analysis

Individual Rhetorical Analysis of an Artifact

Discussion:
In class, we have discussed the politics of language and how languages can be meshed for rhetorical effect. Now we will explore how authors utilize language and the rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) through various textual, aural, and visual elements in response to issues of concern within their communities. Being able to identify authors strategies will help you to more carefully analyze the effectiveness and validity of their work. It will also give you examples that could help you design your own activist projects in the future. In this assignment, you will look closely at all of the rhetorical aspects of a single text coming out of a social justice movement.

Assignment:
Part 1: Group ResearchAs a group, you will either explore the history and methods of a current or historical social justice movement (ex: womens rights, civil rights) or look at the evolution of a form of activism (ex: how has protest, art, or petition been used by several different social justice movements).

Remember that we have defined social justice as the ethics of a society and/or as the right for all people to have equal opportunities within a society regardless of race, culture, religion, gender, etc. (If you have difficulty deciding on an issue, I can provide possibilities. If your group is interested in environmental, animal, or other forms of activism, consider how they fit the social justice theme.)

Using the library resources, you should collect as much information as you can about the history, important participants, major organizations, key campaigns, etc. involved in the movement. Begin compiling a bibliography of sources. Some materials you might look at include newspaper or journal articles, editorials, books, ad campaigns, speeches, TED talks, poems, artwork, etc. This will help you set up the context for Part 2 and will inform your Group-Led Mini-Class later in the semester.

Due Date:
Topic Due: End of class 2/16

Part 2: Individual Rhetorical Analysis of an ArtifactOn your own, you will choose one artifact (a news article, poster, commercial, piece of artwork, etc.) from this social justice movement to rhetorically analyze. (You and the members of your group should choose different artifacts.) A thorough rhetorical analysis of the artifact will include all of the following:
Discussion of the historical context (i.e. background information)
A brief summary or description of the artifact
Discussion of the rhetorical situationauthor, audience, text, context
Discussion of the use of rhetorical appealslogos (logic), ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion)
Discussion of rhetorical strengths and weaknesses
Discussion of how the artifact subverts/follows the norms of language/art for rhetorical purposes
Judgment of the effectiveness of the artifact (based on actual effect it haddid it create change/raise awareness?)