Leslie D. Hannah

Department of English

University of Oklahoma

English 1113    English 1213    English 2413

Policy Statements

Plagiarism

Syllabus Acknowledgement

Writing Center

MLA Citation Help

OU English

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Extra Credit

Unit 1    Unit 2    Unit 3    Unit 4   

Assignments   Calendar    Rhetorical Devices    Tip of the Day

The Freshman English requirement at the University of Oklahoma is a two-semester sequence of courses designed to help the student become a better critical thinker and writer. All assignments will emphasize that purpose. 1213 continues where 1113 left off and helps the students develop their abilities in invention, drafting, and revising through the practice of writing. 1213 focuses on various types of argumentation and develops, through the Toulmin model of argumentation, a vocabulary that allows students to interact with one another through all stages of the writing process, from the initial generation of ideas to revisions to completed essays. Students are expected to research and develop positions on arguable topics that can be revised through peer interaction several times before reaching the instructor. Along with developing argumentative writing skills, the course emphasizes formal research methods, documentation techniques, and quoting/ paraphrasing management skills. Additionally, critical reading skills are taught in order to help students develop their abilities at analyzing and evaluating arguments, whether published or written by peers. The reading skills, peer revision process, and writing process all work to emphasize the importance of visualizing a potential audience for each argument in order to develop strategies which prove persuasive for that audience.

After successful completion of 1213, students should be able to do the following:

identify various types of appeals (logos, pathos, ethos), recognize enthymemes in argumentative writing, recognize the symbolism and imagery in various types of writing, recognize the main ideas, central themes, and supporting details in written materials, effectively and critically read various types of written materials, understand, recognize, and use various rhetorical devices to achieve desired effects, choose words that are precise and effective, understand how to effectively use a dictionary and thesaurus, recognize that your professor is the best at what he does.