Introduction:

Our next reading response is a chance to think further about “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis” by Laura Bolin Carroll. This response is intended to help you delve further into the text and consider how her perceptions can be applied to other contexts, beyond the examples she referenced. This work will also get you into some initial practices of strong summary, source integration, and analysis of a representative example.

Instructions:

1. Initial Reply: (200-word minimum)

By Wednesday at 11:59 PM, post your initial response by clicking the reply button below.

• In 200 words or more, please respond to the following:  

1) First, write a short summary on the Carroll text. Introduce the text to your readers but don’t try to cover everything. Readers will just need an overall sense of the text. (See below for tips!) 

Remember that your summary should be a balance of summary/paraphrase in your own words (your claims) and direct quoting from the text (evidence/verification). Include MLA in-text citations for anything directly from a particular page; this includes all direct quotes and close paraphrasing.

Example: In her text, “Backpacks vs. Briefcases,” author Laura Bolin Carroll suggests “Rhetoric—the way we use language and images to persuade—is what makes media work” (46).

OR

Example: The author further explains that “The audience should be able to respond to the exigence. In other words, the audience should be able to help address the problem” (Carroll 49).

*Remember that paraphrases must also have a parenthetical citation at the end (not just direct quotes!).

2) Second, introduce a particular idea or concept from Carroll that you want to use.

3) Next, apply the idea or concept you’ve highlighted to one particular advertisement. It can be recent/older/digital/print/audio, etc. – it is completely your choice! Considering that concept from Carroll, analyze the rhetorical strategy she presented and analyze the strength of that strategy through the advertisement. What are they trying to convince their viewers/audience? What rhetorical strategy/strategies are they using? How is this like the concept shared by Carroll? Be sure to include specific details about the ad to help readers understand what you are talking about. Strong responses will offer rich analysis, engagement with the sources, and a developed discussion considering the implications of what you are thinking about.

If it is something you can access digitally, please provide the link. If not, don’t worry about it! 

4) Lastly, please provide your word count at the end. 

 Then, reply to two peers by Saturday at 11:59 PM

1. Two Replies to Peers: (100-word minimum, each)

By Saturday at 11:59 PM, please post your two responses to your peers. You can do so by clicking the “reply” button under their post.

In your replies, make sure you have specifically responded to the way your classmate has summarized. What praise and/or constructive criticism can be shared? In addition, please respond to their chosen ad and the way the advertisement reflects rhetorical style.  Be specific! 

 Grading:

I value your work and all of your efforts. All discussions in this course will be graded using a Rubric. There is a total of 25 possible points for this assignment, including your initial response and your 2 peer responses. Please do not forget to add the word count at the end of the post.

 Please keep in mind some basic rules for netiquette (Links to an external site.):

– Be kind and respectful to others

– Use full sentences

– Don’t use too much jargon

– Treat others online as you wish to be treated

– Use language that supports others

 You can view the Rubric by clicking on the 3 dots at the top of the page. Have fun!

In her article, Laura Carroll explains that rhetoric is everywhere. She references rhetorician Kenneth Burke who said that “wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric. And wherever there is ‘meaning,’ there is ‘persuasion’ (47). It means that people may not even be aware that they are engaged in a rhetorical act such as wearing appropriate dress for an occasion to express one’s identity.

Laura Carroll’s writing explicated how rhetoric can be used for media advertisements. As Carroll had expressed in the writing, “Understanding rhetorical messages is essential to help us become informed consumers, but it also helps us evaluate the ethics of messages, how they affect us personally, and how they affect society” (46). In other words, rhetorical messages are often used by these companies in order to deliver a particular message

In her essay, “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis,” Laura Carroll argues that rhetoric or “the way we use language and images to persuade” (46) explains why and how media influences us in most, if not all, aspects of our lives. Rhetorical messages, as expressed in the media, inform us as consumers and members of the society. According to Carroll, rhetoric can be formed and scrutinized in terms