RESOURCES: ComS 168 Approaches to Rhetorical Criticism
Free on-line assistance for research,  writing, outlining, and documenting sources.  Make use of these links!
Research
Analytical
Writing


Research Resources

CSUS On-line Databases
http://www.lib.csus.edu/databases

Use Communication & Mass Media Complete and EbscoHost Academic

Communication Studies LibGuides

The International Encyclopedia of Communication (Click "Connect to resource online"; you may need to sign in to Saclink for the link to work.)



Analytical Resources

Dictionary of Socio-Rhetorical Terms
http://www.religion.emory.edu/faculty/robbins/SRI/defns/index.cfm
This dictionary has its strengths and weaknesses.  As a resource to help you get a quick understanding of quite a few rhetorical concepts in an easy-to-access format, this one is quite good.  However, the dictionary is designed specifically for those in religious studies, so the examples are almost solely biblical.  That limitation makes it hard to understand the concept at work in secular and particularly mediated contexts.  Nevertheless, it is a good place to start.

A Glossary of Literary Terms and A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices
http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm
Robert Harris, Professor of English at Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, California
This book (Glossary) contains definitions and examples of more than sixty traditional rhetorical devices in a searchable format; the handbook of literary terms is similar in nature and scope.

Symbols.com
http://www.symbols.com/
This unique site allows you to search for specific symbols you may run across in texts you are analyzing.  This URL
links you directly to the graphic search profile.  For other options for searching the database, check the matrix in the
upper right part of the screen.  The database is quite large, but, of course, the universe of symbols is larger.  Therefore,
you may need to do some "creative browsing"  to find what you are looking for.  Nevertheless, it is endlessly fascinating.
Have fun!

"Silva Rhetoricae"
http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/silva.htm
This online rhetoric, provided by Dr. Gideon Burton of Brigham Young University, is a guide to the terms
of classical and renaissance rhetoric. This site is intended to help beginners, as well as experts, make sense of
rhetoric, both on the small scale (definitions and examples of specific terms) and on the large scale (the purposes
of rhetoric, the patterns into which it has fallen historically as it has been taught and practiced for 2000+ years).

"Stephen's Guide to Logical Fallacies"
http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/
Fallacies are described in short paragraphs; lots of examples provided.
I suggest you sign-in so you can make use of the resources available within the site such as the search engine.



Writing Resources

On-line Help for Writing Academic Papers

What the editing marks on your papers mean

CSUS Student Writing Handbook (pdf)  (I recommend you download and save in an accessible place for easy reference.)

On-line Help for Writing Academic Papers 

APA Crib Sheet, 6th ed. (PDF)

APA Headings Cheatsheet

APA Style Blog

http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocAPA.html
If you need APA format assistance (for another course), this site is helpful.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
A part of the webster.commnet site above, this portion is specifically devoted to technical concerns
of appropriate, and precise writing.  It provides help at the sentence, paragraph and essay levels of writing.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index2.html
This is an extensive set of handouts explaining everything from how to use a comma to how to write an essay.
The listing is thorough and easy to use.

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/
Scroll to the bottom of the page to "enter."  You will then find an alphabetical list of common writing
errors explained in brief notes.  Easy to use.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
A part of the webster.commnet site above, this portion is specifically devoted to technical concerns
of appropriate, and precise writing.  It provides help at the sentence, paragraph and essay levels of writing.

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/
Scroll to the bottom of the page to "enter."  You will then find an alphabetical list of common writing
errors explained in brief notes.  Easy to use.