Purpose of the Essay
Visual rhetoric plays a big role in your life. It’s become a commonplace where you are bombarded by images. The same rhetorical principles covered in Chapter 1 that inform the study of written arguments can provide a framework for analyzing visual texts. For analysis, even though you have a copy of the image, you’ll need to describe it carefully in your paper on the assumption that your description is all readers may have to go on. Then make a judgment about its effectiveness, supporting your claim with clear evidence from the “text.” Your supporting evidence from the “text” is the textbook. In this essay you will analyze the image below to determine the elements of how successful or unsuccessful visual presentations are arranged according to the three appeals and other elements discussed in Chapter 1. You can also review analysis specifics about visual rhetoric in Chapter 14 of the textbook.
The image below is a bumper sticker. Your Essay should address the five questions below.
1. what is its purpose?
2. what kind of argument is it?
3. which of the stasis questions does it most appropriately respond to?
4. to what audiences does it appeal?
5. What appeals does it make and how?
(IMAGE IS BELOW )
image source: © Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Corbis available in Everything’s an Argument 7th edition
Strategies for Success
Cite the textbook to provide evidence of your analysis (as you did in the discussions for week 2 and 3).
Avoid first/second person in your response.
Your thesis not announce the intent of the essay and be debatable.
Be sure to review the rubric for specific assignment expectations.
Format Guidelines
Essay word count is 700 – 750 words (not including cited material).
At least 5 paragraphs.
Use traditional MLA essay structure. Use the default settings on your word processing program (“normal” margins,12-point font, Calibri or Times New Roman). Double-space your essay and include page numbers and headers. (see sample MLA first page and works cited in Chapter 22 on using MLA).
Submitted the essay as a .doc or .docx file.
For more tips, please view this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi4Vx70Ehi.
