Instruction
Prompt 1
Choose two publicly available "messages" about coronavirus on the internet (tweets, memes, social media posts, comments on posts, articles, videos, etc.) and use rhetorical theory (logos, ethos, pathos, etc.) to evaluate which is the more responsible message. In other words, which source is more ethical and/or logical? Which one does a better job of using emotional appeals without going too far (causing panic, for example)? The sources you analyze should have similar purposes--they could both encourage safe habits, attempt to keep people's spirits up, offer important information, or something else.
Choose sources that will allow for an interesting argument. For example, it might be interesting to see how two different Instagram celebrities encourage people to wash their hands, but it wouldn't be that surprising to hear that CDC.gov offers more reliable evidence than Lady Gaga.
Prompt 2
Choose two publicly available social media posts--or other texts on the internet--with similar purposes and audiences. Then, construct an argument as to which is more rhetorically effective. In other words, which one does a better job of convincing or persuading the audience and why?
To help you conduct your analysis and make your argument, use the concepts from rhetorical theory that we've discussed in class this semester (logos, ethos, pathos, audience, purpose, kairos, claim, evidence, reasoning, warrant, etc.). Don't use every concept that we've talked about. Instead, identify a few concepts that will help you to write an interesting and insightful essay.
Hint: Try to avoid writing a five-paragraph essay with a body paragraph each for logos, ethos, and pathos. That's a lot of ground to cover in one short essay. Narrowing your focus to just one of those concepts would probably be more interesting because it would allow you to go more in depth and provide more insightful analysis.
Skills
In writing this essay, you will:
Evaluate texts using a theoretical lens
Construct an appropriately sophisticated thesis-driven essay
Understand how to use pre-writing and revising techniques
Consider the ways texts effectively (or ineffectively) address audiences
Research, evaluate, and document sources
Think about ways in which writers and communicators are responsible to others
Organizational Requirements
Your essay should include:
An introduction that
Offers important context (background)
Ends with a strong thesis statement
Strong body paragraphs that
Offer clear main ideas supporting or illuminating the thesis
Offer carefully chosen evidence from sources
Offer analysis that supports and illuminates the thesis
A conclusion that offers your own take-away claim or explores the larger implications of the analysis that you’ve done
Sources/MLA
You’re required to use at least two texts as sources for your essay. You must document them using MLA formatting guidelines. In other words, your essay must:
Use in-text citation
Include a list of works cited
Be double spaced and formatted according to MLA guidelines