Sam's (English) Club: My Rhetorical Action Plan

In the following post, I will answer three main questions about my rhetorical action plan.

Pete. "Project 365...Making Plans." 10/15/2009 via Flickr.
Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

Audience: Who are you going to try to persuade with your public argument? Describe the following aspects of your audience in a few sentences:

Knowledge: What does the audience know about the topic, text, or idea? How do they know the topic? Do they have certain predispositions or opinions about the topic that you will need to address?

The targeted audience might know that this controversy exists or that genome editing research is a thing, but I don't think they know to what extent the research is being conducted, or that human embryos are being used within the research. They most likely know about the topic through their studies in science or if they stay even the least bit informed about world events, as the scientists in China received a lot of heat for conducting this research on human embryos. The audience may be worried about using human material, as much of the public is, and I will have to defend that aspect of the research.

Values: What do you know about the values, ideals, principals, or norms that members of the audience might hold?

The audience may value the research material that is being manipulated over the research being conducted itself. Many people tend to value that because they think the research being performed is unethical, so throwing human DNA into the mix will make them even more against this research.

Standard of Argument: What type of research or evidence do you think will be persuasive for your audience? How might you have to translate this research for them?

Most of the scientific research behind this argument will work to persuade the audience of the possibilities that continuing this type of research will open. Translating this research will be easy, because the concepts don't truly surpass high school biology and shouldn't be that difficult to grasp.

Visual Elements: What visual images or elements might your audience respond to? Why?

My audience will most likely respond to some nice images of DNA or some images of the double helix split down the middle. I want to stick to DNA images because they would be relevant to my issue and they're very pretty.

Purpose: Why is your audience reading or listening to your argument? Are you trying to expand their understanding or viewpoint? How likely is your argument going to motivate your audience?

The audience is listening to my argument so that they can be more informed on the subject of human genome-editing and support the continuation of the research. I want to expand their understanding of the topic and manipulate their viewpoint to fit mine. I want my argument to really motivate my argument to fight for the scientists' rights to research.

Genre: What form of writing will you use? After identifying your genre, list your responses to the following questions:

What is the function of the genre? What is it designed to do for your readers? Or, why did you choose it?

Genre 1: The function of this genre is to appeal to young people that use a lot of forms of social media, such as Tumblr, and can easily access the site where my paper would be posted. It would just be more easily accessible to the reader and would be more likely to be read by them (aka they would be more likely to stumble across my paper).
Genre 2: This genre would be less easily accessible to young people, unless they're specifically being asked by someone to look up an academic source to use in a research project or something. Young people don't tend to look up scholarly articles just for fun or out of the blue because they're curious.

Genre 1: I could see this being used as a type of social media research into the topic. I like this genre because I can more easily express my opinion.
Genre 2: I could see this being used in academic settings, as like an intro into the topic or used a source for a paper. I don't really want to write this too much in an academic style because its harder to give your opinion.

Genre 1: It would be more difficult to use rhetorical appeals in this genre because it doesn't really fit the genre, but it would be doable if used subtly.
Genre 2: It would be easier to use rhetorical appeals in an academic setting because it fits with the style of the genre. It would definitely be easy to incorporate into the writing.

Genre 1: I would try and use a couple of really nice pictures in this genre because it would be more likely to keep the readers attention and help them connect to the research better.
Genre 2: I would probably not use any visual elements because it doesn't truly fit with the style of the genre, and pictures would just throw somebody off.

Genre 1: I would use a more relaxed and casual writing style with this genre because its online and the place it will be published isn't very formal. It's more of a conversational style.
Genre 2: I would be very formal with this genre of writing because I need to build credibility in this setting and be able to academically connect to my readers. I want to come across as professional.

Responses/Actions: Explain the possible actions you would like your audience to take after they read or view your argument?

Increased awareness on the topic of human genome editing
Increased desire to support the continuation of the research
People want to improve the human race and will be willing to do that through appealing to the people who write the legislature on the topic

I can always debunk the ethical argument by asking what their ethics is based on, and where it comes from- basically asking what they're basing their beliefs on
I can appeal to legislators to not be strict on writing the legislation for human genome editing in response to people asking for strictness
I can continue to preach my opinion/viewpoint on the subject as a response to people not supporting my viewpoint

UnknownOctober 31, 2015 at 7:01 PM
It's such a coincidence that we chose to write about the same controversy! This was especially interesting for me to read, because, although we chose the same debate, there are still some differences in how we will likely go about writing our arguments. I personally chose to use the blog as one of my genres, and I think this is a great way to appeal to your audience. I think the academic paper might be a little inaccessible for the particular audience you are addressing. Great job with this overall!
UnknownOctober 31, 2015 at 8:59 PM
Your understanding of audience is extensive and insightful; it's enlightening to see a more logical audience. My audience is a little more emotionally based than your logic and fact driven audience. Your understanding of social media and intention to write in that genre is very well-explained. I think that it would be very interesting genre to write in. Best of luck.

Saturday, October 31, 2015