Compose an original research paper (10 to 12 pages) on the following topic:
Discuss the future of rhetoric in our electronic age. Look at major theorists and movements, and how they have expanded our current understanding of rhetoric. You might take a closer look at concepts such as Deconstruction or the Rhetoric of Display insofar as they influence our post-modern discourse. You might note how rhetoric has substantially changed from the classical model, and incorporate the different socio-political climates and other factors relating to the degree of influence/importance on our present-day rhetoric.
To support your observations, you must include at least five references. You may use the required texts for the course, the supplemental articles and speeches, or any other source that supports your analysis.
For further understanding of contemporary rhetorical theory, and to help prepare for the final paper, read the following articles:
The Fate of Rhetoric in an Electronic Age (Links to an external site.)
Brooke, C. G. (1997, Spring). The fate of rhetoric in an electronic age. Enculturation, 1(1). Retrieved from http://enculturation.net/1_1/brooke.html
Saul/Paul and The Promise of Technological Reforms (Links to an external site.)
Metzger, D. (1997, Spring). Saul/Paul and the promise of technological reforms.Enculturation, 1(1). Retrieved from http://enculturation.net/1_1/metzger.html
Digital Rhetoric: Toward an Integrated Theory (Links to an external site.)
Zappen, J. P. (2005). Digital rhetoric: Toward an integrated theory. Technical Communication Quarterly, 14(3), 319-325. Retrieved from http://gossettphd.org/library/zappen_digirhet.pdf
Recovering Delivery for Digital Rhetoric (Links to an external site.)
Porter, J. E. (2009). Recovering delivery for digital rhetoric. Computers and Composition, 26(4), 207-224. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2009.09.004 (Links to an external site.)
Should you have any questions regarding the parameters of this paper, contact your instructor immediately for clarification.
Note: Your paper will be submitted to Turnitin, a plagiarism detection service, to check for originality. Therefore, please be careful to attribute facts, ideas, and quotations in your paper to their original sources.
Research and Composition Guidelines
All papers must adhere to the guidelines below.
Format – papers shall include all of the following elements (not counted toward required 10-12 pages of body text):
- title page (name, date, course title/section and instructor’s name, and paper title)
- an abstract
- page numbers
- properly formatted parenthetical references and “References” list
Grading Rubric – use the following rubric as a guide when drafting your paper (your instructor will use it to grade your paper):
Final Research Paper Rubric
(PDF)
Citing Sources – you must use at least five references within the body of the paper, with proper APA citation format. Please feel free to use the required texts for the class, especially when citing passages in Plato or Aristotle (citations from these assigned works should not come from an Internet source). No more than 20 percent of your paper should be direct quotes. Any direct quotes should be used to support your own analysis and recommendations. Do not copy large sections of content verbatim from other sources. Please keep in mind that when you paraphrase material, provide specific dates/data, you must cite the source of your information. For specifics in terms of documentation style, please see APA and Other Style References in the Academic Resources section of Start Here.
Note: While preparing your final research paper, be sure that you fully understand the APA citation guidelines. You must properly cite your required five (or more) references both in the body of the paper—including quotation marks for direct quotes—and at the end. You must also cite where you obtained facts, ideas, images, and any other content, even if they are not direct quotes. Failure to properly cite sources will open you to serious charges of plagiarism and academic fraud, which could result in unwanted disciplinary action. Don’t take a chance. Cite your references correctly.
Research and Documentation – all papers shall follow the APA standard guidelines, including font style and size, spacing, and margins, for research and documentation. You are encouraged to purchase an APA style manual; however, you may also find assistance in Academic Resources and online. Proper documentation of sources is critical in preparing papers for this course.Papers without proper documentation shall be returned for revision.
