Writing to Convince

Syllabus

CAM120 Writing to Convince

Course Overview

Course Description

This course continues the journey into the art of persuasive writing, focusing on the rhetoric, logic, and evidence needed to craft compelling arguments. Drawing inspiration from works of classical rhetoric, you will hone your skills in writing persuasive and expository prose. By the end of the course, you will be equipped with the skills to communicate your ideas effectively and convince others through the written word.

Credit Hours: 3hrs

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Exercise critical thinking and research skills by assessing and synthesizing information from diverse sources.
Communicate ideas clearly and coherently in writing, organizing arguments logically and employing appropriate tone and sentence structures.
Employ classical rhetorical techniques in persuasive writing across various contexts.

Resources

(2024). Writing to Convince. (Course Materials).
Grammarly. Students are allowed to use Grammarly (free) to assist in editing their writing. Create an account or watch the explanation video for more context. Read more about Grammarly's Privacy Policy and Accessibility.

Course Outline

Module Zero: Getting Started

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Meet Your Instructor	Page	.5 hrs	--
Faculty Forum	Discussion	Varies	--
Syllabus	Page	.5 hrs	--
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy	Page	.5 hrs	--
Schedule/Pacing	Page	.5 hrs	--
Course Materials	Page	.25 hrs	--
Totals		2.25 hrs	--

Module One: Meet Persuasive Writing

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	4 hrs	--
Edwards Sermon	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	10
Rhetorical Analysis	Assignment	3 hrs	30
Convincing Email	Assignment	4 hrs	40
Totals		15 hrs	110

Module Two: Ethos and The Rhetorical Triangle

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	4 hrs	--
Ethos in Galatians	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	10
Rhetorical Triangle	Assignment	3 hrs	30
Trust Me!	Assignment	4 hrs	40
Early Course Pulse Check	Survey	.5 hrs	--
Totals		15 hrs	110

Module Three: Pathos and Choices in Writing

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	4 hrs	--
Elephant and Rider	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	10
Spot the Pathos	Assignment	3 hrs	30
Where to Vacation?	Assignment	4 hrs	40
Totals		15 hrs	110

Module Four: Logos and Tone in Writing

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	4 hrs	--
Fallacies, Fallacies	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	10
Rhetorical Analysis	Assignment	2 hrs	20
Lewis Analysis	Assignment	3 hrs	30
Mid-Term Knowledge Check	Assessment	1 hr	20
Mid-Term Tune-Up	Survey	.5 hrs	--
Totals		15.5 hrs	110

Module Five: Three Faces of Rhetoric

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	4 hrs	--
"Facing" in the NT	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	10
Rhetorical Hunt	Assignment	3 hrs	30
Creative Faces	Assignment	4 hrs	40
Totals		15 hrs	110

Module Six: The Five Canons of Rhetoric

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	3 hrs	--
Writing Experiences	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	10
Jesus' Resurrection	Assignment	3 hrs	25
Reading Quiz	Assessment	1 hr	15
Start the Final Project	Assignment	4 hrs	30
Totals		15 hrs	110

Module Seven: Remembering the Goal

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	4 hrs	--
Start with Why	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	10
Revisiting the Triangle	Assignment	3 hrs	30
Annotated Outline	Assignment	4 hrs	40
Totals		15 hrs	110

Module Eight: The Final Composition

Title	Type	Duration	Points
Read and Watch	Input	4 hrs	--
Peer Review	Discussion	3 hrs	30
Q & A Session	Discussion	1 hr	--
Finished Project	Assignment	7 hrs	200
Totals		15 hrs	110

Live Sessions

This course has live meetups for Q & A, typically one hour every other week. If you cannot attend, you can recoup the points for the session by watching the recording and submitting a 300-word summary/response. Since these sessions will be audio-visually recorded, those who participate with their camera engaged are agreeing to have their video, image, or voice recorded.

Grading

Discussion Forums: 240 points
Live Q&A Sessions: 70 points
Assignments: 490 Points
Final Project: 200 Points

(1000 points total)

...