English writing course

The Way we play

The Rhetoric of Games, sports, and competition

( OUR COURSE THEME FOR WR 121 )

( Our research will be based on critical analysis of game-centric artifacts and the deeper questions it engenders. We will study the meaning of rhetorical awareness and analytical writing in the process. By the end of this course, students will know how to identify provocative and useful artifacts, analyze them thoroughly, and synthesize the resulting data in their own writing in order to present unique opinions on prevalent topics. ) ( For some of us they’re relaxing, for others a way to converse with friends, and for others still they’re a quest for victory, but one thing is universal: we all play games. Games have been intertwined with human culture and language for millennia, from ancient Egyptian Senet to modern day sports, consoles, gambling, and board games. They can influence the way we see the world, teach us about complex topics, and speak to us in ways other media cannot because with games we are active participants; our presence makes them possible. In this course, we will examine the rhetoric of games, whether on the board, the Internet, the field/court, or elsewhere . We will analyze the way games are structured and what this tells us about our participation. We will strive to understand how games inform our social interactions, self-image, beliefs, and culture. Further, we will discuss the way we write and speak about games, and how this communication differs from other subjects. Games, however, aren’t limited to activities and pastimes; they’re a part of our language as well. What does it mean for someone to play “mind games,” “the blame game,” or “a numbers game?” What about someone who studies “game theory,” or “has an endgame?” You will have an opportunity to examine the se alternate meanings and what they represent in society today. )