Understanding Rhetoric : A Graphic Guide to Writing

This comics-style collaboration between rhetoricians Elizabeth Losh and Jonathan Alexander and illustrator team Big Time Attic presents the content of the composition course in a form designed to draw students in. Understanding Rhetoric: A Graphic Guide to Writingcovers what first-year college writers need to know the writing process, critical analysis, argument, research, revision, and presentation in a visual format that brings rhetorical concepts to life through examples ranging from Aristotle to YouTube.

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?

1) Why Rhetoric?

Piecing Together a Definition of Rhetoric

Reanimating Ancient Views of Rhetoric

Exploring Rhetorical Concepts

ReFrame: What Does Aristotle Have to Do with Me?

2) Reading Strategically

Finding Secret Meanings with Critical Analysis

Putting the Pieces Together with Synthesi

Using Reading Strategies to Find and Follow Clues

Imagining the Plans of Ideal Readers

ReFrame: How Do I Read This?

3) Writing Identities

Leaping into Identities in Writing

Trying Out Choices for Different Audiences

Revealing the Performer Within the Text

ReFrame: WhatÕs My Identity?

4) Argument Beyond Pro and Con

Spotlighting Strategies for Argument

Setting the Scene for Arguable Assertions

Zooming in on Persuasive Argument

Focusing on Effective Organization

ReFrame: The Office Hour!

5) Research: More Than Detective Work

Keeping the Story Straight

Tracking Down Sources

Deciding Which Sources to Trust

Making Sources Talk: Summary, Paraphrase, Quotation

ReFrame: Wrong Turns and Shortcuts

6) Rethinking Revision

Looking Beyond the Red Ink

Reviewing Rhetorically

Seeing Through Others' Eyes

Revising Radically

ReFrame: Am I Missing Something?

7) Going Public

Seeing the Future of Genres

Moving among Media

Entering the Final Frontier with Publication

ReFrame: How Does This Look?

Selections are subject to change