1. ENGL 207 |Online SYLLABUS Page 1 of 4
Persuasive
Writing
Riley T. Ballard
rballard @uidaho.edu| brink hall room 120 |208 885-6156
Office Hours: Monday, Thursday 1:30-2:30 Pm
The primary aim of this course is to explore and deploy rhetorical theory about how to
facilitate belief on behalf of various audiences and within a wide range of contexts.
Students will be introduced to different styles of argumentation and principles in rhetoric
and writing studies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing this course, you will be able to:
Apply different methods to analyze persuasive arguments.
Compose persuasive arguments in a range of modalities.
Use primary and secondary research to support claims made in arguments.
Feel prepared to enter into local, global, political, and/or scientific dialogue.
NO TEXTBOOK IS REQUIRED
GRADES. Final grades are based on successful completion of the following:
Participation 25%
Project 1 Worldview Narrative Argument 10%
Project 2 Dissoi Logoi Argument (major course project) 40%
Project 3 Rogerian Argument 15%
Project 4 Visual Argument 10%
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Descriptions of Course Work
PARTICIPATION. Each project in the course includes a set of participation activities students
will complete through the course blog and peer review forums. These activities are
designed to help you learn and apply persuasive rhetorical concepts to compose the
various arguments.
Project 1: Worldview Narrative Argument. A worldview is the overall perspective from which
we understand and interpret our world. In this project, you will be applying concepts of
narrative argument to communicate your worldview about the nature and source of human
knowledge; belief/non-belief about human origins and purpose; belief/non-belief in God or
a Higher Power; and what you value. Deliverable:
Worldview Narrative Argument Paper of about 1000 words.
Project 2: Dissoi Logoi. The ancient rhetorical practice of arguing both sides of an issue is
known as Dissoi Logoi. In this project, you practice Dissoi Logoi by researching and
studying an issue of public concern to compose the following deliverables.
Research Dossier using OneNote to contain research data and analysis notes. (NOTE:
you will not need prior experience in using this digital workspace).
Two Toulmin Model Diagrams of 1 page each
Rhetorical Analysis Argument of about 1500 words.
Two Opinion Editorial Arguments articulating opposing sides of an issue of about 500-
750 words
Project 3: Rogerian Argument. Based on Carl Roger’s work in psychology, a Rogerian
argument aims to build bridges with a hostile audience to create sympathy for your
position. In this project, you will choose a politician or other public official who advocates a
public policy position with which disagree and analyze what informs this person’s position
in order to compose the following project deliverable.
Open Letter of about 1000 words using Rogerian argument
Project 4: Visual Argument. In this project, you will compose a visual argument that
promotes a brand identity. Your approach may be to express your personal brand, or the
brand of a pet, club etc. You will be encouraged to use Instagram or another publishing
platform for your visual argument.
Visual argument using a minimum of six images with captions that cohesively and
persuasively promotes a brand identity.
Reflection Paper about 750 words explaining rhetorical choices.
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Course Policies
1.1 Participation. Success in this online course depends on your active participation and
engagement with course materials in the weeks leading
up to a project deadline.
As such, you will be asked to participate with others in the course blog by posting
responses to prompts designed to support your understanding of course concepts
and to give and receive feedback in peer review forums.
1.2 Check Your Vandal Email Daily. I may need to contact you through
email, and I use only vandal email addresses, so please check your vandal email
daily.
1.3 Technology Requirements.
• Computer in good working order.
• Reliable Internet Connectivity.
• Microsoft Word. Students are strongly encouraged to use Microsoft Word because
it is the most common software used in the workplace today.
Microsoft Office is provided at no extra cost to all students and as part of the UI
Microsoft Licensing Agreement. You can install it on up to five separate devices.
To install, to ITS Technology Services
https://www.uidaho.edu/infrastructure/its/self-help/ms-office/office-365
• Reliable Backup. You will need a reliable backup to store the latest drafts of your
work other than the hard drive of your computer or an easily lost thumb drive.
Here is one I recommend.
http://www.dropbox.com
1.4 Accepted File Formats. The following are the only accepted file formats: Word, PDF,
or image files (JPEG, PNG etc. for work you will do requiring source images.
1.5 Deadlines. All work is due by 11:59 PM on the day/date indicated in
the course schedules. Late assignments will lose one letter grade (or the equivalent
number of points) per day.
If, when I start to grade your work, a file will not open or a URL link does not work, I
will notify you by email and you will be given 24 hours to submit work correctly in
bblearn, but a late work point penalty will apply.
To avoid this problem, verify your submission.
1.6 Verify Submissions to Avoid Point Penalties. When submitting assignments,
students are responsible for verifying that files they uploaded are not corrupted and
4. ENGL 207 |Online SYLLABUS Page 4 of 4
will open and that URL’s work.
This means you must return to the submissions box and open any files you
uploaded and check that a URL works.
If your work does not submit correctly or if you failed to submit part of it, you will
need to submit all work again in a single attempt because the last submission is the
only one I grade.
1.7 University Disability Support Services. Reasonable accommodations will
be made for students with disabilities. Disability Support Services must approve
your request: (208) 885-6307• dss@uidaho.edu
1.8 Plagiarism. Violation the University of Idaho Student Code of
Conduct will result in a course grade of ‘F'.
1.9 Contacting Me. You are invited to email me when you have a question or
to request a writing conference or feedback on a draft through email. I respond to
emails within 24 hours.
