English 1301 and 1302 are courses based in rhetoric and composition to teach you foundational skills in research, source assessment, rhetoric (for making good arguments or recognizing bad ones), and writing. This guide will walk you through the various skills and tips you might need for either of these classes. For more individualized assistance, contact your English librarian, or schedule an appointment with the Research Mavs.
ENGL 1301 focuses on helping on understand the rhetorical moves of any argument. The goal of the course is to be able to explain the different parts of someone's rhetoric. In order to do this, you will learn rhetorical moves and strategies-- but most importantly, you will learn: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.
The assignments in this class are very prescriptive, in order to help familiarize you with the different parts of an argument. You will either be provided sample information to access via Reading Clusters, or your professor might ask you to come up with your own examples. In each of these assignments, you will be asked to identify things like: central claims, conflicts, speakers, and the ethos, pathos, and logos of the argument or example. For full instructions on all assignments, see your professor or class' canvas page.
Discourse Community Analysis (DCA):
Rhetorical Analysis Essay (RAE):
Synthesis Essay:
English 1301 focuses on asking you to learn how arguments are created, the parts of them, and be able to articulate how the argument has been formed. All of your papers add up to being able to create your own argument
What is an argument?
How do I find a way to "enter into an argument?"
To Back up your arguments-- you will use your reasons (Logos/Facts/Proofs)
What else can I use?
ENGL 1302 focuses on teaching you research and writing skills. There are three main assignments to the class: The Issue Proposal, the Annotated Bibliography, and the Mapping the Issue Paper. These assignments build off one another, and are designed to teach you the steps in the research life cycle.
For the issue proposal, you will be asked to identify a topic, concept, or argument that can be explored. Your goal is to be able to identify various points of view, the history, and the outlook for this topic. Pick something that interests you, but also something that you can find sources on! Once you have picked your topic, it will be time to embark on your research.
After you've decided on your topic, presented the proposal to your professor, and have had it approved, your next job will be to research sources that you might use for your annotated bibliography. Your annotated bib entries have specific requirements (see your assignment instructions), but finding articles that will help you to complete your Mapping the Issue paper will save you time, and help to build your experience of research in the course.
Keep in mind, you will need to finds sources that speak to:
There are a few databases that can help you find these things. Recommended databases for this course are:
Tip: follow this guide on using Boolean Operators to help curate your keyword search on Academic Search Complete
Points of View Reference Center
For this assignment, the work you've previously done in your issue proposal and annotated bibliography will have helped you gather information and sources to inform your mapping the issue paper.
For this assignment, you will need to:
- give a historical timeline of your topic
- present 3 positions of controversy/opinion surrounding your topic, but still remain neutral of your own opinion in your writing
-----> think about how a good news station will present all sides of an event or topic: with historical information to help contextualize the arguments, and then the arguments being made themselves from the various groups-- without inserting their own opinion or creating conjecture with how it is presented. This is essentially what you are doing in this paper!
For each source you present, you will have to:
- identify the source's central calims
- identify reasons of support for those claims
- identify warrants implicit in each argument
- identify evidence used to support those reasons and warrants.
Then, you will have to compare the sources to each other, their reasons, their arguments, etc. For more information on your assignment, see your syllabus, or schedule a meeting with your professor.
WHAT IS A "WARRANT" ?
- a "warrant" is an underlying belief that connects a reason and a claim.
- These are like "upgrades" to an argument. When an audience might need extra background, context, or information to understand *why* someone is making the argument that they are presenting-- that is when they might incorporate "warrants" to strengthen their rhetoric.
- You might think of it as a conclusion or statistic drawn from a claim, where the evidence presented would then back up the claim and the warrant that supported it.
Resources for understanding claims, warrants, and evidence:
In this paper, you finally have the opportunity to organize all of the information, opinions, articles, and sources you have found on your topic-- into a well supported argument paper. You get to choose the audience and publication venue for you paper. Choose wisely! You want to be able to appeal to your chosen audience well, and knowing their ideals, understandings, and expectations of where information sources are coming from will all take part in how you write your paper.
Your annotated bibliography and mapping the issue should have prepared you with the sources, opinions, and information necessary to craft a stellar argument-- but if you are still struggling with your topic, or finding sources-- reach out to your subject librarian or schedule an appointment with the Research Mavs. If you need more individualized help with writing, consider reaching out to the Writing Center.