English Studies

G R A D U A T E D E G R E E P R O G R A M M E : E N G L I S H S T U D I E S
Level of course
Advanced
Year of study First Semester Two
ECTS
(Number of
credits allocated)
Name of lecturer
Learning
outcomes and
competences
Prerequisites
Course contents
Recommended
reading
6 ECTS credits
Contact hours (55 seminars + 5 advisory hours) = 1.5 credits.
Student study time (135 hours) = 4.5 credits.
Dr Borislav Berić
Simon Ryle, MA, Guest Assistant
Brian Willems, Assistant
After the completion of the course, the student is expected to understand
and be able to identify specific rhetorical processes at work in written and
spoken language, particularly in the formation of argumentative language.
The student should be able to analyse the types of rhetorical practices at
work in a specified discourse.
S/he is also expected to have developed the ability to apply such rhetorical
techniques in the production of convincing argumentative speech and
writing.
Completion of the third year undergraduate study programme. Overall
language competence at C1+ to C2 level.
The course will be divided into three sections:
I. A close look at rhetorical structure and the techniques used in the
construction of written and spoken arguments. Techniques for the analysis
of argumentative writing and speech will be introduced and applied in class
discussion. The structure of written arguments will be analysed, with
attention to logic, ethos, pathos, the application of evidence, and informal
fallacies. Instruction in the application of such knowledge to the production
of written arguments will be given. Students will be introduced to correct
techniques of citation and the writing of a bibliography.
II. An application of techniques in the analysis of persuasive writing
concerning twentieth century issues: the critical reading of opposing views
and the formulation of a critically satisfactory position. A system of debates
will be initiated, where students will be asked to produce arguments
formulated on various topics, and the relative merit of these will be peer
evaluated in a jury-style process.
III. The application of rhetoric in literary theory. An introduction to the
major schools of literary criticism and the debates surrounding the
production of literary criticism, to enable the application of critical rhetoric
to the analysis of a literary text.
Specific examples of rhetorical techniques in various genres of writing will
be provided, including selections from:
Ramage, J.D. (Ed.). (2001). Writing Arguments. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Various other examples of written arguments will be selected from the
public domain. Introductions to schools of literary criticism will be taken
from:
Lodge, D. (2000). Modern Criticism and Theory. Harlow: Longman.
Literary texts applicable to rhetorical analysis will be provided.
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