Context In this course, we’re diving deep into the world of rhetoric and specifically focusing on the concept of kairos. Your previous work this semester has prepared you to apply your rhetorical knowledge to analyze a variety of texts and situations. Now, it’s time to turn your attention to the realm of open educational resources (i.e., OER).
What is an OER? In essence, an article that is a scholarly publication made freely available under an open license, allowing anyone to access, use, adapt, and distribute the work. Though these articles typically focus on topics related to education, for this assignment, you can use any article published in an open access journal relevant to the issue you’ve chosen. You will conduct a thorough rhetorical analysis, demonstrating your understanding of key concepts like the rhetorical situation and kairos. Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is for you to identify and analyze a current issue that has rhetorical significance. You will apply concepts we have learned in class, such as Bitzer’s rhetorical situation, Vatz’s perspective on rhetoric, and kairos. This assignment allows you to demonstrate your understanding of these rhetorical concepts and your ability to propose an approach for addressing the issue rhetorically.
Audience
Your primary audience for this assignment is your classmates, who have a similar understanding of the rhetorical concepts we’ve covered. Your secondary audience is me, your instructor. Aim to write in a way that demonstrates your grasp on the course material and provides insight into the rhetorical strategies employed in the article.
Genre
A rhetorical analysis is an essay that examines how a text functions rhetorically. Depending on the type of rhetorical analysis it can delve into the starting points of rhetoric involving author, purpose, audience, context, and genre. However, for this rhetorical analysis I am asking you to delve deeper into your article by breaking down the text and considering factors such as the exigence of the article, an analysis of the rhetorical audience, the constraints containing the article (i.e., it’s positive and negative proofs), etc. Requirements
To complete this assignment, follow these steps:
Find an open educational research article on the issue you chose for your issue proposal, or the subissue you’ve decided to focus on.The article should be freely available and published under an open license.
Analyze the rhetorical situation of the article using Bitzer’s theories of rhetoric:What is the exigence (i.e., the problem or issue) that the article addresses? Why is this exigence significant?
Who is the rhetorical audience for this article? What kind of change could this audience mediate if influenced by the author’s rhetorical discourse? What are the constraints (i.e., both positive and negative proofs) that the author must navigate in making their argument? How do these constraints shape the article’s rhetoric?
Consider how Vatz’s perspective might offer a different interpretation of the article:How might Vatz argue that the author has selected or defined the exigence through their rhetoric?
In what ways does the author’s rhetoric (i.e., article) shape or influence the audience’s perception of the issue?
How does the author’s choice of constraints reflect their rhetorical goals?Remember, Vatz states that the rhetor plays a significant role in creating and defining these constraints through their choices in framing and presenting the situation. Discuss the role of kairos in the article:Why is this article timely and relevant in the current moment?
How does the author capitalize on the opportune moment to make their argument?
In what ways does the article’s timeliness contribute to its rhetorical effectiveness?
Examine the rhetorical strategies used in the article:What appeals (i.e., ethos, pathos, logos) does the author employ to persuade their audience?For this analysis, I want you to select specific pieces of the article that you define as ethos, pathos, or logos.
Explain why your selection aligns with the audience appeal you’ve identified it as, alongside offering insight as to why this choice would be effective for the rhetorical audience of this piece. How does the author’s choice of language, style, and structure enhance their argument?
Format your issue proposal following these guidelines:
1200-1500 words (approximately 5-6 pages) Use section headings to organize your analysis (e.g., “Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation,” “Vatz’s Perspective,” “Kairos,” and “Rhetorical Strategies”)
Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font
1-inch margins
MLA format for in-text citations You will need to include a mix of paraphrase and short quotations throughout your analysis. MLA formatted Works Cited page for your source and other source material you use to analyze your articleFor example, Bitzer and Vatz. MLA format for the headings and page numbers of your document.
Include a copy of the open educational research article as an attachment to your assignment after your Works Cited page. Submission Requirements Submit your Rhetorical OER as a Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF to this assignment page on Canvas. Late assignments will lose a letter grade for each day late, and may receive less formal feedback.
Evaluation Criteria
Rhetorical OER’s will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Analysis of Rhetorical Situation (25%)
Analysis of Vatz’s Perspective (20%)
Analysis of Kairos (20%)
Examination of Rhetorical Strategies (15%)
Article Selection and Overall Quality (10%) Formatting, Style, and Mechanics (10%)
See the rubric linked to this assignment for more details on the grading scale. If you have any questions about the assignment or expectations, please ask in class or attend office hours.