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)