SOCIAL NETWORKING RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

DUE DATE/TIME
Your zero-draft is due in the form of Blog 6 on Wednesday, September 9th. The intermediate
draft is due for in-class workshop on Monday, September 14th and should include all
required elements.
Your final Rhetorical Analysis will be due no later than class time on Friday, September 18th.
LENGTH
No fewer than 4 full pages, double-spaced, in 12-point font. Try not to exceed 5 pages.
FORMAT
Use MLA style for the essay title, name/page number header, etc. Heres a link to a sample
essay using MLA format: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090701095636_747.pdf
For any sources you use, including images, sound clips, etc., you must use both in-text
citation and have a Works Cited entry corresponding to the citation. Praxis includes a little
information about MLA citation/Works Cited format (pgs. 228-34). Heres a link to a good
online source of information: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s10001.html#RES5e_ch08_p0011

IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

Successful responses to this assignment will:
have an appropriate title
focus on a musician you dont know
analyze several mediums (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Imgur, etc)
emphasize analysisbut also uses description to support the analysis
use a slightly more formal register in this essay than in the Music Autobiography (but
its still fine to use 1st person point of view and contractions)
include a relevant audio or visual component (screenshots, short video clips, and the
like)
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Youll rhetorically analyze an individuals online social networking (e)dentitytheir digital identity
including their profile, pictures, links, posts, and so on. Youll focus on a musician, artist, band,
producer you do not know on a personal level. Your objective will be to describe and evaluate the
rhetorical impact of the (e)dentity conveyed by this individual. Your audience for the essay is

our class, including me, your instructor. Your writing choices need to be made with this
audience in mind. Your purpose is to reveal the rhetorical devices at work in your
selected subjects social networking profile and draw a persuasive conclusion as the result
of your analysis.

QUESTIONS FOR INVENTION

Important: these questions are intended to help you get starteddo not structure your essay
according to them. Brainstorm responses and then look for ideas that jump out to you as
especially interesting, insightful, unexpected, or otherwise provocative and use those points
as the focus of your essay.

What websites does this figure present him/herself on?

What values does the figure want presented?
What visual images does the figure present in his/her media presence? What do they
have in common? How do they differ?
What rhetorical appeals do you observe in this figures media profile?
Whats special about the rhetorical moment thats the context for this figures social
networking profile?
What sort of audience do you think the figure has in mind? What values, assumptions,
expectations, and customs does s/he seem to be drawing upon?
As a viewer, how does your analysis of these mediums affect your opinion of the
figure?
Why do you think the figure has presented him/herself in this fashion?

GRADING CRITERIA
Strong rhetorical analysis essays will:
present a clear stance on the purpose/tone of a public figures (e)dentity
demonstrate the ability to carefully and critically analyze a strangers online presence
consider several primary sources for the analysis
display an awareness and consideration of audience
effectively use multimedia elements to support points being made
display effective stylestrong introduction and conclusion paragraphs, smooth
transitions, logical organization, etc
properly use MLA format and citation of sources proper format (MLA
smoothly move from point to point
demonstrate professional editing skills (grammar, usage, & mechanics)
correctly use MLA page format and citation style for sources (including your own photos,
etc.)