This document is a syllabus for an English course on persuasive writing. It outlines the course objectives, projects, assignments, policies, and schedule. The primary aim of the course is to explore rhetorical theory and how to facilitate belief among different audiences. Students will learn different styles of argumentation and complete 4 projects applying these skills. They will analyze arguments, compose in various modalities, conduct research, and engage in public dialogue. The course grade is based on participation, 4 projects of increasing length applying narrative, dissoi logoi, Rogerian, and visual arguments, and adherence to policies around attendance, technology, submissions, and academic integrity.

1. ENGL 207-02 SYLLABUS Page 1 of 5
Persuasive
Writing
Stephanie Hamilton
stephanieh@uidaho.edu|208 885-6156 (voice messages only)
class meeting: MWF 10:30-11:20
location: Zoom
office hours: TR 2:00-3:30
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.
You 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%

2. ENGL 207-02 SYLLABUS Page 2 of 5
Descriptions of Course Work
PARTICIPATION. in addition to in-class discussion, each project in the course includes a set of
participation activities you 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 Evernote to contain research data. (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 or 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 you 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.

3. ENGL 207-02 SYLLABUS Page 3 of 5
Course Policies
1. Participation. Success in this course depends on your active participation and
engagement in class meetings and with the course materials. As such, you will be asked
to maintain regular attendance (no more than 6 absences) and participate in blogs and
peer reviews.
This is a HyFlex class, meaning that we will have in-person class meetings as well as
virtual participation over Zoom. You may earn attendance credit through either method
of participating. We will decide as a class what kind of HyFlex model best works for us,
and details will be posted on Blackboard at a later date.
Please review the following information on how COVID-19 may affect in-person class
meetings.
• Daily Symptom Monitoring and In-Person Class Attendance. Evaluate your own health
status before attending in-person classes and refrain from attending class in-person
if you are ill, if you are experiencing any of the known symptoms of coronavirus, or if
you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been potentially exposed to someone
with COVID-19.
• If you display symptoms and/or test positive, you should quarantine
following the CDC’s recommendations. Do not return to class until you
meet the CDC’s requirements.
• If you have been exposed but are asymptomatic, you should stay home for
14 days from last exposure if you remain asymptomatic, adhering to the
CDC’s requirements.
If you miss an in-person class session, you may be able to attend via Zoom and
access course materials on BbLearn. Documentation (a doctor’s note) for medical
excuses is not required; instead, email me to make arrangements to submit any
missed work and make plans to use Zoom and/or online course materials to stay
current with the course schedule.
• Face Coverings. All faculty, staff, students and visitors across all U of I locations must
use face coverings whenever in any U of I buildings. You are required to wear a face
covering over your nose and mouth in this classroom at all times.
a. If you have a medical condition that you believe affects your ability to
comply with the face covering policy, please contact the Center for
Disability Access and Resources (CDAR) to request a reasonable
accommodation.
b. If you have other reasons you believe make you exempt from wearing face
coverings, please contact the Covid-19 Coordinator at
covid19questions@uidaho.edu.
c. Failure to wear a face covering means you will be required to leave the
classroom. If a disruption to the learning experience occurs due to

4. ENGL 207-02 SYLLABUS Page 4 of 5
repeated offence and/or egregious behavior, it will be referred to the Dean
of Students Office for potential code violation.
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.
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, you are
responsible for verifying that files they uploaded are not corrupted and 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

5. ENGL 207-02 SYLLABUS Page 5 of 5
to submit all work again in a single attempt because the last submission is the only
one I grade.
1.7 Center for Disability Access and Resources. Reasonable accommodations will
be made for students with disabilities. The Center for Disability Access and
Resources must approve your request: (208) 885-6307• cdar@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 generally
respond to emails within 24 hours.