Journal 1 Assignment

-Take what you've learned in our previous class
-Read chapters 1 and 2 of the textbook (Sellnow – The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture)
-Take out a piece of paper and jot down a few point-form notes on the following 3 questions….

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a) From page 1 of the textbook...“Take a moment or two to jot down a favourite (1) movie, (2) TV program, (3) song, (4) cartoon, (5) comic strip, and (6) advertisement. Beside each selection, identify a sentence or two why it is a favourite of yours. The reasons you offer actually demonstrate the influential role that each one plays in how you interpret the world around you.”

(you can also think of other cultural favourites of yours if you wish)

b) Can you think of something you thought to be “meaningless rhetoric” or “empty words”? Why did you think so? What could have made you think differently?

c) Think of a situation where a good argument motivated you to do something positive orchange your beliefs for better. How did you react to it? Why was it effective? Conversely, can you think of a situation where a good argument persuaded you to do, say, or buy something you regret? Why was it effective? How could you have avoided it?(you don't have to do all of these, but I do suggest that you come up with at least 6 different examples in total)
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Now that you have some notes, choose 2 or 3 things that you think would be interesting, appropriate and possibly 'rhetorical' to write about (i.e. would make an interesting argument).

Come up with at least 2 sub-points for each of your examples.

Keep the following ideas from readings/class in mind (these will be discussed further in lecture on Monday):

-The problem of knowing – how do you know? Dig deeper!

-Socratic method, Dialectic

-Ethics and Aesthetics

-The three appeals: logos, ethos, pathos

-weighing pros/cons, looking for opposites

-Add to these any ideas you get from reading Chapters 1 and 2, and refer to them in discussing why arguments you encountered have been effective (or not)

Write it down in clear, serious text. Use paragraphs, and do NOT use point form. You can separate your journal into 2 or 3 parts that are not related (i.e. discussing different ideas), and these parts can have their own titles/headings. Try to keep your writing structured as much as possible.

Aim for 500 words (450+ accepted) – but you are welcome to go beyond it (just don't make this more difficult for yourself than it should be).

Feel free to write in first person (i.e. “I think...”), but avoid informal language and slang.

Remember that I (i.e. your prof) am your audience.

Keep the possibility of using one (or more) of the ideas that you come up with for your final project – this is a good way to brainstorm and compare ideas.

Print and have the finished journal ready to submit in class on Thursday, Sept. 22

Have some fun with this!

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A reminder - my office hours are tomorrow (Friday) 3:00-5:00 in PAS 1284. If you have any questions, you can also email me anytime.