TEACHER’S NOTE: Previous iterations of this course were taught at Boston College. It had a different name–First Year Writing Seminar (all students were first-year students at the university)–and was structured around a central question: “How does one author an authentic self?” (I know. clunky. but it has a lot of potential in it…you’ll see). When I found I was leaving Boston College after my master’s and coming to the University of Texas Austin for my PhD, I asked my last BC class whether or not I should try to teach the course again–and they unanimously said yes!

They gave useful feedback about the most central aspects of the course, and offered suggestions for improvement–and perhaps most graciously, gave permission for us to use their work for examples. Moreover, the Rhetoric department’s process of proposing a 309K at UT itself has also revised this course–and given it its UT title, Rhetoric of the iPhone.  You can think of this semester as our third draft. I am looking forward to how we will all creatively impact this course’s evolution.

On this page, you will find information about the course’s major assignments. Note that grades and additional materials are located on the class’s secure Canvas site.

Download the syllabus on Canvas!

Fall 2016: Breakdown of Major Course Assignments

• Paper 1 Draft + Revision

  (+ Peer Review)

• Paper 2 Draft +  Revision

  (+ Peer Review)

• Paper 3 (+ Peer Review)

•  Presentation

• Media Account Project & short writing assignments

• Learning Record Midterm Reflection & Final Portfolio