Learning Outcomes
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Determine how conventions are shaped by purpose, language, culture, and expectations.
- Read for inquiry, learning, critical thinking, and communicating in varying rhetorical and cultural contexts.
- Distinguish relationships between genre conventions, ideas, patterns of organization, and interplay between various elements and how they influence the rhetorical situation.
Introduction
Living by Their Own Words
Social Media Thread
public domain textProud Immigrant Citizen @primmcitend public domain text
public domain textPOTUS and DOJ have created a section dedicated to denaturalization. Strips citizenship and disenfranchises immigrant citizens, mainly persons of color, on trumped-up charges. Not-so-subtle way to control who can and cannot vote! This is a nightmare!end public domain text
annotated textThis opening post sets up a rhetorical situation. The genre is social media in which the platform limits the number of characters. The author’s purpose is to inform others about a policy. It may also be to collect “likes” or reposts to spread the information, regardless of its accuracy. The audience is a collection of social media users—some known, some unknown. The author’s stance is against the denaturalization policy. The context is a POTUS/DOJ action against immigrants. The culture shows a conflict between immigrants and the current administration (and its supporters).end annotated text
public domain textHistory Buff @historyfutureend public domain text
public domain textThis is not new. Immigration Act of 1924 limited number of new immigrants to 2% of current U.S. citizens of that nationality. Largest groups (e.g., White people from northwest Europe) kept getting bigger. Effective way to concentrate political power.end public domain text
annotated textThis response provides further information about the rhetorical situation by offering historical context, which, again, may or may not be accurate.end annotated text
public domain textProud Immigrant Citizen @primmcitend public domain text
public domain textIt may not be new, but it’s still wrong!end public domain text
annotated textThe original poster reiterates their stance.end annotated text
public domain textAmerican and Proud @IPledgeend public domain text
public domain textAre you for real saying that the government shouldn’t control immigration? I don’t want all these criminals voting, and I’ve had it up to here with everyone’s stupid complaining!end public domain text
annotated textThis response provides an inaccurate summary of the original post. The tone shows anger and unwillingness to engage in meaningful discussion or to learn more about the issue. This person’s mind is made up, so it would be hard to convince them to take a new or refined position.end annotated text
public domain textPeter @BetweenTheLinesend public domain text
public domain textNo, Proud Immigrant is saying that denaturalization is being used as a means of voter suppression.end public domain text
annotated textThis response corrects the previous responder with an accurate paraphrase of the original poster’s stance and hints at the factual nature of the original post.end annotated text
public domain textKaren @ConservativeGirlend public domain text
public domain textWhat are the trumped-up charges? Can you direct me to some evidence? Sounds like a lot of liberal garbage.end public domain text
annotated textThis responder, although clearly against the original poster’s stance, properly asks for evidence—something that may be provided through a link to keep the character count within the confines of the genre. Based on the handle and the end of the post, this person may or may not be open to a new perspective or factual information about the issue.end annotated text
public domain textMiguel @BothSidesend public domain text
public domain textLiberal or conservative, voter suppression is one of the most dangerous threats to our democracy.end public domain text
annotated textThis responder offers an evaluation, regardless of stance. The tone indicates a reasonable attitude. However, by stating “liberal or conservative,” this post may limit the audience since other cultures, such as moderate or progressive, may be following the thread.end annotated text
public domain textSarah @IWatchend public domain text
public domain textWhen the news talks about low voter turnout in an election, it’s hard to know why people didn’t show up.end public domain text
annotated textThis responder begins an analysis of the original post by providing a questioning tone. However, this post does not seem to further the discussion; it makes a statement and does not follow up with new information or ideas.end annotated text
public domain textMario @MyVoteend public domain text
public domain textExactly, did they stay home by choice, or were they “encouraged” to stay home by government red tape?end public domain text
annotated textThis responder clarifies the analytical question and tries to reengage previous responders. The question also opens up the potential for new evidence from others.end annotated text
public domain textMaria @HomeGirlend public domain text
public domain textIt’s not just immigrants. After Obama was elected, more than 20 states passed measures to limit voting in Black and Brown neighborhoods.end public domain text
annotated textThis responder offers possible evidence to support the ongoing problem of voter suppression. While unverified, it provides a strong starting point for further inquiry and discussion so that evidence can be brought into the discussion.end annotated text
public domain textMalik @BlackPantherend public domain text
public domain textThis kind of racism isn’t new. History Buff @historyfuture is right. Closing polling locations in Black and Brown neighborhoods is the new poll tax or literacy test.end public domain text
annotated textThis responder makes a connection between the past and present—an element of analysis.end annotated text
public domain textCho @HistoryRepeatsend public domain text
public domain textYes, the party seeking power wants their voters to turn out, not all voters.end public domain text
annotated textThis responder makes an inference based on the accumulation of evidence. While the conclusion may be sound, it remains unclear.end annotated text
public domain textMegan @FightThePowerend public domain text
public domain textIt’s easier to suppress the votes of non-supporters than to try to win them over.end public domain text
annotated textThis responder makes another inference based on the accumulation of evidence and alludes to previous instances of voter suppression along with potential rationale.end annotated text
public domain textMarco @DontMessWithMeend public domain text
public domain textThat’s why we need to #StayInLineend public domain text
annotated textThis responder presents a potential call to action—something people can do to fight voter suppression. This call to action assumes the audience within the given culture understands or can find out what #StayInLine means and how to become involved.end annotated text
Conclusion
You are likely familiar with this type of social media thread—users from different cultures and with differing views coming together to comment on a post. What you may not have realized is that these users and others like them are engaging in rhetoric by responding to a text through summary, paraphrase, analysis, evaluation, calls for evidence, or proposals of action. Again, they demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation and how to navigate within it.