|
M.A. Exam in Rhetoric and Composition
The M.A. Exam in Rhetoric and Composition is designed to test your knowledge of major texts and issues in the following three areas: the History of Rhetoric, Composition Pedagogy, and Twentieth Century Rhetoric and Composition Studies. The exam is offered twice a year (May and November).
The exam texts for each area are drawn from rhetoric/composition courses taught over the past two years, and the lists are available in the EFL Graduate Program office and on the EFL Department website. For each area, you will have a choice between two or more questions, and the exam is administered as a closed book test.
You are encouraged to review examination questions from previous Rhetoric/Composition exams; these questions are available in the department’s Graduate Program office (24-207, ext. 869-4459). You are also encouraged to enhance your preparation by joining a study group and by bringing any questions you may have to any member of the Rhetoric/Composition committee: Drs. Edlund, Kraemer, and Moss. Additional opportunities to discuss the exam and to ask questions about it will be available at the annual Graduate Orientation held each October. |
Weight and Time for Each Area
Area |
Weight |
Time |
| History of Rhetoric |
1/3 |
90 Min. |
| Composition Pedagogy |
1/3 |
90 Min. |
| Twentieth Century Rhetoric and Composition Studies |
1/3 |
90 Min. |
Useful Documents for Study
The Annotated Reading List for Fall 2009 in MS Word format.
The Scoring Rubric for the comprehensive exam. What are the graders looking for? What do you need to do when answering the questions? Look at this to find out.
A sample exam.
Don Kraemer's Checklist for Rhetorical Analysis. This is designed for English 584, but may be useful for study.
John Edlund's "Checklist for Rhetorical Analysis." This one sticks to ethos, logos, and pathos, while Don Kraemer's, above, utilizes far more approaches.
John Edlund's Grammar of Motives handout.
John Edlund's "Stasis Theory" handout and the "Stasis Worksheet."
John Edlund's "Three Ways to Persuade" handout on ethos, logos, and pathos.
"The Nature, Extent, and Importance of the Duty of Allegiance" This is a sermon preached in 1776 by George Campbell. It is not on the reading list for the spring exam, but we are going to analyze it in the spring 2007 "Composition Theory" course.
Rhetoric and Composition Courses
English 581"History of Rhetoric"-- Advertising Blurb, Syllabus Fall 2006
English 583 "Composition Theory"--Advertising Blurb |