Prospectus [Due Monday 7/22 by midnight]
In short: Write a 5-6 page contextualization of your research. Please be thorough, cite in APA, and do not simply provide a “book report” on your artifact.
Purpose of this paper: The major (read final) paper for this course requires that students produce a focused criticism of a rhetorical work or artifact. This paper should reflect careful research, thoughtful attention to the text and context, and proficient composition. This paper is basically the first chunk of your paper. I expect you to write this as though you were writing your final draft. This is technically a separate paper, but I hope you can use most of it in your final draft.
STEP ONE: Choose an artifact. It can be a movie. A television series / episode. It can be artwork or music. It can be a speech. An event. Ultimately, the choice of the artifact is up to you. Please reflect on my comments on your Annotated Bibliography/Artifact Choice)
· Example Artifacts (Try to be as specific as possible for your artifact)
· Famous presidential speeches (Eg. The Challenger Speech)
· Art (Eg. Cathy Griffin’s Trump beheading)
· Social Movements (Eg. Handmaid’s Tale protest)
· Television Shows (Eg. RuPaul’s Drag Race, WWE wrestling)
· Music/Songs (Eg. Dixie Chicks, Kendrick Lamar, Cold Play)
STEP TWO: Pick a perspective. Using what we discuss in class, and the additional list of available perspectives in Appendix B of the textbook, you will choose a perspective to apply to the text you are analyzing. Research similar studies. This will help you gain a better understanding of the theory, and will provide you research to use in your Literature Review (Method Section). A brief review of related literature will help shed light on why you are studying what you are and helps justify your research.
STEP THREE: WRITE YOUR PROSPECTUS. Your prospectus should be 3-6 pages (not including a cover page and a reference page) with at least 15 sources, using APA citations, and should be Times New Roman 12pt, double-spaced. Your sources should be a balance of academic, peer reviewed sources (for your method), and news sources to contextualize your artifact (for your historical perspective). Note, that if you write 3 pages, I consider that the bare minimum. While a 3 page paper can be “A” material if you are clear, direct, and organized, most 3 page papers are usually in the “C” range. That being said, it’s easy to run off on tangents when critiquing an artifact. Fight the temptation, and be concise. Make your claim, defend it, and move on. You should cover the following sections in your paper:
· Introduction (.5-1page)
· Bring attention to the artifact, and the general persuasive message of the text.
· Develop an interesting research question you want to answer and make sure it RELATES TO COMMUNICATION. This should guide your paper. Eg: How does Martin Luther King Jr.’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos work with his use of metaphor in his “I have a dream” speech?
· Significance: Why is this text significant to communication? Why is this text important (Has it reached a large audience? (cite!) Does an expert think it’s important? (cite!))?
· Thesis Statement: Your thesis should be the purpose of your paper.
· Preview: Preview your major talking points for your prospectus.
· Historical Perspective (2-3 pages)
· Rhetor(s)
· Who are the rhetors/orators? Who designed the message, stated the message, etc. What is important to know about them?
· Audience
· There are likely multiple audiences. Who is the immediate audience (is there anyone actually at the speech, for example)? Target audience (who does the rhetor want to reach)? Are there any more audiences? Are there any hidden audiences?
· Text
· Describe the text and any necessary background for the text. Contextualize! Often times scholars make the mistake of focusing on what we can see and neglect what we don’t. Sometimes some of the most important elements of an argument come as a result of what we don’t see.
· What are some rhetorical strategies the rhetor uses?
· Method (1 page)
· What method are you using? Your method (theory, perspective) should relate to your text or why are you using it. This section is a brief literature review. When you get to your rough draft/final draft, you will elongate this section, but for the prospectus it should be direct so I know that you know what is most important.
· Cover the major tenets (principles) you are using. *note: it is okay if you don’t use every principle of the theory. Make sure you actually read the corresponding chapter etc. While your classmates are fantastic, not everything they type is correct.
· Focus on articles that discuss and/or use your method. If you pick a text that has been analyzed previously, focus on articles discussing your specific rhetorical act.
· Justification (about .5 of a page)
· Why do you believe this topic is important?
· Why do you want to analyze it?
· Conclusion (No more than .5 of a page)
· Review your main points.
· Review your thesis.
· End strong!
In short: Write a 5-6 page contextualization of your research. Please be thorough, cite in APA, and do not simply provide a “book report” on your artifact.
Purpose of this paper: The major (read final) paper for this course requires that students produce a focused criticism of a rhetorical work or artifact. This paper should reflect careful research, thoughtful attention to the text and context, and proficient composition. This paper is basically the first chunk of your paper. I expect you to write this as though you were writing your final draft. This is technically a separate paper, but I hope you can use most of it in your final draft.
STEP ONE: Choose an artifact. It can be a movie. A television series / episode. It can be artwork or music. It can be a speech. An event. Ultimately, the choice of the artifact is up to you. Please reflect on my comments on your Annotated Bibliography/Artifact Choice)
· Example Artifacts (Try to be as specific as possible for your artifact)
· Famous presidential speeches (Eg. The Challenger Speech)
· Art (Eg. Cathy Griffin’s Trump beheading)
· Social Movements (Eg. Handmaid’s Tale protest)
· Television Shows (Eg. RuPaul’s Drag Race, WWE wrestling)
· Music/Songs (Eg. Dixie Chicks, Kendrick Lamar, Cold Play)
STEP TWO: Pick a perspective. Using what we discuss in class, and the additional list of available perspectives in Appendix B of the textbook, you will choose a perspective to apply to the text you are analyzing. Research similar studies. This will help you gain a better understanding of the theory, and will provide you research to use in your Literature Review (Method Section). A brief review of related literature will help shed light on why you are studying what you are and helps justify your research.
STEP THREE: WRITE YOUR PROSPECTUS. Your prospectus should be 3-6 pages (not including a cover page and a reference page) with at least 15 sources, using APA citations, and should be Times New Roman 12pt, double-spaced. Your sources should be a balance of academic, peer reviewed sources (for your method), and news sources to contextualize your artifact (for your historical perspective). Note, that if you write 3 pages, I consider that the bare minimum. While a 3 page paper can be “A” material if you are clear, direct, and organized, most 3 page papers are usually in the “C” range. That being said, it’s easy to run off on tangents when critiquing an artifact. Fight the temptation, and be concise. Make your claim, defend it, and move on. You should cover the following sections in your paper:
· Introduction (.5-1page)
· Bring attention to the artifact, and the general persuasive message of the text.
· Develop an interesting research question you want to answer and make sure it RELATES TO COMMUNICATION. This should guide your paper. Eg: How does Martin Luther King Jr.’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos work with his use of metaphor in his “I have a dream” speech?
· Significance: Why is this text significant to communication? Why is this text important (Has it reached a large audience? (cite!) Does an expert think it’s important? (cite!))?
· Thesis Statement: Your thesis should be the purpose of your paper.
· Preview: Preview your major talking points for your prospectus.
· Historical Perspective (2-3 pages)
· Rhetor(s)
· Who are the rhetors/orators? Who designed the message, stated the message, etc. What is important to know about them?
· Audience
· There are likely multiple audiences. Who is the immediate audience (is there anyone actually at the speech, for example)? Target audience (who does the rhetor want to reach)? Are there any more audiences? Are there any hidden audiences?
· Text
· Describe the text and any necessary background for the text. Contextualize! Often times scholars make the mistake of focusing on what we can see and neglect what we don’t. Sometimes some of the most important elements of an argument come as a result of what we don’t see.
· What are some rhetorical strategies the rhetor uses?
· Method (1 page)
· What method are you using? Your method (theory, perspective) should relate to your text or why are you using it. This section is a brief literature review. When you get to your rough draft/final draft, you will elongate this section, but for the prospectus it should be direct so I know that you know what is most important.
· Cover the major tenets (principles) you are using. *note: it is okay if you don’t use every principle of the theory. Make sure you actually read the corresponding chapter etc. While your classmates are fantastic, not everything they type is correct.
· Focus on articles that discuss and/or use your method. If you pick a text that has been analyzed previously, focus on articles discussing your specific rhetorical act.
· Justification (about .5 of a page)
· Why do you believe this topic is important?
· Why do you want to analyze it?
· Conclusion (No more than .5 of a page)
· Review your main points.
· Review your thesis.
· End strong!