Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Introduction to Persuasion and Writing (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 2860-01

Course: ENGL 2860-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ENGL
CRN: 32263

Course Description

An introduction to the disciplinary field of rhetoric (the study of persuasion) and writing, which emphasizes the analysis of rhetoric and writing in various genres and social contexts. This course provides an introductory survey of major rhetorical, composition, and genre theory methodological approaches through course readings and applied writing and other projects.  (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1010 and ENGL 2010 - Prerequisite Min Grade: C-

Required Texts

Readings will be made available via Canvas Modules, using OER resources.

Learning Outcomes

Objective | Assignment
  1. To become familiar with the history of persuasive writing and its study | Readings, commonplace books
  2. To become familiar with key figures, texts, & research methods in Rhetoric & Writing Studies (RWS) | Readings, Conference proposal
  3. To become familiar with research, teaching, and career opportunities in RWS | Readings, CV/resume
  4. To hone academic communication skills and demonstrate critical, rhetorical awareness of language use. | Rhetorical analysis, Literacy Narrative
  5. To become a more skilled practitioner of rhetoric–in the words of Quintilian, a good person speaking and writing well. | All major papers


Course Requirements

Commonplace Books & In-class work 30%
Applications Assignments 40%
  •  Rhetorical Analysis
  •  Literacy Narrative
  •  Literacy Archive
Professional Portfolio 30%
  •  Conference Proposal
  •  Resume/CV
  •  Submission Reflection
  • Presentation slides



Course Outline

Unit I – History of Persuasion & Writing 
 
Week 1
Introduction to Course

Week 2
Ancient and Medieval Writing Practices
 
Week 3
The Renaissance of Writing  
 
Week 4
The Enlightenment & Modernity
 
 
Unit II – Writing Studies as an Academic Discipline
 
Week 5
Research in Writing Pedagogy – Theoretical “Camps”
  • Research Methods
  • Identity and Language
  • Current-traditional
  • Literacy Studies
  • Disability Studies
  • Neurolinguistics 

Week 6
Research in Writing Pedagogy – Theoretical “Camps”
  • Basic Writing
  • Multi/translingualism
  • Writing Assessment
  • Writing about Writing

Week 7
 Research in Writing Pedagogy – Writing Across the Curriculum/in the Disciplines & Digital Studies

Week 8
 Literacy Archive

Week 9
Research in Writing Pedagogy– Language Acquisition & Multilingualism

Week 10
Research in Writing Practice – Politics, Professionalism, Activism, and Rhetoric
 
Unit III – Writing Studies beyond the Academy
 
Week 11
Professional Editing & Communication

Week 12
Technical Editing & Communication

Week 13
Professionalism in Writing Studies

Week 14
Professionalism continued


Final Exam: Professional Portfolio and Presentation


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

 This course and its due dates are paced to help you manage your time through a broad amount of reading over 14 weeks (while being as humane as possible). If you find yourself falling substantially behind the due dates in Canvas you should make an appointment to talk to me so we can strategize. I don't penalize late work, but it also will not receive written feedback.

However, if you fall more than three modules/weeks behind, you have to meet with me before continuing. This is (1) so I can check in and offer help, and (2) so we can develop a clear plan to get you caught up OR a clear plan to get you withdrawn and in the best situation possible to try again.

Attendance Policy

This class meets in person. I expect you to come to class when you are able, in part because the experience of other students depends on everyone's participation. It’s courteous to inform me in advance if you’re going to miss class, though you do not have to tell me why. I respect your choices. 

However, if you miss more than six classes (3 weeks, not consecutively), you will need to meet with me to work out a plan for you to successfully continue in this class. (See also “late work”).

In-class work cannot be made up outside of class except for excused absences or you've made arrangements with me.


Course Fees

N/A

Academic Writing and AI

Academic Integrity and AI: 
AI Writing Policy:
Generative AI is a reality of the world we currently live in, and it can be a useful tool to help generate ideas and organize them. However, the use of AI as a shortcut in learning means that you are not actually learning. (See this powerful post on education by Ethan Mollick, an AI expert). Since this course is about developing your ideas and communication skills, I expect you to do the bulk of the work. While I have no objection to the use of AI to help generate ideas, organize ideas, or fine-tune grammar, the writing you do for this class should be your own. AI cannot replicate your ideas or assess an audience’s needs as well as you can. Nor can AI successfully do research. If I find you have used AI to complete the major assignments for you, you will be asked to redo them. Please note that successfully writing a paper using AI will involve just as much (if not more) work as writing the paper without AI. 

AI and Factual Accuracy:
AI is prone to writing factually incorrect statements, inventing fake quotes from real sources, and inventing entirely fake sources (known as hallucinating). All of these issues violate SUU’s Academic Integrity policy. It is your responsibility to double-check that any AI-assisted work you submit is free from these errors.

Consequences of Academic Integrity violations
As explained in the SUU General Catalogue, “the university’s goal is to foster an intellectual atmosphere that produces educated, literate people. Cheating and plagiarism are at odds with this goal and therefore will not be tolerated in any form. All work submitted by a student must represent that student’s own ideas and effort. When the work does not represent the student’s own work, it must be properly cited; if it is not, the student has engaged in academic dishonesty. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism or the use of work belonging to another are all considered academic dishonesty. Except in cases of major offenses, responding to academic dishonesty is the responsibility of the instructor of the course in which the violation occurs. If a student is found responsible for academic dishonesty, the student may be dismissed from the class and may receive a failing grade. Other penalties may include suspension or expulsion from school. Such transgressions become part of the student’s permanent University record.”

In-class work or commonplace book entries containing obvious factual errors,  fictitious quotes or sources, or plagiarized material will be given a zero.
If fabricated or inaccurate statements or plagiarized material show up in a major project, you will be asked to rewrite the paper for the first offense. If this happens a second time, you will be given a zero on the project and be reported to the Academic Integrity office. More than twice, and you will fail the course and be reported to the AI office. (For your sake and mine, please don't do this!)



ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.