Sep
2017
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Ideas
The artifact I have chosen as the subject of investigation for my Rhetorical Analysis essay is that of a sticker by CrimethInc.com. This sticker reads,
“ IMMIGRANTS WELCOME
The border is not a wall—it’s a system of control.
It doesn’t protect people; it pits them against each other.
It doesn’t foster togetherness; it breeds resentment.
It doesn’t keep out predators; it gives them badges and guns.
The border does not divide one world from another.
There is only one world, and the border is tearing it apart.”
“Immigrants Welcome Sticker”
As previously stated, this artifact is created by the website “CrimethInc.com”. CrimethInc is a collective action group which defines itself as a “rebel alliance” and spreads its radically left and “anarchist” views through zines, posters, articles, and more. This particular sticker is only one of many that are available on this website. This was created for the immediate purpose of spreading a pro-immigrant ideology. This artifact expresses the idea that immigrants should be welcome in the United States because the Mexican border is negatively impacting our country.
I am particularly drawn to this artifact, because I agree with its pro-immigrant sentiments. The reason that I found this pro-immigrant artifact to be so good for analysis as compared to my speech artifact is mainly because of the opposing ways in which both artifacts tackle the issue. They are both expressing the idea that immigrants are welcome in the area, but this artifact does so by using a very harsh tone and condemning the border, rather than the soothing neighborly tone that is grasped from the first artifact. I find it intriguing that this artifact discusses the ways in which the border is hurting the USA and citing reasons that the immigrants should be allowed into the country, rather than simply stating that they should be. I think that it is very important to explore both the kairotic timing surrounding this artifact, and the civic infrastructure of the organization which created it.
“Neighbor Sign”
Within my essay I plan to contrast this civic infrastructure, because this artifact was created by a radical anarchist group which is extremely different from the church that is behind my speech artifact. The background from which these artifacts stem will also allow me to discuss the actual physical structure of the two artifacts, the one being a yard sign and the other a sticker meant to be placed around cities or neighborhoods. Overall, the main focus of my essay will be the way in which these two artifacts utilize different tones and methods to both portray a pro-immigrant point of view.
Marykate Dugan
October 6, 2017 at 2:33 pm (7 years ago)I like how you are planning to show how different the civic infrastructures of the artifacts are despite both being pro immigration. I think they both take very different approaches to prove this point which parallels the civic infrastructure of the artifacts. I think the sticker uses logos as a main tool for rhetorical appeal while the yard sign uses pathos through the different languages to make the pro immigration inclusion point.
Erin Kelly
October 6, 2017 at 2:34 pm (7 years ago)Your artifacts match up nicely. They are similar enough in their ending goal, but as you explain, the way they go about reaching this goal is different in how each poster is presented. I think this offers you a lot to write about in that you can compare and contrast, and maybe by the end you could pick which was more effective in yours eyes.