You Are Already Rhetorical

James S. Miller

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

3 Weeks

Papers: Rhetorical Analysis, Critical Analysis, Argument

What you don’t think you know can actually help you!  The rhetoric of social media, and how to use it deliberately.

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James S. Miller (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) helps students unpack the unconscious rhetorical acumen they likely already possess, empowering them to consciously employ those moves in academic, public, and workplace situations. 

Unlike other formulaic, plug-and-play texts, “You Are Already Rhetorical” offers the opportunity for writers to take inventory of their rhetorical knowledge via familiar scenarios and then scaffold that recollection into meaningful interactions, no matter the setting.  

“You Are Already Rhetorical” creates a flexible critical reading and writing framework that equips students with the tools to analyze and respond to any type of informational text – whether it be written, visual, or multimedia – in rhetorical terms. Organized around a set of representative examples, “You Are Already Rhetorical” utilizes an array of interactive prompts and activities to walk students through a critical thinking process in which they: 

  • Identify the rhetorical moves they use to engage a text.
  • Evaluate the strategies and goals that underlie these moves.
  • Reflect upon the efficacy and validity of these moves.
  • Use this same rhetorical framework to write their own academic essays.

table of contents

Introduction

Welcome to You Are Already Rhetorical: Introduction and Learning Objectives 

The Critical Thinking Scaffold

Lesson 1: You Are Already Rhetorical

You Are Already Rhetorical

Social Media: Sportec Instagram Post

Reflexive versus Reflective

Reflecting on a Text

Responding to a Text

Reworking a Text

Formal Writing Assignment: Personal Reflection

Lesson 2: Thinking Rhetorically

Thinking Rhetorically

Rhetorical and Persuasion

Rhetorical Thinking as Critical Thinking

5 Key Rhetorical Terms 

Formal Writing Assignment: Textual Close Reading

Lesson 3: More Than Media

More Than Media

Editorial: Kelli Adams, “United Students Against Sweatshops Take on Corporate Giant” (UW Daily,  University of Washington, 2016)

Analyzing Producer

Analyzing Purpose

Analyzing Audience

Analyzing Message

Analyzing Credibility 

Lesson 4: Analyzing Producer

Analyzing Producer

Social Media: Safe Town to End Gun Violence Facebook Page

Website: March for Our Lives Wikipedia Page

Relating Producer to Other Rhetorical Terms

More Than Media

Barack Obama, “The Most Influential People: The Parkland Students” (Time, 2018)

Formal Writing Assignment: Comparing Rhetorical Terms

Lesson 5: Analyzing Purpose

Analyzing Purpose

Relating Purpose to Other Rhetorical Terms

More Than Media

Antonia Malchik, “The Problem with Social Media Protests” (The Atlantic, 2019)

Formal Writing Assignment: Making an Argument

Lesson 6: Analyzing Audience

Analyzing Audience

Relating Audience to Other Rhetorical Terms

More Than Media

Steve Almond, “Is It Immoral to Watch the Super Bowl?” (New York Times, 2014)

Formal Writing Assignment: Comparison and Reflection

Lesson 7: Analyzing Message

Analyzing Message

Relating Message to Other Rhetorical Terms

More Than Media

PRI World Staff, “Are You a First-Time Voter in the US? What Does the Midterm Election Mean to You?” (Public Radio International, 2018) 

Formal Writing Assignment: Textual Close Reading

Lesson 8: Analyzing Credibility

Analyzing Credibility

Relating Credibility  to Other Rhetorical Terms

More Than Media

Jennifer Gerson Uffalussy, “What It’s Like to Survive a School Shooting” (Teen Vogue, 2016)

Formal Writing Assignment: Analysis and Evaluation

Lesson 9: Putting It All Together

Putting It All Together

Index of Readings

Kelli Adams, “United Students Against Sweatshops Take on Corporate Giant” (The Daily of the University of Washington, 2016)

Steve Almond, “Is It Immoral to Watch the Super Bowl?” (New York Times, 2014)

“Are You a First-Time Voter in the US? What Does the Midterm Election Mean to You?” (Public Radio International, 2018)

Antonia Malchik, “The Problem With Social Media Protests” (The Atlantic, 2019)

Barack Obama, “The Most Influential People: The Parkland Students” (Time, 2018)Jennifer Gerson Uffalussy, “What It’s Like to Survive a School Shooting” (Teen Vogue, 2016)