Reference no: EM133282960
Assignment - Rhetorical Analysis of Ice Ts Cop Killer Discussion
Description - Entering a Historical Debate on Censorship
PURPOSE (OVERVIEW) - As we have seen, in ancient Greece and Rome, rhetoric was most often considered to be the art of persuasion. To this day, Ethos, Logos, Pathos, and Kairos are components of rhetorical appeals; and the five components of classical argument continue to create effective arguments essential to higher education and the public sphere. Carl Rogers advanced the classical form by establishing a rhetoric that aims to establish a middle ground between parties with opposing viewpoints or goals. Rogerian argument seeks compromise and an acknowledgement of positive aspects of each party's argument to arrive at a mutually-beneficial solution to an issue. Stephen E. Toulmin also contributed to the advancement of argumentation with his own method of six parts: claim, grounds, warrant, qualifier, rebuttal, and backing.
The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate knowledge of key rhetorical concepts of argument and to identify and analyze argumentative strategies in an argumentative essay that enters into the debate.
SKILLS - A rhetorical analysis of argument will help you to
evaluate a source to understand how professional writers employ organizational and rhetorical techniques to develop their ideas clearly and persuasively
examine the tools of argument and principles of organization and style employed by a writer
gain resources for your own writing and development of your own clear style
KNOWLEDGE - This assignment will also help you to become familiar with the following important content knowledge in this discipline:
Understanding how writers use the denotative and connotative meanings of words as a subtle form of bias to influence an audience
Gaining knowledge of important rhetorical concepts such as audience, purpose, genre, and context.
Identifying and analyzing rhetorical and organizational strategies employed by professional opinion writers.
TASK (INSTRUCTIONS) - Examine the 1992 Kinsley and Ehrenreich arguments for and against banning Ice-T's "Cop Killer." Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the two positions, then take a stand. Should songs like this be protected as free speech and artistic freedom, or should they be banned because they advocate violent and illegal acts? Consider the fact that freedom of expression is one of the great benchmarks of democracy, built into the Constitution as the First Amendment which reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Most Americans support and many enjoy this unparalleled freedom. But with it, of course, is the potential for abuse by individuals or groups with their own causes and agendas. So a question naturally arises: Where do we draw the line? Should our democracy protect inflammatory or objectionable artistic expression as well? Your job is to decide where to draw or not draw the line. Please do NOT address whether children and teens should be shielded from songs like "Cop Killer." That is a given. Focus on our society in general.