For this assignment you will be applying some of the concepts you learned in this module about visual and digital rhetoric by analyzing a piece of visual rhetoric in 750-1000 words. Hopefully, you will be able to think seriously about how persuasion works within the visual world.
Later in the course, you will be writing a rhetorical analysis of a text that is either written or spoken. In both cases, you will analyze the rhetorical situation (visual claim), the context surrounding it, and the rhetorical appeals and rhetorical strategies being employed.
In addition, you will examine and explain the intended effects of the visual rhetoric within these texts. This includes the use of color, camera angles/lenses, texture, use of space, etc. Many of these strategies are explained in this module.
Assignment Details
Locate a piece of visual or digital rhetoric. This could be an advertisement (print or video), a famous photo or painting, a poster, or even a graphic novel. Your choice must use rhetoric (visual, possibly with some text) in an interesting and persuasive manner. The piece that you chose should be fairly sophisticated. You don\’t want to analyze the obvious. Your analysis needs to help the reader understand how the text/image works to persuade its intended audience.
Steps:
1. Choose a piece of visual/digital rhetoric to analyze on your own from a simple Google search. I suggest using a simple, direct search phrase, such as \”Great print ads to analyze.\”
2. Once you have chosen a visual claim, please submit the URL to the \”Essay Topic Proposal Visual/Digital Rhetoric:Visual Choice Assignment\” which is the next assignment in this module. Use the Rhetorical Analysis Guidelines to complete the various sections.
2. Now, you need to start analyzing the visual/digital claim that you have chosen. One good place to start is answering the questions in the Rhetorical Analysis Guidelines section of this module. These guidelines will help you organize the various sections of your essay.
Organize your body paragraphs in the following way:
Analyze the various components of the Rhetorical Situation.
Analyze the various visual components such as color usage, focus, text, content, etc.
Analyze the image\’s use of the rhetorical appeals and any other rhetorical strategies
3. Come up with a thesis or claim about the piece you will be analyzing (goes at the end of your introduction). Ex.: \”In this advertisement by the athletic wear company Nike, we can see that they use black and white imaging, foreground focus, and the use of ethos to persuade the viewer to purchase their product.\”
Assignment Requirements
Must be in MLA format including a header, title, 12pt font, left justification, one-inch margins, and DOUBLE SPACING
MUST include in-text citation with corresponding Works Cited page.
750-1000 words
Objectives
1. Think deep. Go beyond the obvious. Have fun.
2. Make a strong claim about the piece and utilize good support.
3. Present a context for the piece of rhetoric.
5. Expand/challenge/transform the audience’s understanding of the image.
Stylistic/Grammatical Focus
For this essay, our focus will be on the following :
Focused and analytical thesis statements and topic sentences
Strong analytical verbs and description
Effective, smooth transitions
Proper paragraph and essay structure.
Thoroughly revised and edited final draft resulting in college-level work. See Grading Standards Policy.
Sample Essay
For more guidance, please review this sample assignment essay.
Analyzing Visual Rhetoric Resources
Visual_Rhetoric/Examples_And_Analysis_Of_Visual_Literature (Links to an external site.)
Basic Strategies in Reading Photographs (Links to an external site.)
Essay Outline: Visual Analysis Martini Glass.pdf
Rubric
Essay Rubric S21 (1) (1)
Essay Rubric S21 (1) (1)
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIdeas
25 to >22.25 pts
Full Marks
• A: Presents an interesting and sophisticated response to the topic. The central thesis is stated clearly, worthy of development, and suitably specific, constituting a thoughtful answer to a question worth asking. The paper recognized the complexity of the topic or question, acknowledging contradictions, qualifications or limits of the thesis while sustaining logical development.
22.25 to >19.75 pts
B
• B: A clearly stated thesis that responds appropriately to the topic. Paper demonstrated understanding of the question, acknowledging the central idea’s complexity or significance, but it may handle the ideas in a less sophisticated and effective way
19.75 to >17.25 pts
C
C: Responds to the topic, but presents its central idea in general terms, not striking an appropriate level of specificity and precision. The paper may not offer insights beyond the most obvious, and the thesis does not engage the topic’s key questions with sufficient clarity and control. The paper may restate the question unnecessarily, or may overlook important aspects.
17.25 to >14.75 pts
D
• D: Does not have a clear central idea, or it responds to the assignment in a simplistic or perfunctory way. The thesis may be vague or unrecognizable, may be too obvious to be developed effectively, or may demonstrate only a superficial approach to the topic.
14.75 to >0 pts
F
Does not meet or address the assignment guidelines
25 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization and Coherence
25 to >22.25 pts
A
A: Has a logical structure appropriate to the subject, purpose, audience, and discipline. Usually, transitional sentences lead the reader from one idea to the next, and/or identify the logical relations between ideas and thesis. Paragraphs make clear points that support the main idea, and paragraphs demonstrate coherence and continuity.
22.25 to >19.75 pts
B
• B: Demonstrates a logical progression of ideas and offers the reader transitional links, each paragraph relates to the paper’s central idea, but the connections may be less sophisticated and effective than those of the A paper. Sentences coherently support their paragraph’s topic sentences.
19.75 to >17.25 pts
C
C: May list ideas or arrange them less effectively rather than use a logical structure; transitions are likely to be sequential statements (“first,” “second,” “third”) rather than logical links. While each paragraph relates to the central idea, the flow of ideas may not be smooth, and arrangements of sentences occasionally may be ineffective.
17.25 to >14.75 pts
D
• D: Often has random organization, using few or inappropriate transitions; paragraphs may lack clear logical links to the central idea, and paragraph length may be inappropriate—long undivided blocks or choppy short units. D papers often contain paragraphs with little relevance to the topic whose relevance requires considerable authorial explanation.
14.75 to >0 pts
F
Does not meet the assignment guidelines.
25 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSupport
20 to >17.8 pts
A
• A: Uses evidence appropriately and effectively, providing sufficient and convincing support for its main ideas. If it uses outside sources, the paper does so with a competent controlling touch, critically evaluating as necessary, and showing clear comprehension. An A paper appropriately defines terms and limits its scope, and it cites useful illustrative examples.
17.8 to >15.8 pts
B
• B: Offers reasons for supporting the points it makes, using varied kinds of evidence, but the evidence may need further evaluation or qualification. Connections between main ideas and evidence may need some clarifying, and definitions of terms may not be smoothly accomplished, but the logic is solid. Examples do support a thesis, but development may be somewhat incomplete.
15.8 to >13.8 pts
C
• C: If it acknowledges other views, the C paper may exhibit only a basic comprehension of source material, with some lapses in understanding. Definitions may be simply dictionary quotations, not integrated into a flow of ideas, and the relevance of examples may not be clear. C papers often inappropriately depend on unsupported opinion or personal experience, or assume that the evidence speaks for itself; there may be lapses in logic and the development may be perfunctory.
13.8 to >11.8 pts
D
D: May show a misunderstanding of sources, or may rely too heavily on them at the expense of clear exposition; the paper may depend on clichés overgeneralizations for support, or it may offer little evidence of any kind. The examples are not convincing; it may rely on personal narrative when analysis is called for or it may summarize too simply. Paragraphs may be too short to do justice to the topic.
11.8 to >0 pts
F
Does not address the assignment requirement.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStyle
15 to >13.35 pts
A
• A: An A paper shows a clear command of English prose, choosing words for their precise meanings, with an appropriate level of specificity and sophistication. Sentence style fits audience and purpose; sentences are varied, yet clearly structured and carefully focused—neither long and rambling, nor short and choppy.
13.35 to >11.85 pts
B
• B: Accurate and effective, but sometimes may be too general; sentences are mostly clear and well-structured, though there may be an occasional awkward or ineffective construction. •
11.85 to >10.35 pts
C
C: Usually exhibits some vague word choice or inappropriately general terms, and though sentence structure generally is correct there may be some sentences that are wordy or unfocused or choppy. Meaning may be diffused through cumbersome constructions and may depend inappropriately on jargon.
10.35 to >8.85 pts
D
• D: My be overly vague and abstract, or overly personal and specific, but in any case its styled is inadequate for the task at hand. It usually contains frequent awkward or ungrammatical sentences, or employs “correct” sentences that are inappropriately simple or monotonous.
8.85 to >0 pts
No Marks
Does not meet the standard of academic style.
15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanics
15 to >13.35 pts
A
• A: An A paper contains few if any errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar, and observes all applicable MLA format and citation conventions.
13.35 to >11.85 pts
B
B: May contain a few mechanical, grammatical, and/or formatting errors, but the errors do not impede understanding; MLA citation and other considerations are substantially correct and appropriate for the subject or discipline.
11.85 to >10.35 pts
C
C: May contain numerous mechanical, grammatical, and/or MLA formatting errors, but not enough to impede understanding.
10.35 to >8.85 pts
D
• D: Problems severe enough or frequent enough to impede a reader’s understanding. Format may be inappropriate, or may indicate neglect or misreading of instructions.
8.85 to >0 pts
F
Does not include in-text citation and/or a works cited page
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
Writing your visual rhetoric analysis paper might seem a little overwhelming at first, but don’t worry. This guide will help you break down the assignment into manageable steps. Just follow along and you’ll be ready to go!
Step 1: Select Your Visual or Digital Rhetoric
Your first task is to choose a visual or digital rhetoric piece. This could be an advertisement (print or video), a famous photo or painting, a poster, or even a graphic novel. The key here is to pick something that uses visual rhetoric in a sophisticated and persuasive way.
- Tip: Use a Google search like “great print ads to analyze” or “famous advertisements” to find options. Make sure your choice is not too obvious—try to go for something that has depth and complexity.
Step 2: Submit Your URL
Once you’ve chosen the visual, submit the URL for your chosen piece through the “Essay Topic Proposal Visual/Digital Rhetoric: Visual Choice Assignment” (the next step in the course).
- Note: Use the Rhetorical Analysis Guidelines to help you complete this part.
Step 3: Analyze the Rhetorical Situation
Now it’s time to dive into the analysis part! Answer the questions in the Rhetorical Analysis Guidelines section. These questions will help you structure your essay and organize your thoughts.
- Consider the rhetorical situation: Who created this visual? Why was it created? Who is the intended audience? What is the purpose of the piece? What context surrounds this visual?
Step 4: Analyze the Visual Components
Break down the visual elements of your chosen piece:
- Color usage: What emotions or ideas do the colors convey?
- Focus: What part of the image is in focus? Why does it matter?
- Texture: How does texture (smooth, rough, etc.) contribute to the piece’s message?
- Space: How is space used in the visual? Is it crowded or sparse? What effect does that have on the message?
These elements all play a role in how the visual persuades its audience, so take the time to analyze them.
Step 5: Examine Rhetorical Appeals & Strategies
Your next task is to analyze the rhetorical appeals and strategies used in the visual. Consider the three main rhetorical appeals:
- Ethos: Does the image appeal to credibility or authority?
- Pathos: Does the image evoke emotion? How?
- Logos: Is there a logical argument being made in the image?
Also, pay attention to any other rhetorical strategies (such as irony, symbolism, etc.) that the image might use to persuade its audience.
Step 6: Develop Your Thesis Statement
After you’ve analyzed the image, come up with a thesis statement that sums up your argument. Your thesis should be a clear, specific claim about the visual.
- Example Thesis: “In this advertisement by Nike, the use of black and white imagery, foreground focus, and the use of ethos persuade the viewer to purchase their product.”
Step 7: Structure Your Paper
Your paper should be structured like this:
- Introduction: Introduce the visual you’ll be analyzing, include some context, and end with your thesis statement.
- Body Paragraphs:
- Paragraph 1: Analyze the rhetorical situation (who, what, when, where, why, audience).
- Paragraph 2: Analyze the visual components (color, focus, texture, space).
- Paragraph 3: Discuss the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) and other strategies.
- Conclusion: Summarize your analysis and restate how your visual uses rhetoric to persuade its audience.
Step 8: Format Your Paper
Make sure your paper follows MLA format:
- Use 12pt font (Times New Roman or similar).
- Double-space your paper.
- One-inch margins on all sides.
- Include a header with your name, instructor’s name, course name, and date.
Also, don’t forget to include in-text citations for any references you use, and create a Works Cited page.
Step 9: Revise and Edit
Once you’ve written your first draft, set it aside for a bit before revising. When revising:
- Focus on clarity and organization: Make sure your points are logically ordered and easy to follow.
- Use strong analytical verbs: Words like “argues,” “demonstrates,” and “persuades” will elevate your analysis.
- Check your grammar and spelling: Ensure there are no errors that distract from your argument.
Step 10: Submit Your Paper
Finally, submit your polished paper by the due date. You’ve got this!