Argument 3: a 1000 word polished argument, related in some way to the topic of your semester blog. This argument should include an enthymeme, and have a well-defined target audience (i.e. 8th graders, BYU students, a company, a town hall meeting, the readers of a particular website, etc.). The 1000 words may all be part of the main argument, or some of it may be used in text boxes, headings, and supplementary material.
The style and delivery of the argument should be appropriate for both the audience and the subject matter. As such, it should include at least two types of images or visuals (see the Rhetoric of Visuals for ideas of types of images/visuals) and pay attention to formatting and layout conventions, with attention paid to type font, use of color, use of line, etc.
Further, the argument—both in the written text and visuals/layout should incorporate appropriate principles of style including tone, stance, correctness, clarity, emphasis, variety, and distinction.
It is recommended that you choose one of the following forms as the medium for your argument:
- A print text (this could be a proposal, a brochure, a flier, an informational packet, a poster, etc.)
- A web text (this could be an extended—and professionally designed—blog post, a website or webpage, an infographic, etc.)
- An alternative multimodal text (a prezi, a video, etc.)
- Another approved medium of choice.
Particular affordances and constraints for the genre should be considered. For example, if you write a web text, you should use hyperlinks.
In addition to the final argument, you will submit a 1-2 paragraph typed reflection that addresses:
- The rationale behind the textual and visual rhetorical choices you made.
- A description of your audience.
- A description of what you’re going to do/have done to have your argument reach this target audience.
Formatting and Citations:
- Formatting and citations should match the conventions of your medium and your audience. For example, if you have created a web text, you should use hyperlinks as citation shorthand. If you have a print text, you should work off of the conventions of that genre.
- Citations are not required for Argument 3; however, if they are necessary because you drew from other sources, or if they would be appropriate to build your ethos for the medium, then they should be included.
Recommended Approach:
- Brainstorm on your topic and decide on an enthymeme.
- Consider possible target audiences.
- Brainstorm on what medium would be conducive to your enthymeme and audience.
- Begin writing—both of the written text and the visuals (or other forms).
- Complete a draft and test it for readability on visuals (this includes both traditional peer review as well as critiques on the document/web design).
- Revise!
Enthymeme Analysis and Conceptual Approach
(Due on Wednesday, March 24th–please email so I can reply with comments before the next class period.)
This should include:
- A polished enthymeme.
- A short analysis of the different perspectives on the audience.
- A paragraph on who specifically you’re targeting in the argument.
- A description of the conceptual approach, with particular attention to genre, planned use of visuals, color, layout, etc. Sketches/demos may be useful.
Grading
Grading will be done on a holistic scale as follows:
A: An A argument has a strong, well-developed enthymeme with an implicit assumption that would be acceptable to the audience. This argument is expressed with a medium suitable to the audience, with excellent use of visuals, layout, and genre conventions. An A argument exhibits control over the movement of the argument and over the readers’ response. Careful attention is paid to medium and to using the most appropriate medium to reach the audience. An A argument will also demonstrate sophistication with language by assuring the readers’ attention to the most important concepts with appropriate stylistic emphasis. Specifically, an A argument will exhibit these virtues of style in both the written text and the visual design: correctness, clarity, appropriateness, emphasis, variety, and distinction. Finally, an A argument effectively deals with the counterargument (procatalepsis).
B: A B argument has a functioning enthymeme, but lacks control over reader response and movement of the argument. The reader-writer contract is either weak or is broken during the course of the paper. A B argument is well executed in regards to form and visuals with an consistent, overall theme and approach. A B paper may also exhibit the following:
- A weak reason
- A weak major premise
- Insufficient consideration of terms or relations
- Some deficiency in managing information according to audience expectations
- Problems with clarity, cohesion, and emphasis
- Problem anticipating reader “buts” (procatalepsis)
- Visuals/layout appears incomplete or not fully unified with the content (visuals are not truly integrated/connections are not fully made)
- While they are appropriate to the audience and enthymeme, layout/visuals are not polished or professionally executed (this may be more manifest through poor printing, low resolution, etc.).
C: A C argument has the rudiments of an argument and effective visuals, but is usually misconceived in audience or support (both for the text and the visuals). The following problems characterize a C paper:
- Argument in the implicit assumption
- Argument in the b/c clause
- Obscure terms
- Obscure relations
- Inappropriate re-definition
- Terms or relations reversed
- Formal principle minimally functional
- Lack of clarity, cohesion, and emphasis
- Disconnect between images and content
- Use of visual layout and genre seems arbitrary
- Layout not developed or sloppily put together
D: A D paper has no argument present. It generally reflects genuine effort but has one or more of the following problems:
- No reader-writer contract
- No b/c clause (reason) offered
- Incomplete argument
- A definitional statement
- A policy statement (should)
- A value statement (is good, is bad)
- Four terms (no major premise; b/c clause does not address the claim)
- Incomplete use of visuals
- Little attention is paid to visual formatting
