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Unit of study_

WRIT1002: Writing and Rhetoric: Argumentation

Semester 2, 2022 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This is a fully online unit of study. It focuses on advanced rhetorical reasoning and the theory, construction, and delivery of sound arguments, which are critical to success in the university and the workplace. Designed to improve writing and critical thinking abilities, the unit teaches students to craft persuasive, ethical, and engaging arguments. It will focus on the production and reception of arguments across a range of genres, including digital environments. Online tutorials feature collaborative writing and editing exercises on global, participatory writing platforms.

Unit details and rules

Unit code WRIT1002
Academic unit English and Writing
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Frances Di Lauro, frances.dilauro@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Carrol Besseling, carrol.besseling@sydney.edu.au
Frances Di Lauro, frances.dilauro@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Carrol Besseling, carrol.besseling@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Annotated bibliography
Written task
20% Week 03
Due date: 19 Aug 2022 at 23:00

Closing date: 02 Sep 2022
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5
Assignment Literature / film critical review
This semester you will be required to critically review a specific film.
20% Week 06
Due date: 21 Oct 2022 at 23:00

Closing date: 28 Oct 2022
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Critical analysis video
Video presentation
10% Week 09
Due date: 09 Sep 2022 at 23:00

Closing date: 11 Sep 2022
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Critical analysis report
Report
10% Week 11
Due date: 23 Sep 2022 at 23:00

Closing date: 30 Sep 2022
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Argumentative essay
Essay
40% Week 13
Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 23:00

Closing date: 18 Nov 2022
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 03 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 04 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Online Lecture Online Reading activities and exercises Online Tutorial Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO7
Week 13 Online Tutorial Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: In this fully online unit, attendance is measured by demonstrated completion of each part of each module, and completion of each week’s formative tasks. 

  • According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold. As this is a fully online unit, your attendance will be measured by your access to online materials on Canvas, and your engagement with those materials, as well as any compulsory unmarked quizzes, discussion post requirements, or activities associated with the online material. 
  • Lecture recording: These are delivered to you through Canvas. ​
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled online instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed Online. 

Each week you must read:

  1. one chapter from the online text book, Bazerman, Charles. 2010. The Informed Writer: Using Sources in the Disciplines. The WAC Clearinghouse. Fort Collins, CO
  2. (where applicable) an article or chapter from the library e-reserve list

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand rhetoric as the theoretical foundation for writing
  • LO2. understand rhetoric in a global context
  • LO3. think creatively and imaginatively to produce effective written assignments across a range of academic disciplines, according to specific guidelines
  • LO4. exercise critical judgment in developing an appropriate ‘voice’ and tone for academic writing assignments in a variety of settings and formats
  • LO5. evaluate your own work and that written by others, according to specified criteria, in order to improve not only your writing, but also your critical analysis abilities
  • LO6. analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of audio visual texts
  • LO7. apply concepts, techniques and skills learnt to create effective written and audio visual argumentative texts.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

New videos have been added. The topic for critical analysis and the film for critical review has changed.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for students completing this unit.

Work, health and safety

This unit is always taught online.

To help you to protect your wellbeing while primarily learning online, consult the University’s 6 tips to help you study successfully online on this page: (https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/why-choose-sydney/student-life/student-news/2020/06/18/6-tips-to-help-you-study-successfully-online.html 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.