Tiedemann, WRIT 1122, Winter 2023, Syllabus

John Tiedemann writ 1122:
Rhetoric & Academic Writing

Zoom Study Hall: Winter 2023
Tues.: 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Section 38: MW 10:00–11:50 a.m., Sturm 251.
Thurs: .: 6:00–7:30 p.m. Section 33: MW 12:00–1:50 p.m., Sturm 435.
Contact me via Canvas messenger.
• writ 1122: imagination & argumentation...

THE CLASS
In this section of WRIT 1122, you’ll develop the full range of your creative and critical talents through a
series of writing projects that ask you to exercise both your imagination and your powers of
argumentation. By writing everything from television pitches to courtroom speeches, radio stories to
magazine essays, open letters to ekphrases (or “picture stories”), you’ll learn how to combine critical
thinking and creativity to write compellingly across a diverse array of situations.
Some of our time will be spent discussing assigned readings and viewings, but most of it will be
devoted to drafting and revising a series of short pieces based upon what the Greeks called the
progymnasmata: i.e., writing exercises designed to give practice in the argumentative, storytelling,
and other writerly skills needed to participate effectively in public discourses. Students will practice
adapting old tales for new audiences, turning news stories into gripping fictions, applying universal
principles to particular situations, taking stances on public debates, painting vivid pictures in words,
and more.
You’ll draft and revise one these writing exercises each week, more or less, selecting from among six
drafts the four that you’ll submit for a grade. You’ll also help one another to develop your work,
providing suggestions for revision to your peers. And you’ll meet individually with me to discuss what
you’ve been writing and revising. At the midpoint and again at the end of the course, you’ll write a
reflection upon the work you’ve done, thus demonstrating and consolidating what you’ve learned.
TEXTS
Copies of (or links to) all assignments, readings and viewings will be posted on Canvas. But your own
texts are the central element of this class — so please bring your laptop to every class meeting.
GOALS AND FORMAT
• Goals
The goal of WRIT 1122 is to teach you strategies vital to writing across a variety of different situations,
both in school and outside it. You’ll be introduced to fundamental principles of rhetorical theory and
practice and to methods for generating, revising, and repurposing texts. You’ll receive sustained
practice in writing, with feedback from me and your peers, resulting in several revised and polished
texts by quarter’s end.
• Prep time, class time, and Zoom time
Thinking and composing well take practice, practice, and more practice. So we’ll typically spend at
least half of our time in the classroom writing. The writing may involve responding to a prompt, revising
something you’ve already started, or helping each other to brainstorm or revise in small groups.
In order to hit the ground running in the classroom, you’ll need to prepare beforehand, So expect to
spend approximately four or more hours each week writing, reading, and viewing outside of class; to
turn in writing before class begins; and to start by taking a brief quiz.
Finally, although we’ll meet on Zoom for (required) one-on-one conferences and (optional) weekly
Zoom study halls, our class meeting are designed to take place in person. You cannot zoom in to class.
If you’re going to be absent for an extended period, message me on Canvas so we can discuss it.
• Conferences and study halls

Each of you will meet with me individually for two required and graded conferences: once during
Week 6 and once during Week 10.
I’ll be holding optional Zoom study halls on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Thursdays
from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Come by to talk about writing and rhetoric, or to get feedback on your work, or
just to hang out quietly and write — I’ll be doing the same!
POLICIES
• Contacting me
Drop in to Zoom Study Hall — I’ll be happy to see you! Alternately, you can message me on Canvas. I
usually respond to Canvas messages within a day or two, less often on weekends.
• Participation
For each class meeting, you will receive up to 20 points toward your final grade:
Ø Preparation: All writing assignments are to be posted to Canvas by the start of class on the day
that they’re due. A student will receive 5 points for submitting a complete and manifestly
thoughtful draft on time.
Ø Quiz: Quizzes are worth 5 points and they’re based on readings, viewings, etc., that I’ll ask you to
complete before class. We need to remember terms and concepts in order to learn; these
quizzes are intended to help you to do so.
Ø In-class participation: You’ll participate in class in all sorts of ways: sometimes by talking with your
classmates and me about texts and ideas; sometimes by responding to your classmates’ writing;
sometimes by drafting and revising writing of your own. Students who take part in class activities
thoughtfully, helpfully, and energetically will receive 10 points each class, A student will receive no
points if they fail to attend class, if they distract their classmates, or if they waste valuable class
time by checking email, Facebook, etc., or otherwise disengaging.
• Attendance
As the above indicates, there are no “excused” absences from class. If you miss class, you will not
receive credit for class discussion for that day (though you can still receive credit for preparing by
posting homework on time).
• Late Work
Assignments are due when they are due. Late drafts will not receive feedback from me and they
won’t receive prepration credit.
• Civility and Tolerance
The Writing Program affirms DU’s Code of Student Conduct (http://www.du.edu/ccs/code.html),
which in part “expects students to recognize the strength of personal differences while respecting
institutional values.” Because writing courses rely heavily on interactions between all members of the
class, students and faculty must act in a manner respectful of different positions and perspectives. A
student who behaves in an uncivil or intolerant manner will be asked to stop and/or formally repri-
manded and/or subject to action by the Office of Student Conduct. Becoming educated requires
encountering new ideas and information, some of which may conflict with an individual’s existing
knowledge or perspectives. I expect students to engage such materials thoughtfully, in ways that
reflect the values and mission of the University of Denver.
• Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
The Writing Program will provide reasonable accommodations to every student who has a disability
that has been documented by The University of Denver Disability Services Program
(http://www.du.edu/studentlife/disability/ or 303.871.2455).
• Plagiarism
The Writing Program follows the Council of Writing Program Administrators policy “Defining and Avoid-
ing Plagiarism,” which states, “In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately
uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without
acknowledging its source” (http://wpacouncil.org/node/9). DU’s Honor Code also maintains that all
members of the University must responsibly use the work of others. Students who have plagiarized a
project will receive an F on that project, and I will inform the Executive Director of Writing and the Office
of Student Conduct, which may take further action. Any documented acts of plagiarism after the first
may be subject to more severe actions.
• Technology in the classroom
Obviously, you’ll need your laptop for class, whether online or in person. But you are only to use it to
work — so no surfing the web, no email, no social media, etc. You are also not permitted to record
class in any way. And, before class starts, you are to turn off your phone, put it away, and leave it there.
I won’t be reminding students to observe these rules. If a student breaks them, I’ll simply deduct their
participation points for the day. If a student breaks them repeatedly, we’ll need to discuss whether
they are better off taking the class at a later date.
GRADES
In addition to grades for exercises, you will also receive a grade for your final reflective essay, for
participation, and for the work you do to prepare for required conferences with me. Here’s the
breakdown:
Revised exercises: 75 points each x 4 = 300 points

Class preparation: 5 points per class x 15 = 75 points
Daily quizzes: 5 points per class x 15 = 75 points
Class participation: 10 points per class x 15 = 150 points
Learning essays 150 points each x 2 = 300 points
Conference: 50 points per conference x 2 = 100 points
TOTAL 1000 points
Here’s the scale I’ll use to calculate your final grade for the course:
A 930-1000
A- 900-929
B+ 870-899
B 830-869
B- 800-829
C+ 770-799
C 730-769
C- 700-729
D+ 670-699
D 630-669
D- 600-629
F 0–599
CALENDAR
W Jan. 4 Introduction to the class.
M Jan. 9 Introduction to Exercise 1: Once upon a time.
W Jan. 11 First draft of Once upon a time exercise due.
Workshop.
M Jan. 16 Class cancelled for MLK Day.
W Jan. 18 Introduction to Exercise 2: Based on a true story.
M Jan. 23 First draft of Exercise 2 due.
Exercise 2 workshop.
W Jan. 25 Revised draft of Exercise 2 due.
Introduction to Exercise 3: Picture this
M Jan. 30 First draft of Exercise 3 due.
W Feb. 1 Preparing for your one-on-one conference.
M Feb. 6 Class cancelled for conferences.
W Feb. 8 Class cancelled for conferences.
M Feb. 13 First learning essay due.
Introduction to Exercise 4: This I believe.
W Feb. 15 First draft of Exercise 4 due.
M Feb. 20 Introduction to Exercise 5: Changing minds.
W Feb. 22 First draft of Exercise 5 due.
M Feb. 27 Introduction to Exercise 6: Changing ourselves — and the world.
W March 1 First draft of Exercise 6 due.
M March 6 Class cancelled for conferences.
W March 8 Class cancelled for conferences.
M March 13 Second learning essay due.
Revisions and reflections
ALL FINAL DRAFTS DUE ON CANVAS BY NOON ON SATURDAY, MARCH 18.

Tiedemann, WRIT 1122, Winter 2023, Syllabus

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Tiedemann, WRIT 1122, Winter 2023, Syllabus

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John Tiedemann writ 1122:

Rhetoric & Academic Writing

Contact me via Canvas messenger.

• writ 1122: imagination & argumentation...

• Prep time, class time, and Zoom time

• Conferences and study halls

Revised exercises: 75 points each x 4 = 300 points

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