Overview
COMS 446: Final Exam
Section 1: Short Answer (2-3 sentences for each question) (5 points each)
1. Define “crime” as a rhetorical construct. Use at least one theory / theorist
discussed in this class.
2. Provide and describe an example of how crime is shaped through rhetoric &
discourse.
3. Describe the rhetorical / symbolic effects of “punishment” in modern society.
4. Explain Michel Foucault’s theory of “discipline,” highlighting the symbolic, political,
and social implications he outlines.
5. Define “moral panic” as explained by Stuart Hall.
6. Define “ideology” and explain why it is an important concept for understanding the
rhetoric of crime & punishment
7. What is a “discursive formation” and why is the concept important for
understanding the rhetoric of crime & punishment?
8. Explain why Richard Nixon’s “War on Drugs” was a powerful political message but a
policy failure.
9. Using J. Edgar Hoover’s “The Twin Enemies of Freedom” speech as an example,
explain the rhetorical tactics deployed during the Cold War to link crime &
communism, as discussed in class.
10. Define the genre of a “crime film” as discussed in class/course readings, provide at
least one example, and explain how that example fits the genre.
11. What is the myth of “order” and how do the police reinforce that myth?
12. Michelle Alexander advances a theory about “black crime” and citizenship. Explain
her theory.
13. Explain Foucault’s theory of Governmentality. Be sure to include all THREE parts of
the definition.
14. How does Foucault’s theory of Governmentality help us to understand the
“problem” of immigration?
15. How do institutions (courts, police, prisons, government) define or justify crime and
punishment?
16. What rhetorical strategies do institutions use to define or justify crime and
punishment?
17. How do media shape public understanding of crime and punishment?
18. Provide one example of how media shape public understanding of crime and
punishment (news, TV, film, podcast, etc.) and briefly explain its rhetorical impact.
19. Identify at least ONE contradiction in how crime and punishment operate in the U.S.
20. What is one idea from this course that most changed how you think about crime
and punishment? Why?
Section 2: Treasure Hunt Analysis (50 points)
This semester we have watched numerous clips from TV shows and news reports that
represent crime, policing, order, and victimhood in different ways. For this section, you are
to find your OWN clip that represents some aspect of crime and punishment in
entertainment or news media. This can be a TV show, a podcast, a news report, or a film. It
can be recent or from any era. Once you have selected your clip, answer the following
questions:
1. Describe the clip so that I know what happens without having to watch it. Identify
key players, describe the scene(s), and tell me what happened.
2. Explain how this clip REPRESENTED some aspect of crime & punishment. Pay
special attention to issues of race and gender.
3. Explain how this clip VISUALLY REPRESENTED some aspect of crime & punishment.
Pay special attention to issues of race and gender.
4. Explain if the clip accurately represents reality. How do you know?
5. Explain if they clip fits with other types of media or if it is unusual. How do you
know?
Section 3: Essay (50 points)
Over the course of the semester, we have examined crime and punishment NOT as a legal
or social fact, but rather as a rhetorical phenomenon constructed, justified, and circulated
through discourse. Drawing on at least THREE theorists from this course answer the
following question:
How does rhetoric shape what counts as crime, who is seen as criminal, and what forms of
punishment are considered legitimate in the United States?
Your answer must include at least THREE examples. You should also consider topics like
visual rhetoric, emotion, fear, patterns like safety v. control, and the role institutions play in
this social/political dynamic.
I expect you will write at least THREE paragraphs.