Projects
Composition 2 is designed to lead you on an extended journey into a
topic. Instead of writing several small papers, the work we do in
this course leads you to assemble one large project. Our concern with
the visual focuses not just on visual objects, but on visual
rhetoric. (By rhetoric I mean strategies and techniques
for communicating meaning.)
Our research agenda for the semester comes from Chapter 14 of
Writing About Cool, pages 154-5. Here are the three basic steps we will take
in producing our research projects this semester. (Of course, as the
semester goes along, you will receive much more detailed instructions
from me.)
- "First you need to pick a year. Any year will do: 1979, 1945,
1983, etc. Take note of the events that occurred in that year.
Choose your events from a variety of subject areas and disciplines.
These might include, but are not limited to comics, history, politics,
films, TV shows, music, sports, science, fashion, etc. When you have
a long list of events, pick four or five events that you want to work
with." See the Part One assignment page
- "Research those events in great detail. Take good notes on what
you discover about each event. It's important to note the various
details that comprise the event. Search for a pattern in your notes.
What word, idea, concept or belief reappears in each event you've
researched?" See the Part Two assignment page
- "When you've discovered the pattern, use that idea or phrase to
develop a claim for an argument. Your supports for the argument are
in the research you've done to generate this pattern. Construct a
hypertextual collage out of your research and claim that demonstrates
your argument." See the Part Three assignment page
