Rhetoric and Disability Students will be focusing on the formalities of a cognitive argument through a psychologically based, multimodal exploration of disabilities. The exploration will be in a two part, journal-based discovery practice. The first half of the course will focus on the psychological/dialectical therapeutic aspects of managing mental illness and the rhetorical choices of those with mental illness. The second half of the course will focus on the psychological/dialectical educational-treatment options for the managing of learning disabilities and the rhetorical choices of those with learning disabilities.
Part 1
1/8: Introduction to Writing
Sharon Crowley: "Composition in the University"
1/10: Introduction to Mental Illness
Chisholm, Katharine Elizabeth; Patterson, Paul; Torgerson, Carole; Turner, Erin; Birchwood, Max. "A randomised controlled feasibility trial for an educational school-based mental health intervention: study protocol"
Journal: What is the cognitive impairment surrounding Depression? How can or how does a depressed person approach the writing process?
1/22: Read Sylvia Plath's The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath pg 3-pg 191
1/24: The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath pg 192-pg 283
1/29: The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath pg 284-541
1/31: The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath pg 532-pg 674
Journal: Reflection of Plath
2/5: Anxiety Disorder
Verduin, Timothy L; Kendall, Phillip C. "Peer Perceptions and Liking of Children with Anxiety Disorders"
Journal: Has there ever been a time when you were anxious? In what ways do you think that is similar or different to those with Anxiety? How do we define irrational fears?
2/7: Daniel Smith's Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety Epigraph-Episode 1
2/12: Daniel Smith's Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety Episode 2-End
Reflection on Smith
2/14: Bipolar Disorder
Rothbaum, Barbara O; Astin, Millie C "Integration of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for bipolar disorder"
Journal: What are the possible cognitive impairments behind Bipolar Disorder? Have you known anyone or you yourself been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? What comes to mind when you think of someone who is Bipolar?
2/19: Andy Behrman's Electroboy pg 1-pg 104
2/21: Andy Behrman's Electroboy 105-204
2/26: Andy Behrman's Electroboy 205-End
Reflection on Behrman
2/28: Schizophrenia
3/5: Schenkel, Lindsay S; Silverstein, Steven M "Dimensions of Premorbid Functioning in Schizophrenia: A Review of Neuromotor, Cognitive, Social and Behavioral Domains"
Journal: What do you think when you hear about Schizophrenia? What are the ways a person with Schizophrenia may break the stereotypes of Schizophrenia portrayed in the media? Have you known or yourself experienced Schizophrenia? How do you think one with Schizophrenia might struggle in the writing process?
3/7:Richard McLean's Recovered, Not Cured: A Journey through Schizophrenia Introduction - Chapter 4
3/12:Richard McLean's Recovered, Not Cured: A Journey through Schizophrenia Chapter 5- End
Journal: Reflection on McLean
3/14: Midterm
Part 2
3/19: Introduction to Learning Disabilities
Merleau-Ponty "The Body as Expression, And Speech"
3/21: Introduction to Multimodality
Palmeri: Remixing Composition: "Creative Translations: Reimagining the Process Movement"
3/26: ADHD
Fabiano, Gregory A; Pelham, William E; Majumdar, Antara; Evans, Streven W; Manos, Michael J "Elementary and Middle School Teacher Perceptions of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Prevalence"
Journal:" What are the struggles of those with ADHD and how would/could one with ADHD approach the writing process?
3/28: Melissa R. Hood's Memoirs of an ADHD Mind: God was a Genius in the Way He Made Me Chapters 1-6
4/2: Melissa R. Hood's Memoirs of an ADHD Mind: God was a Genius in the Way He Made Me Chapters 7-12
Journal: Reflection on Hood
4/4: Autism
Noland, Ramona M; Gabriels, Robin L "Screening and Identifying Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Public School System: The Development of a Model Process"
Journal: What are the stereotypes in media that are portrayed about people with Autism? Have you ever known anyone to break the stereotypes of what is believed about Autism?
4/9: John Elder Robinson's Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asberger's Chapters 1-6
4/11: John Elder Robinson's Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asberger's Chapters 7-12
4/16: John Elder Robinson's Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asberger's Chapters 13-18
4/18: John Elder Robinson's Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asberger's Chapters 19-24
4/23: John Elder Robinson's Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asberger's Chapters 25-End
Reflection on Robinson
4/26: Final Exam
Grade Distribution Midterm: 100 Final: 100 Class Participation: 50 Journal: 50 Total: 300