Major Assignment TwoVC.doc

Rhetoric 10:003 Instructor: Vidhi Chaudhri Assignment #2: Mapping a Controversy An Exercise in Critical Cartography Rationale and Goal of Assignment #2: The goal of unit 2 (mapping) is designed to help us set aside binary, two?dimensional arguments and examine multiple arguments in context, conflict and cooperation. One claim is often advocated for different and even competing reasons. The most polar positions can be based on identical premises. People with completely different worldviews can and do agree on certain positions. For this assignment, you will chart a constellation of arguments in the context of the controversy** you have chosen to study. This assignment also makes more demands of you. Specifically, you are expected to conduct outside research to ensure that you provide comprehensive information and different perspectives on your issue. Because of your detailed study of the controversy in this Unit, you will be ready to make (and present) well-informed decisions, judgments, and opinions on your chosen controversy in Unit 3 (advocacy). **Please select a controversy that you are genuinely interested in so you can continue to build upon it for Unit 3. Other considerations for choosing a controversy: easily researched, timely, relevant, and significant. Your Task: The second assignment asks you to look at a controversy that has competing voices (?points of contention?) on the same issue. Let?s suppose that your controversy relates to whether or not the United States should withdraw from Iraq. So, you could choose to look at the subject from an ethical and/or moral perspective; or a more pragmatic, policy-based approach (international security, rebuilding Iraq); you could also look at the humanitarian aspect (how military personnel or their families cope etc.), or even adopt a values-based approach (freedom, democracy, religious tolerance, etc.). I am sure there are ?points of contention? but you should pick the ones that are most important and ones that you strongly believe in. Major Essay 2 You final essay should be no shorter than five (5) pages and no more than seven (7). It should be written in an academic voice and according to the style guidelines of your choice. You will need a minimum of 2 credible sources to provide background information for your controversy. More specifically, you will be evaluated on the following criteria: Describing the controversy. Your essay should describe the controversy and explain its historical background. How well you establish the context and/or background of the controversy is a clear indication of the thoroughness (or not) of your research. Then, building upon the analytical skill that you learned in Unit 1, you will demonstrate your ability to not only comprehend the various texts, but engage in critical thinking, comparison and contrast. Analyzing 3 points of contention. You should be able to identify and analyze at least 3 different perspectives on the issue. In examining these positions, you should try to use rhetorical concepts such as ethos, pathos, logos, values, and assumptions. Your analysis as a critical cartography will allow you to demonstrate your ability to compare and contrast diverse positions and ultimately, for the next assignment, provide you with the ability to make informed judgments. The basic lesson here is that decisions are hard to make and should be treated that way. REFER TO ?POINTS OF CONTENTION? DOCUMENT ON ICON. Organization. Your essay should have a clearly distinguished introduction, conclusion and body paragraphs. Discuss related issues together and separate the disparate issues. Style/Tone. This essay should be written with a formal, academic audience in mind. You will be evaluated on your ability to clearly present your ideas in the language of this class (rhetoric). This means that you should employ the vocabulary, ideas, and concepts that you have learned in this class in order to convey your thoughts. October 18: First draft due to workshop. Bring two (2) copies. You must have at least 3 pages of text to participate and a works cited page. As a general rule about workshopping, papers that do not meet the length requirements will not be workshopped nor will persons without papers receive credit for workshop. Students who have two copies of a full paper and participate at workshop will earn full credit for their first draft. Students must make revisions as their classmates describe in order to receive full credit for workshop. October 23: Final paper due. In a manila folder, you should include a copy of the grading sheet, your final draft with works cited page, copies of your drafts, and workshopping sheets. Any items missing at the time it is collected cannot be turned in at a later date. Major Speech 2 Your goals for this assignment are to improve your critical cartography skills and to hone your public speaking skills. Your final presentation should be no shorter than five (5) minutes and no more than seven (7). Visual aids will not help or hinder your grade. You will be evaluated on the following criteria: Oral Performance. You will be expected to incorporate elements from the ?Speaking Skills? handouts on ICON, and utilize both verbal and non-verbal aspects of delivery to your advantage. Play special attention to relevance or relating the controversy to your audience. October 25: Speech workshopping. You will be expected to deliver your speech to your workshopping group. You should have your outline and a works cited page printed to show me. Outlines should be written in full sentences (introduction and conclusion should be written word-for-word; the body can be single but complete sentences). The goal is to try to give enough detail on the outline so that when your workshopping classmates listen to your speech, they can follow along. Students who have two copies of a full sentence outline and participate at workshop will earn full credit for their first outline. October 30 and November 1: Final presentations of MS2. In a manila folder, you will turn in a copy of the grading sheet, your final outline with revisions, works cited page, your workshop outline, your workshopping sheets, and your speech reflection immediately before you speak. Any items missing at the time it is collected cannot be turned in at a later date. You will also evaluate your classmates? speeches. ____________________________________________________________________________________ If you are having problems with writing, seek help at the writing center. If you have problems with mapping and/or are unable to understand assignment requirements and expectations, see me during office hours or schedule an appointment.