Introduction
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About this week...
This week we are examining the broad structure of arguments, including functional elements and how to use them for the purpose of evaluation or analysis.
8a Visual Arguments
We'll discuss the symbols and messages in the cartoons below.
Take a look at the different perspectives of political cartoonists using the national flag as their primary symbol:
http://cartoonblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/04/7010253-american-flag-cartoons
or these Fourth of July cartoons:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43585412/ns/today-today/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1
As you're looking at them (or others), consider what messages the artist is trying to convey. Our 7a discussion will be about messages delivered as images.
8b Media Effects Analysis
Advertising is the ultimate in persuasion. Let's talk about the ideas in Chapter 10 and how they can be applied to an analysis of a cartoon or some other source for your essay.
Find an image related to your final project subject.
The easiest way to do that is to do a Google images search for your subject. I found multiple cartoons for every subject on the project list.
Using what you've learned about visual arguments, examine the image for symbols, explicit and implict meanings, and intended message.
Write a short -- 500-700 word -- informative analysis explaining what you discovered.
A cartoon is an image with a story and can be analyzed much as one would analyze a written story. An informative analysis is much like many essays you've already had to write. Given those two facts, don't let this task get bigger than it needs to be.
Process:
- Select an image that strikes you as having some substance to it or that causes a stronger response in you. Copy and paste it into the file that will become the essay.
- Prepare an MLA citation for the image you select and add it to your essay draft immediately.
- Jot down what you think the intended message of the image is based on your first reaction to it.
- Make a list of the symbols you see used in the image. You may need to do a bit of research to discover what some of the elements mean.
- Jot down some notes about what each of the symbols represents.
- Consider how the symbols have been brought together to craft the message.
- Consider how any text with the image expands or clarifies the message.
- Write a thesis based on what you have learned about the image through your examination.
- Make a list of the points you need to cover to demonstrate the validity of your thesis.
- Write a paragraph for each of the points.
- Write a conclusion that draws ideas from the evidence presented in the body of the essay.
- Revisit the introduction to see if you can make it more engaging or if the thesis needs to be modified based on what you've written.
- Make sure the essay is prepared in MLA manuscript format and that any sources used (including the image) have been properly cited in MLA format.
- Do a final editing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
- Submit one copy of the essay as an attachment in the 7c discussion thread.
- AND ... Submit one copy of the essay as an attachment in the 7c assignment drop.
We're going to examine another element on Toulmin's Model of Analysis, the qualifier. Qualifiers limit the scope and intensity of an argument. This is quite valuable as most people quickly reject all or nothing claims, understanding that few things are exactly that strong or clear.
Examine at least one of the articles you've found for your project to see what kind of qualifiers are being used and whether they strengthen or weaken claims being made. It would be to your advantage to choose one supportive position article and one opposing position article. Comparing the use of qualifiers in each can help you to evaluate the relative strength of the claims being made.
