb. 13, 2006
• Book Review, Introduction and Overview
• Academic Conference Proposal Workshop, workshops
12. Wed. Feb. 15, 2006
• Conference Presentations, Introduction and Overview

Week 7—
13. Mon. Feb. 20, 2006
• Proposal, Presentation, Review, workshops as necessary
14. Wed. Feb. 22, 2006
• Critique instructor's upcoming conference presentation
Week 8—
15. Mon. Feb. 27, 2006
• Academic Conference Proposal presentations—final version; Deliver and critique
16. Wed. Mar. 1, 2006
• Academic Conference Proposal presentations—final version; Deliver and critique
• Book Review due

SPRING BREAK, MONDAY MARCH 6 and WEDNESDAY MARCH 8, 2005 NO CLASS!

Week 9—
17. Mon. Mar. 13, 2006
• Conference Presentations, Tips for success
18. Wed. Mar. 15, 2006
• Proposals must be submitted to SCMLA by this date
• Academic Conference Proposal due

Week 10—
19. Mon. Mar. 20, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique
20. Wed. Mar. 22, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique

Week 11—
21. Mon. Mar. 27, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique
22. Wed. Mar. 29, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique

Week 12—
23. Mon. Apr. 3, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique
24. Wed. April 5, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique

Week 13—
25. Mon. Apr. 10, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique
26. Wed. Apr. 12, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique

Week 14—
27. Mon. Apr. 17, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique
28. Wed. Apr. 19, 2006
• Conference Presentations; Deliver and critique (?)
• Research Essay due

Week 15—
29. Mon. Apr. 24, 2006—Last Class!
• Course evaluations
HUSL 7333 Special Topics in Rhetoric (Academic and Scholarly Writing)
Spring 2006, W, 5:30-6:45pm, JO4.124

Major Writing Assignments—Descriptions

Academic Curriculum Vita

Your curriculum vita, or "CV," will be the primary document by which you present and
promote yourself throughout the rest of your academic and scholarly career. For this
assignment you will write your CV, making it current with your present experience, as well
as anticipating your "future perfect" career trajectory.

Academic Biography
An academic biography is frequently required of individuals whose work is accepted for
publication, as well as in support of applications for grants, scholarships, and jobs. For this
assignment you will write your own academic biography, 200 words maximum.

Book Review Essay

Writing book reviews is one way of entering a larger, professional discourse community. It
is also a way of solidifying your own research. For this assignment you will write a 4-5 page
review essay of a scholarly book associated with the research for your conference
presentation.

Conference Proposal
See 2006 Conference Call for Proposals: http://www.ou.edu/scmla/FWRegAll.htm
Professional conferences are primary arenas for engaging in ongoing discussions of research
and scholarly interest(s). For this assignment you will write a proposal for a presentation to
be delivered the forthcoming South Central Modern Language Association (SCMLA) meeting
(26-28 October 2006, Fort Worth). This proposal may be for an individual presentation or a
panel presentation comprised of yourself and your colleagues in this class. Your proposal
must meet all guidelines set forth in the conference call for proposals, be serious, and
intended for inclusion on the conference program. Must be submitted by 15 March 2006. If
selected, you must attend the conference and present your promised presentation.

Conference Presentation
See SCMLA information: http://www.ou.edu/scmla/
Based on your SCMLA conference proposal, write a 20-minute professional presentation in
which you explore the topic(s) promised in your proposal, reach the promised conclusion(s),
and provide some benefit for those attending your presentation. This will be the conference
paper you will deliver at SCMLA (26-28 October 2006, Fort Worth, TX). You will also deliver
this paper, in its final, polished form, in class, to your colleagues and/or others.

Research Article
Write a major expansion of your conference presentation, turning it into a publishable article
for a professional journal, a Master's thesis or doctoral dissertation chapter, or critical essay
accompanying a creative dissertation. The finished article may be in first draft form, but
considering that it will be the third iteration of your Conference Proposal, it should be as
polished as possible.