COMM 768T: TEXT AUTHENTICATION AND EDITORIAL TECHNIQUE

Syllabus, Fall 2008, Tu 3:30-6:30 PM, SKN2127

Instructor: Robert N. Gaines

Office: 2106 SKN

Phone: 301.405.6526

Email: gaines@arsrhetorica.net

Office Hours: TuTh 2:00-2:50 PM

Notice: The official syllabus for COMM768T, Fall 2008, is available on-line at this address: http://www.arsrhetorica.net/gaines/768Tsy808.html; the official syllabus is subject to minor revision as the course proceeds. Any hard copy of the syllabus is unofficial.

Required Books

Allen, Graham. 2000. Intertextuality. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415174756

Greetham, D. C. 1994. Textual Scholarship: An Introduction. Garland Reference Library of the Humanities, 1417. New York: Garland. ISBN 0815317913

Lotman, Yuri M. 2001. Universe of the Mind: A Semiotic Theory of Culture. London: Tauris. ISBN 1850433755

Shillingsburg, Peter L. 1996. Scholarly Editing in the Computer Age: Theory and Practice. Editorial Theory and Literary Criticism. 3rd ed. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0472066005

Additional Required Readings

Access to required readings not contained in required books and not freely available to participants through Research Port (RP) or GoogleBooks (GB) will be provided in the Department of Communication Library.

The Course

This course of study is an inquiry into the nature of texts and the processes and procedures pertinent to text authentication and critical editing. Subjects treated include linguistic, acoustic, and visual texts, the semiosphere, intertextuality, theory and practice of authenticating and editing texts of literary and rhetorical discourse, and composition of print and electronic editions of texts.

Evaluation

In computing final course grades, assignments will be weighted as follows: Reports = 30%, Scholarly Project = 70% (i.e., Participant Presentation on Scholarly Project = 20%, Final Draft of Scholarly Project =50%).

Reports. Participants in the course will be asked to report on specific readings. Reports should be prepared with a view toward representing the positions contained in the readings as informatively as possible. The content of reports will be assessed by the instructor for responsiveness to the report assignment, accuracy, organization, clarity, thoroughness, and scholarship. Reports should review the main elements of positions contained in assigned readings, closely analyze any passages crucial to the understanding of positions contained in readings, and explain the significance of positions contained in readings for the ongoing inquiry comprised by the course. For each position represented in readings to be covered by a report an outline of the exposition or argument for the position must be presented to each participant of the class (including the instructor) in printed form at the beginning of the report. A missed report may be made up only if the participant demonstrates that the absence from class and inability to report were due to excused absence (as defined below under Attendance).

Scholarly Project. Participants in the course should prepare a scholarly edition of a rhetorical discourse. Project submissions should account for relevant scholarship and sources and provide an edition of the rhetorical text that meets appropriate standards for both printed and electronic texts. Scholarly projects should represent standard methodological steps pertinent to the type of text edited. The scholarly projects assignment involves three submissions. The first submission is a presentation of fifteen to twenty minutes on scholarly project undertaken. This presentation will be scheduled during the regular class period on 2 and 9 December 2008. The presentation should follow the conventions for conference presentations in a professional organization of the communication discipline. The second and third submissions should be a printed edition and an electronic edition of the rhetorical discourse. The printed edition should be presented in APA, MLA, or Chicago style. The electronic edition should follow standards from the Text Encoding Initiative and be presented in an extensible markup language text file. The electronic submission should be accessible on-line through an internet URL. Final submissions of the rhetorical discourse edition must be submitted to the instructor by 20 December 2008 at 12:30 PM.

Attendance

Attendance in Normal Circumstances. It is assumed that participants in the course will make every effort to attend class meetings regularly and promptly. Of course, attendance is especially important whenever a participant is scheduled to make a report, make a presentation, or submit a written assignment. When a participant does not attend class, the absence is excused only if the absence is caused by illness of the student, or illness of a dependent as defined by Board of Regents policy on family and medical leave; religious observance (where the nature of the observance prevents the student from being present during the class period); participation in university activities at the request of University authorities; and compelling circumstance beyond the student's control. (The interpretation of "compelling circumstance beyond the student's control" that is followed in this course requires that a qualifying circumstance be both "compelling" and actually "beyond the student's control." For example, because optional travel plans are within the power of students to make, a student's undertaking of optional travel that conflicts with an examination does not generally constitute a "compelling circumstance beyond the student's control.") Participants claiming excused absence must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the instructor that their failure to attend was on account of one of these four causes. Such demonstration shall take the form of a document signed by a person in a position to make an authoritative determination as to the validity of the cause of absence claimed by the participant. Within the document, the cause of absence must be specifically affirmed by the writer. (For example, where the cause of absence is illness, a document from a medical professional that affirms the student was "too ill to attend class" will satisfactorily demonstrate that the student did not attend class on account of illness.) Documents related to any absence must be presented to the instructor within five calendar days of the student's return to school from that absence. The instructor reserves the right to verify the content and authority of documents.

Attendance during Inclement Weather or Other Emergency Conditions. In the event of inclement weather or other emergency conditions, the University of Maryland will provide information and direction for University community members at the following address: http://www.umd.edu/emergencypreparedness. On any class day affected by inclement weather or other emergency conditions, this course will meet according to the schedule announced at this address by the University. If a delayed opening or campus closure affects an examination, the examination will be rescheduled during a class meeting when the University is open. During circumstances of inclement weather or other emergency conditions, participants are expected to exercise good judgment regarding their personal circumstances; if prudence recommends non-attendance in class, even when a report or submission is scheduled, participants should claim excused absence based on circumstances beyond their control (and such claims will be assessed liberally by the instructor).

Academic Integrity

It is expected that each course participant will behave honorably throughout this course. Academic dishonesty, including cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Participants who are uncertain as to what constitutes academic dishonesty should consult the Student Honor Council Code of Academic Integrity (http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/code.html).

Honor Pledge. The University of Maryland, College Park, has established the following Honor Pledge for use in all graduate and undergraduate classes: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination." Unless you are specifically advised to the contrary, the Honor Pledge should be handwritten and signed on the front page (at the bottom) of all academic assignments submitted for evaluation in this course. The Honor Pledge is not compulsory; however, participants who fail to write and sign the Honor Pledge may be asked to confer with the instructor.

Incompletes

In this course, the mark of "I" will be granted only to a participant who meets both of the following criteria: (1) the participant has satisfactorily completed a major portion of the work of the course and (2) the participant has been unable to complete some small portion of the work of the course because of illness or other circumstances beyond the participant's control.

Tape Recording of Class Meetings

Unauthorized reproduction of proceedings in class meetings through tape recording or any other means is an infringement of common-law copyright. No person may reproduce the proceedings of this class without prior written permission from the instructor and all persons reporting or presenting during any class meeting.

Academic Assignments and Religious Observances

Participants in this course will not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs; participants will be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation at a religious observance. Participants should notify the instructor well in advance—and certainly no later than the end of the schedule adjustment period—whenever it is foreseeable that religious observance will be a reason for absence from a class session in which a report, presentation, or written assignment is due.

Documented Disabilities

Participants who have documented disabilities and who wish to discuss academic accommodations within this course should contact the instructor before or as soon as possible after the beginning of the course.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment of any sort will not be tolerated during or in association with the activities of this class. The University Campus Policy and Procedures on Sexual Harassment defines sexual harassment as "(1) unwanted sexual advances; or (2) unwelcome requests for sexual favors; and (3) other behavior of a sexual nature where:

A. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or participation in a University-sponsored educational program or activity; or

B. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting that individual; or

C. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's academic or work performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment."

Conduct which might constitute sexual harassment is characterized by the Campus Policy in this way:

Sexual harassment may, for example be as undisguised as a direct solicitation of sexual favors, or solicitation accompanied by overt threats. Harassment may also be implied, arising from the relative situation of the parties. In this regard, the following types of acts are more likely-than-not to result in allegations of sexual harassment: unwelcome physical contact, sexual remarks about a person's clothing, body, or sexual relations, conversation of a sexual nature or similar jokes and stories, and the display of sexually explicit materials in the workplace or used in the classroom which are without defensible educational purpose.

Participants who wish to obtain further information regarding the campus sexual harassment policy and its procedures should consult the University of Maryland Policy and Procedures On Sexual Harassment at the following address: http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/PRES/legal/policies/pol.html.

Continuation/Completion of Course in Case of an Emergency that will Close the University for an Extended Period

In the event that (a) the University closes for an extended period due to an emergency, (b) the University does not cancel courses for the academic term affected, and (c) the University's internet and other electronic services are not significantly disrupted, then students will have the opportunity to continue/complete their academic work in this course consistent with the following plan. Students should continue work on course assignments and prepare for any reports and submissions according to the schedule set out in the syllabus (the instructor will be available for consultation through email). Students will be provided means of submitting assignments electronically, and access to report outlines (as well as other student-created materials) will be provided on-line. In emergency circumstances, the instructor's only means of communicating with students directly will be through email; accordingly, it is crucial that students ensure that their correct email address is part of their directory information as maintained by the University. It is also crucial that students ensure that their email accounts are in good order and accepting messages.

CALENDAR OF CLASS ACTIVITIES

2 September: Introduction

9 September: Text

Lotman, Universe of the Mind, 11–214.

16 September: Text

Allen, Intertextuality, 1–208.

23 September: Editing and Authenticating Texts--Literature

Method: Thorpe, James. 1972. “The Establishment of a Text.” In Principles of Textual Criticism, 171–202. San Marino, CA: Huntington Library.

Theory: Greetham, Textual Scholarship, 295–346 (esp. 323–46); Shillingsburg, Scholarly Editing, 7–91

30 September: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Literature

Collection (and Documentation): Greetham, Textual Scholarship, 13–46; 153–68; 345–64.

Analysis & Selection: Greetham, Textual Scholarship, 364–67; Shillingsburg, Scholarly Editing, 103–14; 133–48

7 October: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Literature

Modification & Explanation: Greetham, Textual Scholarship, 367–72; Shillingsburg, Scholarly Editing, 115–19; Modern Language Assocation, Guidelines for Editors of Crticial Editions (Last revised 25 September 2007), http://www.mla.org/resources/documents/rep_scholarly/cse_guidelines

14 October: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Literature

Some Complications

McGann, Jerome J. 1983/1992. A Critique of Modern Textual Criticism. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia. 81–109.

Brandt, Kathleen Weil-Garris. 1993. “The Grime of the Centuries Is a Pigment of the Imagination: Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling.” In Palimpsest: Editorial Theory in the Humanities, ed. George Bornstein and Ralph G. Williams, 257–69. Editorial Theory and Literary Criticism. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Greetham, D. C. 1999. “The Phenomenology and Reading of the Text.” In Theories of the Text, 206–44. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Greetham, “Society and Culture in the Text,” Theories of the Text, 367–432.

Greetham, “Gender in the Text,” Theories of the Text, 433–486.

21 October: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Rhetorical Discourse

Early Attempts:

Chapman, Nathaniel. 1808. Select Speeches, Forensick and Parliamentary, with Prefatory Remarks. 5 vols. Philadelphia: Hopkins and Earle. 1: 12–13. (GB)

Goodrich, Chauncey. 1852. Select British Eloquence: Embracing the Best Speeches Entire of the Most Eminent Orators of Great Britain for the Last Two Centuries. New York: Harper. 75. (GB)

King, Robert. D. 1937. “Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Second Inaugural Address: A Study in Textual Authenticity.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 23: 439–44. (RP)

Angle, Paul M. 1942. “Four Lincoln Firsts.” Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 36: 1–17.

Reid, Loren. 1940. “Factors Contributing to Inaccuracy in the Texts of Speeches.” In Papers in Rhetoric, ed. Donald C. Bryant, 39–45. St. Louis: Rhetoric Section, National Association of Teachers of Speech.

Robinson, Zon. 1942. “Are Speeches in Congress Reported Accurately?” Quarterly Journal of Speech 28: 8–12. (RP)

Thonssen, Lester, and A. Craig Baird. 1948. Speech Criticism: The Development of Standards for Rhetorical Appraisal. New York: Ronald. 297–311.

28 October: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Rhetorical Discourse

Disciplinary Practice:

Phifer, Gregg. 1951. “Andrew Johnson at Cleveland and St. Louis, 1866: A Study in Textual Authenticity.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 37: 455–62. (RP)

Banninga, Jerald L. 1960. “James Otis on The Writs of Assistance: A Textual Investigation.” Speech Monographs 27: 351-52. (RP)

Sandefur, Ray H. 1960. “Logan’s Oration—How Authentic? Quarterly Journal of Speech 46: 289–96. (RP)

Cain, Earl. 1962. “Obstacles to Early Congressional Reporting.” Southern Speech Journal 27: 239–47.

Ghost Writing:

Ray, Robert. 1956. “Ghostwriting in Presidential Campaigns.” Today’s Speech 4: 13–15. (RP)

Bormann, Ernest G. 1960. “Ghostwriting and the Rhetorical Critic.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 46: 284–88. (RP)

Medhurst, Martin J. 1987. “Ghostwritten Speeches: Ethics Isn’t the Only Lesson.” Communication Education 36: 241–49. (RP)

4 November: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Rhetorical Discourse

Process:

Cleary, James W., and Herbert W. Hildebrandt. 1961. “The Critical Edition in Rhetorical Scholarship: A Guide to Its Preparation.” Speech Monographs 28: 29–38. (RP)

Murphy, Richard. 1965. “Problems in Speech Texts.” In Papers in Rhetoric and Poetic, ed. Donald C. Bryant, 70–86. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.

Smith, Robert W. 1972. “The Textual Critic: Hung-Up On Trivia?” The Southern Speech Communication Journal 37: 424–437.

11 November: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Rhetorical Discourse

Developments of the Process: Robert N. Gaines, “The Processes and Challenges of Textual Authentication.”

Editing Electronic Texts: Shillingsburg, Scholarly Editing,161–71.

November 18: Editing and Authenticating Texts—Rhetorical Discourse

Text Encoding Initiative Standards: http://www.tei-c.org/Support/Learn/intro.xml; http://www.tei-c.org/Guidelines/.

TEI-compliant Extensible Markup Language Documents: http://xml.coverpages.org/tei.html; http://www.tei-c.org/release/doc/tei-p5-doc/en/html/SG.html

November 25: Electronic Text Workshop

2 December: Projects

9 December: Projects

20 December: Final Submission of Scholarly Project due (deadline =12:30 PM)