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RWS411 Digital Rhetorics

  1. How people use digital media to persuade, produce texts, participate in culture, engage in political action, and construct identit(ies).�
  2. Examine arguments about digital media, experiment with AI tools, “writing coaches,” and prompt design.�
  3. Students will introduce texts, give short, informal presentations, and respond to classmates’ work.

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Writing With/About Generative A.I.

Goal: effective, critical, ethical, mindful engagement with AI�

Document, analyze, reflect. Responsible, transparent, thoughtful use.�

CSU - we’re part of largest AI experiment in the world. �

“The fastest growing technology ever.” (Klein). But… AI tools/platforms change quickly, texts/issues evolving.

�Experiment (“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail better.”) explore, improvise.

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In just a few years, we’ve moved from

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  1. Chatbots
  2. RAG
  3. Custom GPTs
  4. “Agentic AI”
  5. “Embodied AI”

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Arguments about AI: Wildly Diverging Positions

Making Sense of the Conversation.

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Critically Examining Claims, �Rhetoric & Research

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Exciting new literacies (sampling, remix, recoding, curation)…cognitive offloading and mental decline…epidemic of cheating…antidote to cheating…death of Humanistic education…or educational revolution?

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Assessment

  • Participation (75)�
  • Discussion Board homework (150)�
  • 4 Short, In-Class Writing Exercises (175)�Due: 09/21, 09/23, 09/30, 10/21 �
  • Proposal & brief presentation (150)�Due: Draft 10/12, Full Proposal 10/19�
  • Final Paper/Project & Presentation (450)�Due: Draft 11/18, Final Paper 12/14 �
  • De-emphasize assessment - focus on audiences beyond class
  • I provide “off-the-shelf” topic options that fit CodeBreaker
  • Questions?�

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I will be experimenting & working alongside you

�(Fall 2025: Privatization & Plunder. Working on follow up now)

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Roster & Introductions

  1. Go to wiki, click “Roster Sign in here,” write name �
  2. Go to wiki, click on Links and Handouts, then click Introductions and in-class activities and answer 5 questions in Google Doc.�
  3. Write in Google Doc, then get into groups of 3-4, introduce yourself and share your 5 answers with your group. (Photos)�
  4. Introduce yourself to entire class.�
  5. After introductions, go back to Google Doc (Introductions and in-class activities) and check you can access class readings and Google folder. �
  6. Check homework for 08/26 �
  7. Volunteers to introduce 08/26 readings?�

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