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ENG W131 –Reading, Writing, and Inquiry 1

Writing Project 1 – Image Analysis Essay

Photographs can be creative and imaginative forms of persuasive communication in any culture. One purpose of this assignment is simply to enjoy looking at and thinking about some iconic photographs. This writing project is also intended to increase your comfort level with the writing process (i.e., invention, planning, and revision strategies) and introduce you to a variety of analytical tools that you can use to examine iconic photographs geared toward a specific audience.

Connection to Course Goals:

Try to think about how this paper connects to the course goals, and be prepared to discuss your ideas in class. Your goals for this course are to:

• Have something to say

• Explore a topic

• Shape writing according to your purpose and audience

• Participate in good conversations about writing

• Use sources well

• Polish and present final work

Readings:

An array of photographs (will be provided)

Various handouts

Format:

Follow the guidelines from the Formatting Exercise

Instructor Response:

When I read this project, I will look for the following:

• an introduction that hooks the reader’s interest;

• a clear, accurate description of each image;

• evidence that you have applied rhetorical strategies to your image analysis;

• an interesting thesis that presents your analysis of the image’s rhetorical effects;

• claims that support your thesis by specific evidence drawn from the image and, if appropriate, your personal observations and experiences;

• evidence of revision; and

• careful editing and proofreading.

1. Choose two iconic images from the topics provided by your instructor.

Focusing Question: What rhetorical strategies do iconic images use to persuade a particular target audience?

1. Describe the images in detail so that an audience can easily visualize them without actually seeing them. Use “show” words.

1. Do a rhetorical analysis of how each advertisement might persuade the target audience. You should include a discussion of the Aristotelian appeals in each image or the visual elements. Explain how these are appropriate for the potential targeted audience.

In your analysis, consider:

• who the audience might be;

• the historical context of the image (what was happening in the world when this photograph was taken?)

• how visual elements of the ad ( the parts of the picture) are used to appeal to important values in that audience;

• how logos/ethos/pathos are used to persuade the audience;

• ways reality has been altered in order to make the image more persuasive.

1. After doing the above, write introductory and concluding paragraphs. Put your essay together using the structure/framework below.

Framework for Image Analysis Essay:

1. Interesting Title (that reflects your position/thinking about your images)

1. Introduction

1. Background on the general and particular issues

leading to the FQ1, implied or stated

1 paragraph

Transition to…

1. Thesis Statement/Roadmap (answer to the FQ)

1. Description of the first image

   1 paragraph each each

2. Description of the second image

Transition to…

1. Rhetorical analysis of images

Paragraph 4:

Paragraph 5:

Visual Elements Analysis - both images

Aristotelian Appeals Analysis – both images

To analyze an image’s visual elements, answer these *questions:

1. What is in the foreground/background, or how does the visual use lines to attract the target audience’s eye?

2. To what social or ethnic groups do the subjects belong to, and how is this relevant for the target audience?

3. Has the visual been cropped or manipulated to omit or distort information and how is this relevant for the target audience?

(including Aristotelian appeals or visual elements)

2 paragraphs, 1 for each image

See list under #3 on page 2 above

Transition to…

1 paragraph

1. Conclusion

1. Works Cited page

Topic for Summer 2017: Syrian Refugees

(you must read about the Syrian refugee crisis before you select your images)

• Your images must be selected for a particular purpose (one that interests you).

• You could choose images that you think help persuade people outside the Syrian region that these refugees need help, or

• You could choose images that you think help persuade people that these refugees will be a burden on any country that helps them. Your choice.

• Or you could choose one of each of the choices above.

• Your images must be photographs and come from a media source (not a picture your little brother took on vacation).

• You should be able to find many images online at many sites.

• Examples: https://www.buzzfeed.com/lynzybilling/these-are-the-most-powerful-photographs-of-the-syrian-refuge?utm_term=.fy8NMm5lLa#.bg60D5qXjz

1 FQ = Focusing Question

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