Applying Rhetoric in Writing
Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison
OVERVIEW
- Explanation of today's activity & 1 question or observation, 1-2 mins
- Video, 5 mins
- Review of homework reading, 1-2 mins
- Small group discussion: OWL Purdue ~ today's video ~ your question/observation, 5 mins
- Application to first writing assignment, 5 mins
- Wrap-up
This activity may be found online at https://www.smore.com/x107q
Kill a Cigarette and Save a Life. Yours. (Ashcraft & Rush, 2007)
INTRO
Having read the OWL Purdue explanations and examples of the rhetorical situation as homework for today - https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/625/01/ - we'll juxtapose this with examples from a short video and discuss how we can use these concepts in our first writing assignment.
The Assignment
This semester you will be developing an online magazine around a specific topic of interest to you. This will allow you to:
- practice composing a variety of written materials/genres;
- explore digital composition;
- consider audience, visual rhetoric and the basics of research;
- and develop your writer's voice.
For your first essay you will need to compose a 3-4 page persuasive essay that justifies the significance and market need for your class magazine. Consider this a proposal of the kind you might pitch to a publisher, similar to a proposal you might eventually pitch for entrance into an academic program, for employment, or for instructor approval of a course project. This essay should:
- clearly state the scope and purpose of the magazine;
- justify your role as editor and writer of this magazine (in relation to your expertise);
- emphasize through corroborative evidence the significance and market need for the magazine;
- explain who the potential audience will be and an understanding of their needs;
- address how you will make the most of the digital format;
- present a range of examples of what might be included;
- and utilize a minimum of 2 scholarly sources (peer-reviewed) and 2 popular sources cited both in-text and as final references in MLA, APA or CMS format.
Think of one question or observation...
Think of one question or observation you have about the "rhetorical situation" as it relates to college writing considering what you've read so far (OWL Purdue). You might think of something that you wrote in your reading notes, or something you thought about while considering these concepts. You'll share this with classmates in just a few minutes.
Now, let's watch this video to reinforce what we've learned about rhetoric and persuasion.
An Introduction to Ethos, Logos and Pathos (9 to 5, 2014)
REVIEW OF HOMEWORK
- “primarily an awareness of the language choices we make.”
- “An education of rhetoric enables communicators in any facet of any field to create and assess messages effectively.”
- "rhetoric can refer to just the persuasive qualities of language. However, over the last century or so, the academic definition and use of “rhetoric” has evolved to include any situation in which people consciously communicate with each other."
- "Instead of just persuasion, rhetoric is the set of methods people use to identify with each other—to encourage each other to understand things from one another’s perspectives (see Burke 25). From interpersonal relationships to international peace treaties, the capacity to understand or modify another’s perspective is one of the most vital abilities that humans have. Hence, understanding rhetoric in terms of “identification” helps us better communicate and evaluate all such situations."
("The Rhetorical Situation", n.d.)
Here's a great graphic that puts it all together for us!
Revised Rhetorical Triangle (Dixon, 2016)
Now, it's your turn...
And finally...how does this relate to your writing in this course?
- clearly state the scope and purpose of the magazine;
- justify your role as editor and writer of this magazine (in relation to your expertise);
- emphasize through corroborative evidence the significance and market need for the magazine;
- explain who the potential audience will be and an understanding of their needs;
- address how you will make the most of the digital format;
- present a range of examples of what might be included;
- and utilize a minimum of 2 scholarly sources (peer-reviewed) and 2 popular sources cited both in-text and as final references in MLA, APA or CMS format.
Which of the rhetorical situations - ethos, pathos, logos (and telos and kairos) - relate to the above requirements of your first essay?
WRAP-UP
Along the way we watched a brief video, chatted with each other about our responses to these concepts and even considered rhetoric in relation to visuals!
Thank you for exploring this topic with me and good luck with your first essay. Remember you can contact me by email or phone with any questions you might have and I'll happily respond to you within 24 hours. Also, don't forget PBSC's excellent writing/learning resources at:
- English Writing Lab - https://www.palmbeachstate.edu/slc/lake-worth/english-writing-lab/
- Student Learning Center - http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/slc/
Warmly,
Marlen : )
(202) 368-3333
References
Ashcraft, K., and Rush, M. (2007). Kill a cigarette and save a life. Yours [Online image]. Flickr. Retrieved 6 April 2017 fromhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/kellyashcraft/2132565654/
DixonLHSN. (2016). Revised rhetorical triangle [Online image]. ACC Strategies in Rhetoric & Research 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2017 from http://accstrat.blogspot.com/2016/08/blog-post_77.html.
The rhetorical situation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/625/01/