Text Responses
The text responses are a way to help you digest and solidify your understanding of the texts we’re engaging with by creating connections with other class texts.
What Text Responses Should Do
1. Select one concept/issue/idea that shows up in two assigned texts (do not use more than two) and compare how it is handled by each text. You may want to ask yourself the following questions as you write: What are the differences between the ways each text handles the concept/issue/idea? How do the two visions presented of the concept/issue/idea complement each other? Is there one version that you agree with more and why? Can both versions coexist harmoniously, and if so, what do they add to each other?
2. You can also use these responses as a way to explore how these texts help you think about your Defining Rhetoric Essay. How have these texts contributed to your understanding of how rhetoric can be defined? While this approach to the text responses is optional, I suggest trying it for at least one of the responses so you can start articulating your definition of rhetoric.
3. You will write four text responses throughout the semester. Text responses are due by class time on the day we’re discussing the texts you wrote about. You can also compare texts from two different class days but please turn your response in on the day when we discuss the text that is assigned later on in the semester. You can submit only one response per class, so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to work on these throughout the semester. In other words, don’t wait until the end of the semester to complete this assignment.
2. You can also use these responses as a way to explore how these texts help you think about your Defining Rhetoric Essay. How have these texts contributed to your understanding of how rhetoric can be defined? While this approach to the text responses is optional, I suggest trying it for at least one of the responses so you can start articulating your definition of rhetoric.
3. You will write four text responses throughout the semester. Text responses are due by class time on the day we’re discussing the texts you wrote about. You can also compare texts from two different class days but please turn your response in on the day when we discuss the text that is assigned later on in the semester. You can submit only one response per class, so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to work on these throughout the semester. In other words, don’t wait until the end of the semester to complete this assignment.
What Text Responses Should Avoid
1. Do not bring in outside research. Use the two texts you have selected exclusively.
2. Avoid simply summarizing the texts. The point of the assignment is not to summarize but to analyze how the two texts engage with each other. While this will require some level of summary, try to keep it to a minimum.
2. Avoid discussing whether or not you liked a text and why. Your focus is to compare how the texts handle the concept/issue/idea you have selected and optionally to think about how these texts help you think about your own definition of rhetoric.
3. Do not go under 1,000 words or over 1,200 words. One of the most important skills I developed in graduate school was to express meaningful ideas succinctly and I learned it through assignments like this one. Please stay within the word limit and push yourself to say something of substance in this short form. Having this ability will prove invaluable to you throughout your career.
2. Avoid simply summarizing the texts. The point of the assignment is not to summarize but to analyze how the two texts engage with each other. While this will require some level of summary, try to keep it to a minimum.
2. Avoid discussing whether or not you liked a text and why. Your focus is to compare how the texts handle the concept/issue/idea you have selected and optionally to think about how these texts help you think about your own definition of rhetoric.
3. Do not go under 1,000 words or over 1,200 words. One of the most important skills I developed in graduate school was to express meaningful ideas succinctly and I learned it through assignments like this one. Please stay within the word limit and push yourself to say something of substance in this short form. Having this ability will prove invaluable to you throughout your career.
Text Response Delivery
Please complete your responses in Microsoft Word and title each document using your last name and Text Response #, i.e. Smitherman Text Response 1. You will email each response to [email protected]. The subject of your email should be your last name and Text Response #, i.e. Smitherman Text Response 1.
Questions
If you have questions about this assignment, feel free to email me, stop by my office hours, or make an appointment.
