Instructors will give students a representative sample of current theories of critical discourse analysis, rhetorical genre analysis, and pragmatics analysis, as well as case study readings focused on enduring struggles between marginal and mainstream groups. The course will cover selected key concepts from these three theoretical orientations:
Theory
Rhetorical Genre Theory
Critical Theory
Pragmatics
Any single version of the course will apply the three theoretical perspectives and related analytical approaches to both readings and empirical research on a salient enduring struggle.
Writing
Speaking
Instruction will primarily be lecture and discussion format, with group work, peer editing, and student presentations based on readings and their research. Some instructors and students may include viewing and analyzing recorded meetings or interviews.
Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.
Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.
Example evaluation schedule:
| Summaries of course readings (at least two) | 20% |
| Critical summary based on two course readings | 15% |
| Term paper on a major course concept | 20% |
| Research paper: analysis of the genres, speech, and discourses that constitute one enduring struggle |
30% |
| Oral presentation | 10% |
| Attendance/professionalism/participation | 5% |
| Total | 100% |
Students who successfully complete this course will
Reading
Analysis
Research
Writing
Speaking
A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts include:
Acceptance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Professional Communication
OR
A minimum of 45 credit hours including a university-transfer course in English, Communications, or Creative Writing with a grade of B or higher
OR
Permission of the Professional Communication Program Coordinator
None
None
Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.
| Institution | Transfer details for CMNS 3100 |
|---|---|
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) | KPU ARTS 2XXX (3) |
| Langara College (LANG) | LANG ARTS 2XXX (3) |
| Simon Fraser University (SFU) | SFU CMNS 332 (3) |
| Thompson Rivers University (TRU) | TRU SSEL 3XX (3) |
| Trinity Western University (TWU) | TWU COMM 3XX (3) or TWU ENGL 3XX (3) |
| University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) | UBCV ENGL_V 2nd (3) |
| University of Northern BC (UNBC) | UNBC ENGL 3XX (3) or UNBC POLS 3XX (3) |
| University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) | UFV ENGL 2XX (3) |
| University of Victoria (UVIC) | UVIC ENSH 2XX (1.5) |
| Vancouver Island University (VIU) | No credit |