Overview
For the final paper in this course, you will create a researched analysis of an issue related to digital rhetoric. Throughout our readings, we have encountered many rhetorical trends that impact how we communicate, compose, and live today. This project challenges you to connect the ideas and concepts from our readings to contemporary issues you encounter in our current digitally-focused world.
This project asks you to demonstrate and apply your knowledge of one or more of the concepts we have studied in our course to help us better understand a contemporary issue or phenomenon related to digital communication. That is, you will do a rhetorical analysis of a current issue, topic, concern, etc. using one of the theories we have studied as a lens for your analysis. For example, you might analyze how Burke’s theory of terministic screens relates to how we use social media platforms such as Instagram. Or, you might apply Messaris's theory of visual rhetoric to analyze the data visualizations that have been created to communicate information about the COVID-19 pandemic.
As you get started, it may be helpful to consider Eyman's two approaches to digital rhetoric:
- Developing new theories specifically for digital communication
- Applying or adapting existing theory to digital communication
Which approach will you take to conduct your analysis? Your paper will need to include the following:
- A title page formatted according to APA standards for student papers
- An introduction providing context for the contemporary issue and identifying the theory or theories you will apply in your analysis
- A brief description (one paragraph) of the theory/theories you have selected to demonstrate your understanding and set up your analysis
- A close analysis of the issue or phenomenon
- Analysis should show both a thorough understanding of the theory/theories you’ve chosen and a well-supported articulation of the relevance this theory lends to the identified current issue—make sure you express how this theory helps us better understand the issue/phenomenon.
- A conclusion summarizing this theory's significance in understanding our contemporary, digitally-mediated world
- A references page including entries for all of the sources you have cited in your paper
All papers must be 5-7 pages in length, not including the title or reference pages, and will need to cite at least four sources. Two of the sources you use must be scholarly (course readings are acceptable, but you should also plan to do some research of your own on your issue or topic). The purpose of this activity is to get feedback from your instructor before submitting your final paper in Module 9. You will implement the feedback from your instructor for your final submission.
First, visit the Final Paper Overview page to review the prompt and requirements for this essay.
Your final paper must be 5-7 pages in length, not including the title or reference pages. You will need to cite at least four sources in your paper, two of which should be scholarly sources. All in-text citations and references must be properly formatted according to APA guidelines.
You are submitting your paper as a draft to Turnitin so that you can check the originality report, but the paper will not be stored in the Turnitin repository at this time. Additionally, refer to the Academic Resources page in this course for information about the Turnitin Draft Coach service.
Save your assignment using a naming convention that includes your first and last name and the activity number (or description). Do not add punctuation or special characters. use anything from these key terms and write about Burke’s theory of terministic screens ALSO PLS DONT USE AI
gency
alterity
arrangement
audience
Borderlands
circulation
counterpublic
delivery
dialectic
dissoi logoi
doxa
embodiment
epistemology
ethos
exigence
false consciousness
genre
hegemony
historiography
identification
image event
interinanimation
invention
kairos
logos
memory
metis
motive
pathos
presence
public
rhetorical situation
standpoint
style
subjectivity/ies
symbolic action
techne
terministic screens