Stephens- ENC 1101, Fall 2009
EH 301
Rhetorical Concept Memo
Assignment Introduction
In this assignment, you will be writing a memo about a rhetorical concept.
You will first sign-up to research, write about, and present about one of the rhetorical concepts, models, or philosophers’ who has established rhetorical principles.
· Sophist rhetoric (versus Aristotle’s ethics)
· (Greece) Aristotle’s three types of speeches
· (Greece) Aristotle’s three proofs or modes of persuasion
· (Greece) Aristotle’s rhetorical invention
· (Greece) Aristotle’s five Canons of Rhetoric
· (Rome) Cicero’s contribution to rhetoric
· Rhetorical situation (triangle)
· Rhetorical strategies / arguments:
· Na
ative
· Definition
· Cause and Effect
· Analogy
· Appeals to Authority
· Refutative argument
· Concession
· Engagement with the opposition
· Rogerian argument
· Kenneth Burke’s definition and function of rhetoric
· Figurative language used to augment rhetoric
Assignment Details
You should research your rhetorical concept or topic and compose a memo describing or explaining the concept to the class. Consider your peers as your audience, and the memo is a form of communication you are using to describe or explain your topic.
Along with a comprehensive overview of your rhetorical concept or topic, you should also explain how users (your readers) can apply the concept in a real-world scenario. An effective method of communicating concepts is to provide an example, a real-life or artificial scenario of the concept. For instance, if you are describing the rhetorical strategy of na
ative, you might include an example of a na
ative that a person might compose to persuade their audience of their idea. If you are describing Kenneth Burke’s definition of rhetoric, include an example of a writing and describe how it serves Burke’s rhetorical function of writing.
Your memo should serve to advance the knowledge of readers’ of your topic or, put another way, teach your peers about your topic and demonstrate how they can apply it in their own writing or communication situations.
The research you do on your topic and the composition of your memo will help you prepare for the presentation you will perform to the class regarding your rhetorical concept.
Formatting requirements
· Refer to Chapter 7 in the text, The Essentials of Technical Communication, by Elizabeth Tebeaux and Sam Dragga, specifically pages XXXXXXXXXX, for specifics on how to organize your memo and for the proper headings to use.
· 3-page minimum (you can go over)
· Any font (readable and appropriate) size 11-point or 12-point
· Use single-spacing
· Include in-text citations as appropriate and a seperate Works Cited, Bibliography, or References page
· Choose any citation style you want to use and be consistent (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
Submission Requirements
· You will submit at least a three-page, single-spaced memo as a Word document or PDF
= 30 points
Recommendations for Success
· Use appropriate rhetoric, including language, style, tone, images, etc. Write for your audience! Do a detailed audience analysis and know their information needs.
· You will be graded on the characteristics of technical communication:
· Accurate
· Attention to audience
· Clea
· Concise
· Ethical
· Accessible document design
· Readable
PAGE
3