Understanding Rhetoric A Graphic Guide to Writing

After shaking up writing classrooms at more than 450 colleges and universities, Understanding Rhetoric, the comic-style guide to writing that instructors have told us gets "nothing but positive responses from students," has returned for a second edition! Combining the composition know-how of Liz Losh and Jonathan Alexander with the comic-art credibility of Kevin Cannon (Far Arden, Crater XV) and Zander Cannon (Heck, Kaijumax), Understanding Rhetoric encourages deep engagement with core concepts of writing and rhetoric, as teachers and students alike have told us. With a new chapter on collaboration, unique coverage of writerly identity, and extensive discussions of rhetoric, reading, argument, research, revision, and presenting work to audiences, the one and only composition comic covers what students need to know—and does so with fun and flair. A new "Walk the Talk" feature in each chapter helps students see how to put concepts to use in their own reading and writing. And the detailed instructor’s manual will help both novice and experienced instructors plan a course around Understanding Rhetoric.

Elizabeth Losh is the director of the Culture, Art, and Technology program at the University of California, San Diego, where she teaches about graphic novels, media theory, digital writing, and professional communication. She is the author of Virtualpolitik: An Electronic History of Government Media-Making in a Time of War, Scandal, Disaster, Miscommunication, and Mistakes (MIT Press, 2009) and The War on Learning: Gaining Ground in the Digital University (MIT Press, 2014). For Bedford/St. Martin’s, she is the co-author, with Jonathan Alexander, Kevin Cannon, and Zander Cannon, of Understanding Rhetoric. Jonathan Alexander is Professor of English at the University of California, Irvine. He teaches courses on writing, graphic books, science fiction, and sexuality—sometimes all at the same time. In 2011 he won the Charles Moran Award for Distinguished Contributions to the field of Computers and Writing. The author, editor, or co-author of nine books, his work focuses primarily on the use of emerging communications technologies in the teaching of writing. He is the general editor of College Composition and Communication. Illustrators Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon have worked for clients ranging from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to DC Comics, collaborating on such titles as The Replacement God and Smax and winning two Eisners for their work on Top 10. 

Introduction: Spaces for Writing

• Discovering Contexts for Writing
• Going Boldly Through Writing Processes
• Exploring Visual Literacy

*ReFrame: Why Rhetoric? Why a Comic Book?

Walk the Talk: Visual Rhetoric

Drawing Conclusions

1) Why Rhetoric?

• Piecing Together a Definition of Rhetoric
• Reanimating Ancient Views of Rhetoric
• Setting Rhetorical Concepts Loose on the World

*ReFrame: What Does Aristotle Have to Do with Me?

Walk the Talk: Ethos, Logos, Pathos, and Kairos

Drawing Conclusions

2) Reading Strategically

• Finding Secret Meanings with Critical Analysis
• Putting the Pieces Together with Synthesis
• Using Reading Strategies
• Imagining the Plans of Ideal Readers

*ReFrame: How Do I Read This?

Walk the Talk: Critical Reading

Drawing Conclusions

3) Writing Identities

• Leaping into Identities in Writing
• Trying Out Choices for Different Audiences
• Revealing the Performer Within the Text

*ReFrame: Am I Having an Identity Crisis?

Walk the Talk: Identities

Drawing Conclusions

4) Argument Beyond Pro and Con

• Spotlighting Strategies for Argument
• Setting the Scene for Arguable Assertions
• Zooming in on Claims and Evidence
• Focusing on Effective Organization

*ReFrame: The Office Hour!

Walk the Talk: Argument

Drawing Conclusions

5) Composing Together

• Getting Together
• Multiplying Your Research Options
• Collaborating with Audiences
• Managing Collaborative Writing Projects

*ReFrame: [title TK]

Walk the Talk: Collaboration

Drawing Conclusions

6) Research: More Than Detective Work

• Keeping the Story Straight
• Tracking Down Sources
• Deciding Which Sources to Trust
• Making Sources Talk: Summary, Paraphrase, Quotation
• Coming Clean with Citation

*ReFrame: Wrong Turns or Shortcuts?

Walk the Talk: Research

Drawing Conclusions

.7) Rethinking Revision

• Looking Beyond the Red Ink
• Reviewing Rhetorically
• Seeing Through Others’ Eyes
• Revising Radically

*ReFrame: Am I Missing Something?

Walk the Talk: Revision

Drawing Conclusions

8) Going Public

• Launching into the Future of Genres
• Navigating among Media
• Entering the Final Frontier with Publication

*ReFrame: How Does This Look to You?

Walk the Talk: Presentation

Drawing Conclusions