{"id":1818,"date":"2018-01-03T19:15:29","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T19:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/davis\/?page_id=1818"},"modified":"2018-04-11T15:52:52","modified_gmt":"2018-04-11T15:52:52","slug":"rhetorical-bestiary-entry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/davis\/courses\/animal-rhetorics\/assignments-and-grades\/rhetorical-bestiary-entry\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhetorical Bestiary Entry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/em>. You will compose an \u201centry\u201d for the class\u2019s online rhetorical bestiary. \u00a0A rhetorical bestiary is a collection of \u201centries\u201d on various nonhuman animals and their habits of communicating and responding to one another. You will select an existing (or extinct) animal species, research it, and then use StoryMaps software<\/a> to produce an \u201centry\u201d for the collection.<\/p>\n

Specifics<\/em>: You will use the StoryMaps cascade<\/a> application to compose one entry for what will become the class\u2019s rhetorical bestiary. This entry will not take the form of a formal argument but will instead look something like a cross between an informal argument, an intensely vivid description, and a multimedia encyclopedia entry. It should contain several images and\/or video clips, enough to bring the species before the eyes of your audience; the length of the alphabetical text (the words) should be the rough equivalent of about a 4-5 page double-spaced paper.<\/p>\n

Your task will involve:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. diligently researching your chosen species, particularly its social relations and habits of communication<\/li>\n
  2. presenting this species to us in a way that delights, fascinates, surprises, and informs us about it (both logos and pathos, iow)<\/li>\n
  3. and then contemplating with us the implications of your research for rhetorical studies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Begin by reading and watching everything you can find about this species throughout the semester<\/strong>. Create a folder on your computer to gather and save pertinent information, links, and multimedia files for your entry. (You\u2019ll have to document your sources for everything\u2014text, images, videos\u2014in a Credits section at the end, so be sure to keep good records.)<\/p>\n

    Compose your entry in an MSWord or other document file (google docs is also fine) first, saving frequently. Work with the document file until you\u2019ve determined your content and organization.<\/p>\n

    You want your audience to learn from<\/em> and be moved<\/em> by<\/em> your entry, so decisions about organization and text\/media content are crucial. Don\u2019t just lob indiscriminate bits of info into your entry, as if it were unedited C-Span. Think it through. You are composing a \u201ctext\u201d that has a purpose and an audience. Sift through the information you gather and discern what the audience needs to know, see, and hear to achieve your rhetorical goals; then compose your entry in a way that achieves those goals. What info is most crucial? How must it be presented to move the audience to care, to invest?<\/p>\n

    At the bare minimum, your entry must include:<\/p>\n