Description
Intro: Research a recent civic issue, May till now, that is of concern to a specific community of non-experts. Identify multiple perspectives from which this issue is viewed. Use this information to create a persuasive text (written and visual) that uses ethical persuasive strategies to advance social understanding, change, or action. This project should be presented in a genre that would be commonly used to communicate with members of this community.
Project Length/Format: Paper must be a minimum of 3 pages (full pages/750 words total), typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, with one-inch margins in standard MLA format with a works cited page.
Texts: Find an article that meets the specifications described in Monday’s assignment, “Playing Devil’s Advocate,” and the additional sources that are needed to support your argument. See the details in the lecture slides and in the rubric below. These do not have to be a scholarly articles and can come from a general internet search.
Purpose: Respond to an author’s argument and try to persuade the audience of that article publication to agree with your point of view. Use a variety of Rhetorical Strategies to appeal to Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. You can find an article that you agree with, and you can extend the ideas in the text, or you can find one you disagree with (in part or in whole), and counter points made in the text, or you can simply use the topic as a jumping off point.
Audience: your audience consists of those who would have read the article you researched for Monday’s assignment, plus a more general audience. Consider them to have limited knowledge of the topic you are debating.
Key RWS 305W Learning Objectives Met with This Assignment
- Understand the concept of rhetorical situations: the relationship among writer-audience-subject-context
- Apply critical reading strategies to a variety of publicly and individually produced texts
- Understand the collaborative and social aspects of the writing process
- Critique your own and others’ texts
Course Learning Objectives:
- Apply rhetorical principles appropriate to different purposes and goals, within specific
disciplinary, professional and civic communities.
- Research and contribute to specific areas of inquiry by evaluating, synthesizing, and integrating
strategies and sources appropriate to genre.
- Compose a variety of texts, working individually and collaboratively, through processes of
drafting, critiquing, reflecting, and editing.
