Chapters 1 and 2: Analyzing the Persuasive Strategies in Visual Texts

Outcomes

1. Define rhetoric.
2. Explain how writers use both images and texts to create meaning and construct arguments.
3. Demonstrate how to read multimedia texts analytically.
4. To explore how texts (words and images) get the readers' attention and cause them to change their thinking or behavior by appealing to readers' logic, values and beliefs, and respect for authority.
5. To practice using a model for rhetorical analysis to consider questions of purpose, language and audience.
6. To practice using a model for rhetorical analysis to consider the impact of context on the writer and the reader.
7. To understand and identify the kinds of appeals writers use to support a claim and the strategies of development they use to present these appeals.

Main Assignment

Required reading:  

• Envision, Chapter 1.
  • Steps for completing the Chapter 1 exercises and discussion postings -- complete steps 1 through 5. 
• Envision, Chapter 2.
  • Steps for completing the Chapter 2 exercises and discussion postings  -- complete step 1 through 3.

Required Discussions:  You are required to respond to all of the discussion questions posted IN D2L DISCUSSIONS for both of these chapters.

Writing: After you complete the reading, exercises, and D2L discussion postings for Chapters 1 and 2, you will choose ONE of the following options:

• Rhetorical Analysis of a Political Cartoon (Chapter 1).
  1.  You will choose a political cartoon on a current issue.
  2. You will plan and write a rhetorical analysis of the cartoon. 
• Rhetorical Analysis of Advertisements (Chapter 2)
  Write a rhetorical analysis that analyzes the theoretical appeals pathos, logos, ethos, and kairos (context) and/or strategies of development (narration, comparison-contrast, example, process, definition, cause-effect, division/classification) in two or three ads for the  same product chosen from different magazines or ads for similar products chosen from the same magazine.
• Contextual Analysis of Advertisements (Chapter 2)
  Write a persuasive analysis that considers the persuasiveness of advertisements in relation to their historical context.  You will choose two or three magazine ads for the same product, published over the past 50 years (e.g., ads for Coca Cola, Betty Crocker cake mixes, Volkswagen "Beetle," U.S. Army, etc.)

You analysis essay should be 900 to 1200 words.

This analysis assignment is due by midnight on Wednesday, September 23.  The D2L dropbox will lock by midnight on Thursday, September 24.  Work submitted after the due date and during this 24-hour grace period with have a 1-point (10%) late penalty.

Schedule for Completing this Assignment On Time

Thursday, Sept. 3: Complete Ch. 1, step1.
Friday, Sept. 4: Complete Ch. 1, step2.

Monday, Sept. 7: Complete Ch. 1, step3.
Tuesday, Sept. 8: Complete Ch. 1, step 4.
Wednesday, Sept. 9: Complete Ch. 1, step 5.  Post your cartoon image and your analysis notes.  Read all of your classmates' postings and respond to at least two.  Give them feedback that will help them add depth and detail to their notes.  Is their tentative thesis effective?
Thursday, Sept. 10: Complete Ch. 2, step1.
Friday, Sept. 11: Complete Ch. 2, step 2.

Monday, Sept. 14: Complete Ch. 2, step 3.
Tuesday, Sept. 15: Complete reading Ch. 2. Choose the main assignment option that you prefer:

• Rhetorical Analysis of a Political Cartoon (Chapter 1).
   
• Rhetorical Analysis of Advertisements (Chapter 2)
   
• Contextual Analysis of Advertisements (Chapter 2)

Wednesday, Sept. 16: Complete step 5 of the assignment of your choice.
Thursday, Sept. 17: Complete step 6 -- Draft your analysis essay.
Friday, Sept. 18: Step 7 -- Post a complete working draft of your analysis and give feedback to at least two of your classmates' drafts.

Monday, Sept. 21: Step 7 -- Continue collaboration and begin revising your draft.
Tuesday, Sept. 22: Complete step 8 -- Prepare the final draft.
Wednesday, Sept. 23: Complete step 9 -- Write your learning process memo.
Wednesday, Sept. 23: Analysis Essay and process memo are due.  Upload your files to the D2L dropbox before midnight tonight.

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