COMP 2 WEEK 1Taking a Closer Look at the Five Canons of Rhetoric

Week 1: Introduction to Argument and Rhetorical Theory

Taking a Closer Look at the Five Canons of Rhetoric Assignment Sheet and Grading Rubric

Instructions: You will first choose two of the five canons of Rhetoric to practice (e.g. Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, or Delivery). Below are activities/writing prompts which corresponding with the canon of Rhetoric you select. After completing the activity, Answer the following reflective questions:

1. Using the assigned readings, what are the five canons of rhetoric and what is the definition of the canons you selected?

2. What activities did you select and what did you learn while doing the activities? What did you notice while doing the activity? Did anything surprise you or did you find something difficult?

3. How did this activity make you practice one of the Canons of Rhetoric? Why was this process significant?

4. How does this activity relate to the way you formulate argument in both professional and personal contexts?

You are only required to do two of the canon activities, but every student needs to answer the reflection questions. Reflections must be a minimum of 750-1000 words and draw upon assigned readings. MLA formatting and citation is expected. Please include an original title using the (2) canons you selected (the Latin or English word is acceptable). Note: Some activities require you to submit additional materials, follow directions accordingly.

Criteria Below Expectation (0-1.5)

Meeting Expectations (2-3.5)

Outstanding (4-5) Total Points

Nuts and Bolts

Did student fully complete (2) canon activities and assignment reflection meeting a minimum length of 750-1000 words? Did students submit in an acceptable word doc or docx format?

__/ 5

Style

Did students create an original title following assignment criteria? Are the (2) canon activities clearly defined? i.e. the instructor is not struggling to figure out which activity was done

__/ 5

Development

Did students adequately developed and explain ideas? Are the canon activities are supported by specific and original examples?

__/ 5

Focus

Did students draw upon assigned weekly readings to complete activities and reflection?

__/ 5

MLA Citation and Formatting

Times New Roman 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double-spaced, MLA heading, header (last name and page numbers in upper right corner), works Cited page included and correctly done

__/ 5

Canons of Rhetoric Prompt Options: 1. Invention (Inventio): Persuasion in Film The art of persuasion is not only used in debates or public speeches, but also in marketing, music, and in the digital media we consume each day. For this assignment you will need to select a film of your choice. This can be something you want to see, something you have already seen, or one of your favorite movies of all time. Once you select your film, locate it’s movie poster and original trailer. In your reflection, you need to clearly include 1) the movie title, 2) the image of the movie poster, and 3) the link to the original trailer. Elaborate on why you chose this specific film and then reflect on all the techniques you notice that aims to persuade the audience to see this film. What appeals do you notice (i.e. ‘sex sells’, thrilling music, humor, emotion)? Based on the movie title, poster, and trailer, who do you think is the intended audience for a film like this?

2. Arrangement (Dispositio): What did you do last weekend? It’s pretty expected when you walk into your place of work or into a social situation on a Monday morning you are greeted with something that sounds like “Hello! How are you? What did you do last night?” or “How was your weekend?” Depending on the social situation, you might offer a lot of details or share a specific story about what you did or if in a time crunch, you might simply say, “ah, it was okay!” Whenever you meet someone over the next day, and they ask you what you did last night, last weekend, yesterday, etc., try to always tell the same story. But mix up the events, and order how you tell the story. Try to find the most exciting, most boring, most informative, and more elaborate way of telling about your experience. Record notes about each interaction and summarize how you told each story and what happened when you arranged your story in different ways. Reflect on what characteristics matter when it comes to holding different audiences attention? Complete this activity with at least 4 different people and include your interaction notes in your journal submission. 3. Style (Elocutio): Selling the “Ordinary” to Four Different Clients Give four descriptions of an object close to you. It does not matter what object this is (i.e. cell phone, coat hanger, water bottle, remote control, etc). You are going to craft four different description of this object as if to “sell” it to four very different clients. Every description should be different, since they have a different audience and a different rhetorical situation. All descriptions should be between 350-400 words--be creative and embrace a different style as you compose each situation.

• Situation 1: The object is part of an exhibition in an art museum. Give a description of the object on display for the catalogue of the museum.

• Situation 2: The object is being sold by the company you work for. Give a description of the object for an advertisement.

• Situation 3: You are writing an exordium (the introduction to a speech) about this object. Give a description in which you explain why this object is so useful and amazing.

• Situation 4: You are writing a text about this object to explain why it should be forbidden. Give a description in which you explain why this object is so horrible and why it should be forbidden

Please attach each of your four situation, “sales” pitches to your journal reflection. Note: The four situation descriptions will not count toward your reflection word count requirement.

4. Memory (Memoria): Are you Remembering Correctly? I want you to think of a memory involving another person you currently have access to. This could be a painful memory, one marked by joy, love, embarrassment or any strong emotion that makes this memory salient. Set a timer for 5 minutes and write down everything you can remember about this memory. Draw upon the five senses and use as much detail as possible. At the end of 5 minutes, stop writing. You then need to contact (over the phone, video chat, meet in person, etc.) the person the memory is about and ask them to explain their version of the memory. Using the same instructions, give them 5 minutes to recite the memory and encourage them to use as much detail as possible, bringing in the five senses. While they are telling you about the memory, take detailed notes. Now you should have two, unique accounts of the same memory. Please reflect upon the following questions as you compare and contrast the versions:

• How similar/different are the accounts? • Do you believe memories have mass...motion...inertia? How is memory the

same/different from imagination? • What does memory have in common with forgetting? Do you think one account is “more

right?” Please include both memory accounts and the answers to these questions in your journal submission. 5. Delivery (Pronuntiatio): The Pen is Mighty Locate the script for a famous speech online (i.e. “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr., “Gettysburg Address” by Abraham Lincoln, “Ain't I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth, “Women's Rights Are Human Rights” by Hillary Clinton, etc). Try to read a script with a pen in your mouth. This will force you to focus on your articulation, speed, and volume. The lesson that this game teaches is that it is very helpful to always talk like there is a pen in your mouth when you have to perform. Many people have a tendency to talk too fast in front of an audience. However, you have to keep in mind that for your audience it is the first time that they hear what you say. By talking like you have a pen in your mouth, you make sure that you do not talk too fast, and you articulate well enough. Please record 3-5 minutes of your Mighty Pen Speech and include a link in your reflection. *Assignment Adapted from Luscombe A. and Nonnenberg H. (2015) “Practicing the Five Cannons of Rhetoric”