RHETORICS
OF RACISM

Overview

This assignment asks you to propose a semester-long topic related to the rhetoric of racism or antiracism. You will write a short proposal (2–3 pages, single-spaced) explaining what you want to study, why it matters, and how you plan to approach it. This proposal is the foundation for your entire semester project.

Important Note

For your final project (3rd Major Assignment), you will choose one of the following formats:

• An academic paper
• A digital or multimodal project
• An action research project
• Or another creative/mixed format of your choice (with instructor approval)

Choose a topic that is meaningful, manageable, and flexible enough to be explored in multiple formats. Your topic should sustain your curiosity throughout the semester.

Proposal Components

1. Topic Selection (Rhetorical Focus)

Select a specific area where rhetoric related to racism or antiracism is visible. Possible topics include:

• News coverage or media framing
• Political speeches, legislation, or debates
• Social media content (posts, hashtags, memes, reels)
• Protest rhetoric (signs, chants, visual art)
• Advertising, film, music, or visual culture
• Legal, scientific, or institutional language
• Community organizing or activist campaigns

2. Contextual Background

Briefly describe:

• Where and how this rhetoric appears (platform, medium, historical moment)
• Who is producing it (individuals, groups, institutions)
• Who is the intended or actual audience
• Why this moment or context is significant for studying racism/antiracism

3. Significance & Relevance

Explain why this topic matters within the study of rhetoric and racism. Consider:

• How does this rhetoric shape public understanding of race?
• Does it reinforce, challenge, or complicate systems of oppression?
• What real-world impacts does it have (social, political, cultural)?
• How does it connect to broader themes from our course?

4. Guiding Research Questions

Develop 2–3 thoughtful questions that will guide your analysis and research. These should help you:

• Examine rhetorical strategies (ethos, pathos, logos, framing, narrative, etc.)
• Uncover implicit or explicit messages about race
• Explore how communication can uphold or resist racism

Example questions:

• How do activist groups use storytelling to build solidarity in antiracist campaigns?
• How do political speeches frame racial issues in ways that appeal to specific audiences?
• How do social media platforms amplify or suppress antiracist rhetoric?

5. Preliminary Research Plan & Approach

Outline how you plan to explore your topic. Consider:

• Types of materials you'll analyze (e.g., speeches, articles, videos, social media posts, policy documents)
• Methodological approach (e.g., rhetorical analysis, discourse analysis, visual analysis, participatory observation)
• Potential sources (academic, public, digital, archival)
• Connection to final project format: How might your topic be adapted for an academic paper, action research, or multimodal project?

Formatting & Submission

• Length: 2–3 pages, single-spaced
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• If you cite any sources, use APA or MLA format
• Upload a file or copy and paste your full proposal into the Canvas submission box

Grading Criteria

Your proposal will be graded based on the following:

• Clarity & Focus: Topic is specific, well-defined, and rhetorically grounded
• Significance: Clearly connected to racism/antiracism and real-world impact
• Feasibility: Manageable for a semester-long project and adaptable to final formats
• Originality & Thoughtfulness: Shows independent thinking and genuine engagement
• Alignment with Course Goals: Prepares you for deeper analysis in the 2nd and 3rd assignments

Preparing for Future Assignments

2nd Assignment (Rhetorical Analysis): Your topic will guide your analysis of 2–4 related texts or artifacts.

3rd Assignment (Final Project): Your topic will expand into a full project in your chosen format (paper, action research, or multimodal work).

Tip: Choose a topic with available materials (texts, media, organizations) and clear rhetorical dimensions to ensure a smooth transition into later assignments.

Need Help Getting Started?

Consider these prompts:

• How do activists use visual or digital rhetoric to mobilize antiracist action?
• How is racial justice framed in recent policy debates or legal discourse?
• How do media representations of racial identity reinforce or resist stereotypes?
• How do communities use oral history or testimony as antiracist practice?

If you're unsure, please reach out during office hours or via email. This topic will carry you through the semester. So, choose something you care about!

Rhetorical Analysis of Existing Materials on the Rhetoric of Racism

Purpose

This assignment is the second major step in your semester-long project. You will conduct a rhetorical analysis of existing materials related to your chosen topic from the proposal you submitted earlier in the semester.

Your goal is to explore how real-world texts—such as speeches, laws, media, literary works, music, movies, or cultural artifacts—use language, symbols, or emotion to shape ideas about race, racism, and antiracism. This analysis will help you understand how communication can either uphold or resist systems of oppression.

This assignment also lays the essential groundwork for your final project. The deep analysis you perform here will directly inform the antiracist recommendations you develop later, whether you choose the academic paper, action research, or digital/multimodal format. Consider this your foundational research phase.

Assignment Overview

Using your approved topic, select a small group of related materials (deeper analysis of 2–4 items while bringing in other examples for context) that are connected in some way—by theme, moment, platform, or audience. These materials should reflect how your topic appears in public discourse.

Examples of acceptable materials include (but are not limited to):

• Political speeches (e.g., campaign addresses, congressional hearings)
• Government policies, legal decisions, or court rulings
• News coverage or editorials from credible sources
• Social media content (e.g., viral posts, hashtag trends, influencer reels)
• Advertisements or public service announcements
• Films, protest songs, poems, or visual art
• Historical documents or archival footage

If you're unsure whether your materials are appropriate, check in with your instructor early.

Focus of Your Analysis

Deep Analysis: You will conduct a close, detailed rhetorical analysis of 2–4 primary artifacts (e.g., a speech, a policy document, a social media campaign, a film).

Supporting Examples: You may also reference additional examples to illustrate broader patterns, provide historical or cultural context, or strengthen your argument. These should be used to support—not replace—your analysis of the core artifacts.

This structure ensures depth while allowing you to demonstrate awareness of larger rhetorical trends related to your topic.

What to Include in Your Assignment

All sections should be written in clear, double-spaced prose, using Times New Roman, 12-point font, and 1-inch margins.

1. Introduction (1–2 pages)

In this section:

• Restate your semester topic and why it's significant in the study of racism and antiracism.
• Identify the materials you have selected for your analysis. For each item, provide:
  • A brief description of what it is (e.g., speech, ad, policy, tweet)
  • Who created it
  • When and where it was created
  • Who the intended or actual audience is
  • Why you chose it for analysis

Make sure the reader understands what you're analyzing and why it fits your topic.

2. Rhetorical Analysis (5–7 pages)

This is the core of your paper. You will analyze the rhetorical strategies used in your selected materials and explain how they influence perceptions of race and racism. You should:

Describe how the text(s) use rhetorical devices such as:

• Ethos (credibility or authority)
• Pathos (emotional appeal)
• Logos (logic or reasoning)
• Framing, narrative, metaphor, symbolism, or tone

Answer guiding questions such as:

• What messages are being sent about race or racism?
• How are language and imagery used to convey those messages?
• What values, fears, or emotions are being appealed to?
• Who is being centered or erased in these narratives?
• Are these materials reinforcing, challenging, or complicating racial stereotypes or systemic racism?

Support your claims with specific examples, direct quotes, and careful description. Explain the impact these rhetorical choices may have on different audiences.

3. Discussion (2–3 pages)

Here, zoom out to consider the bigger picture:

• How do these materials compare to other public conversations about racism or antiracism?
• What broader messages or ideologies are being reinforced or disrupted?
• How do your materials reflect or resist dominant cultural narratives?
• What tensions or contradictions do you notice between different artifacts or between intent and effect?
• What do these rhetorical patterns suggest about how racism functions—or is resisted—through communication?

This is a space to think critically and connect your findings to class themes and larger societal issues.

4. Conclusion (1–2 pages)

Wrap up your paper by:

• Summarizing your key insights.
• Reflecting on what you learned about rhetoric and racism.
• Explicitly connecting your analysis to your future final project. Briefly state which final project format you are considering (Academic Paper, Action Research, or Digital-Multimodal) and identify 1-2 gaps, questions, or effective strategies from your analysis that you plan to explore further. This creates a direct bridge to the next assignment.
• Suggesting possible directions for further study.

5. Works Cited

Use MLA or APA style consistently throughout the document.

Every source listed in your Works Cited must have a corresponding in-text citation in the body of your paper, and every in-text citation must point to a source in the Works Cited.

This page does not count toward your page total.

Formatting & Submission Guidelines

• Length: 10–12 double-spaced pages (excluding Works Cited)
• Font & Format: Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1-inch margins
• Citation Style: MLA or APA
• File Type: Submit as a Word document or PDF only
• Submission Method: Upload to Canvas under the appropriate assignment tab

How You'll Be Graded – What Makes a Strong Paper

Use these key areas to guide your planning and revision:

• Clarity & Focus: Your topic is clear, specific, and well-supported with 2–4 strong, related materials.
• Depth of Analysis: You go beyond description to explain how and why rhetoric is working in your 2-4 materials.
• Supporting Materials: Not to replace your core 2-4 materials but to support your argument. It is not going to be as detailed as the core materials.
• Concrete Examples: You include specific quotes or details and explain their effect.
• Development of Ideas: Your ideas build logically, and your paragraphs connect clearly to your argument.
• Connection to Class Themes: You link your analysis to bigger conversations about racism, resistance, and rhetoric.
• Writing & Organization: Your writing is well-structured, easy to follow, and carefully edited.

Tips for Success & Looking Ahead

• Narrow your focus. Fewer, richer examples are better than trying to cover too much.
• Stick to your topic. Build on your proposal and keep your materials aligned with your main focus.
• Analyze, don't just summarize. Explain what your examples do and why they matter.
• Organize by idea, not artifact. Group paragraphs around themes or rhetorical strategies, not just by material.
• Use headings. They help with structure and clarity.
• Think toward the final project. As you analyze, jot down notes about what's working, what's missing, or what could be done differently. These observations will become the basis for your antiracist recommendations in the final assignment.

This assignment allows you to critically engage with the rhetoric of racism in practice, deepening your understanding of how language shapes and reflects societal power dynamics. The insights you gain here are the crucial evidence you will use to build your final project.

Antiracist Recommendations

Two Part of the Final Assignment:

Final Project (100 pts.)

Video Presentation (50 pts.) — Length: 5-10 mins

Your Presentations must have:

• What is your topic and final project?
• What did you do in this project?
• What are your findings and recommendations/call to action/suggestions?

Deliverables:

Video Presentation: Submit a link to the video or the video itself. Make sure I have access to the link. (50 pts)

Final Project: One of the following options (100 Points):

• Academic Paper
• Action Research
• Digital-Multimodal Project
• Or a genre of your choice

Details of each option are below.

Option A: Academic Paper

Purpose

This assignment requires you to write a research-based academic paper that explores antiracist strategies related to your chosen topic within the rhetoric of racism. You will analyze how individuals, groups, or communities are addressing racism and propose evidence-based, actionable antiracist recommendations.

Assignment Description

Building on your semester topic—and directly extending the analysis you began in your 2nd Major Assignment—this paper asks you to:

• Analyze existing antiracist practices or initiatives related to your topic.
• Examine the rhetorical strategies and approaches employed in these efforts.
• Propose actionable antiracist recommendations informed by your research and analysis.

The goal is to critically engage with real-world antiracist work, assess its effectiveness, and contribute thoughtful, practical recommendations for future action.

Assignment Requirements

1. Introduction (1–2 pages)

• Provide an overview of your topic and its significance within the rhetorics of racism.
• Identify the antiracist practices or initiatives you will analyze, providing context for each (e.g., background, audience, goals).
• State your thesis, clearly summarizing your main argument and proposed recommendations.

2. Analysis of Antiracist Practices (5–7 pages)

• Examine how specific individuals, groups, or communities are addressing racism.
• Analyze the rhetorical strategies and methods used in these efforts (e.g., storytelling, coalition-building, policy advocacy, visual rhetoric).
• Assess the effectiveness of these approaches in combating racism and promoting equity.
• Use specific examples and evidence from your research to support your analysis. Draw upon and expand the work you began in your 2nd Major Assignment.

3. Antiracist Recommendations (2–3 pages)

• Based on your analysis, propose 3–5 actionable recommendations for addressing racism.
• Explain how these recommendations build on existing practices and address current gaps or challenges.
• Consider the feasibility and impact of your recommendations in specific contexts (e.g., education, media, policy, community organizing).

4. Conclusion (1–2 pages)

• Summarize your key findings and reflect on their broader implications for antiracist work.
• Offer suggestions for further research or exploration of your topic.
• Briefly connect your paper's findings to your Video Presentation content.

5. Works Cited

Include a properly formatted list of all sources referenced, using APA or MLA style consistently. Every entry in the Works Cited must correspond to at least one in-text citation in the body of your paper.

Paper Guidelines:

• Length: 10–12 pages, double-spaced (excluding Works Cited).
• Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins.
• Submission: Submit as a Word document or PDF.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Depth of Analysis: Insightful examination of antiracist practices and their rhetorical strategies.
• Quality of Recommendations: Practical, evidence-based, and thoughtful antiracist proposals.
• Clarity and Organization: Logical structure, clear argumentation, and polished writing.
• Use of Evidence: Strong integration of research, examples, and citations to support your claims.
• Connection to Prior Work: Effective extension of your topic and analysis from earlier assignments.

Getting Started:

• Revisit your 2nd Major Assignment analysis to identify promising leads, gaps, or unresolved questions.
• Identify antiracist initiatives, campaigns, or practices relevant to your topic.
• Use course readings and rhetorical frameworks to analyze the strategies employed in these efforts.
• Reflect on what is working, what is not, and where there are opportunities for meaningful intervention.

This assignment challenges you to engage critically and constructively with ongoing antiracist work, contributing your voice to these vital efforts.

Option B: Action Research

Purpose

This assignment invites you to move beyond theory and engage directly with a community organization actively addressing racism. Through action research, you will collaborate with the organization, analyze its antiracist strategies, contribute meaningfully to its work, and propose actionable recommendations grounded in both your fieldwork and academic research.

Assignment Description

Action research combines scholarly inquiry with hands-on engagement to address real-world challenges. For this project, you will partner with a community organization whose mission aligns with your semester topic in the rhetoric of racism. Your work will involve:

• Observation & Participation: Actively engaging with the organization's antiracist efforts through volunteering, attending events, conducting interviews, or supporting campaigns.
• Rhetorical Analysis: Examining the organization's communication strategies, messaging, and outreach methods.
• Meaningful Contribution: Completing some concrete, agreed-upon task or project that supports the organization's goals.
• Recommendations: Proposing actionable, research-informed recommendations based on your observations and analysis.

What You Will Produce

1. Fieldwork Journal (Ongoing)

Maintain a detailed journal documenting your observations, interactions, and reflections throughout your engagement. Include notes on the organization's practices, rhetorical strategies, challenges, and your own evolving role. Submit this as a separate file or appendix with your final report.

2. Final Report (8–12 pages, excluding Works Cited and Fieldwork Journal)

Introduction (1–2 pages)

• Overview of your semester topic and the organization's antiracist work.
• Statement of your research questions and purpose.
• Explanation of how this project extends your earlier work from the 2nd Major Assignment.

Analysis of Organizational Practices (3–4 pages)

• Analyze the rhetorical strategies used by the organization (e.g., narrative framing, visual rhetoric, coalition-building, digital advocacy).
• Assess the effectiveness of these strategies in advancing racial equity.
• Support your analysis with evidence from your fieldwork journal and any supporting materials.

Description of Your Contribution (3–4 pages)

• Detail the specific work you performed for the organization. This may include creating content, organizing events, conducting research, developing resources, or supporting outreach.
• Include evidence of your contribution (e.g., photos, screenshots, drafts, summaries, feedback from the organization).
• Reflect on how this work informed your understanding of antiracist practice.

Conclusion & Recommendations (1–2 pages)

• Reflect on your learning experience and the broader implications of your engagement.
• Propose 3–5 actionable recommendations for the organization or similar groups, informed by your analysis and fieldwork.
• Suggest directions for further research or community action.

Works Cited

Include all sources referenced in APA or MLA style. Each entry must correspond to in-text citations within your report.

Submission Guidelines:

• Final Report: Word document or PDF.
• Fieldwork Journal: Separate file or clearly labeled appendix.
• Supporting Evidence: Include links, images, or documentation of your contribution where applicable.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Depth of Engagement: Evidence of meaningful, consistent interaction with the organization.
• Quality of Contribution: Demonstrable, relevant work completed in support of the organization's mission.
• Rhetorical Analysis: Insightful examination of the organization's strategies and communication.
• Reflection & Integration: Thoughtful synthesis of fieldwork, academic research, and personal learning.
• Actionable Recommendations: Practical, evidence-based suggestions for future antiracist work.
• Clarity & Organization: Well-structured, polished, and effectively communicated writing.

Getting Started:

• Identify an organization whose work aligns with your semester topic and research interests.
• Reach out early to discuss potential collaboration and define a feasible, mutually beneficial role.
• Submit your Project Proposal and meet with the instructor for approval before proceeding.
• Plan your time carefully to balance fieldwork, journaling, analysis, and writing.

This assignment is designed to deepen your understanding of how rhetoric operates in real-world antiracist efforts and to position you as an engaged, reflective participant in community-driven change.

Option C: Digital-Multimodal Project

Purpose

This option invites you to communicate your research and analysis through creative, accessible, and engaging multimodal formats. You will produce a project that explores antiracist practices and presents actionable recommendations using a combination of text, audio, visual, interactive, or experiential media. This format is ideal for students who wish to reach public or community audiences beyond the traditional academic paper.

Assignment Description

Building on your semester topic—and extending the analysis from your 2nd Major Assignment—you will design and produce a multimodal project that examines how racism is rhetorically constructed and resisted. Your project should not only analyze existing antiracist strategies but also propose meaningful recommendations for action in an accessible, compelling form.

Project Options

You may choose one of the following formats, or propose your own (with instructor approval):

• Documentary or Short Film (5–10 minutes): Combine interviews, narration, footage, and graphics to analyze antiracist initiatives in action.
• Podcast or Audio Series (10–15 minutes total): Feature interviews, soundscapes, narration, and discussion to explore rhetorical strategies in antiracist movements.
• Website or Digital Portfolio: Create an interactive site that presents your research, analysis, and recommendations using text, images, video, and hyperlinks.
• Social Media Campaign (Series of 5–7 posts, plus rationale): Design a mock or live campaign on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, or another platform, using visuals, captions, and hashtags to educate and mobilize.
• Zine, Comic, or Illustrated Booklet: Combine written analysis with original or curated art to explore antiracist rhetoric in a visually engaging format.
• Board Game or Card Game: Design a playable game that teaches players about systemic racism and antiracist action through scenarios, choices, and collaborative challenges.
• Public Service Announcement (PSA) Video or Audio (1–3 minutes): Produce a persuasive PSA that highlights a specific issue and calls viewers/listeners to action.
• Interactive Workshop or Lesson Plan: Design a workshop for a specific audience (e.g., students, community groups) complete with slides, activities, handouts, and facilitation notes.
• Digital Storytelling Project (e.g., StoryMap, TimelineJS, interactive video): Use digital tools to create an interactive narrative that traces rhetorical patterns or antiracist movements over time or space.
• Other Format of Your Choice: Propose your own creative format in consultation with the instructor.

Required Components

1. The Multimodal Project Itself

Fully developed and ready to share/view/experience. Must include:

• Clear analysis of antiracist practices or rhetorical strategies.
• 3–5 actionable, evidence-based recommendations.
• Integration of research from your 2nd Major Assignment and additional sources.

2. Creator's Statement (1–2 pages, double-spaced)

• Explain your choice of format and its appropriateness for your topic and intended audience.
• Describe your creative and research process.
• Reflect on how your project extends the work from your earlier assignments.
• Discuss the rhetorical choices you made in design, content, and delivery.

3. Works Cited / Source Attribution

Provide a complete list of all sources referenced in your project, formatted in APA or MLA style. Even in non-text formats, you must credit sources—this can be included in credits, captions, a closing slide, or a separate document. Every source in your Works Cited must be cited within the project (e.g., in voiceover, on-screen text, captions, or links).

Submission Guidelines:

• The Project: Submit a link, file, or physical artifact as appropriate (e.g., video file, URL, PDF, game instructions and components).
• Creator's Statement: Submit as a separate Word document or PDF.
• Works Cited: Include as part of your Creator's Statement or as a separate file.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Content & Analysis: Depth of research, clarity of argument, and insightful examination of antiracist rhetoric.
• Recommendations: Relevance, feasibility, and evidence-base of proposed actions.
• Design & Creativity: Effective use of multimodal elements to engage and inform the intended audience.
• Rhetorical Awareness: Thoughtful choices in format, style, tone, and audience engagement.
• Technical Execution: Polished, functional, and accessible final product.
• Reflection & Integration: Quality of Creator's Statement and clear connection to prior coursework.

Getting Started:

• Review your 2nd Major Assignment to identify key themes, sources, and questions you wish to expand.
• Choose a format that aligns with your strengths, audience, and topic.
• Draft a brief project plan or storyboard before production begins.
• Consult with the instructor if you are proposing a format not listed above.

This assignment empowers you to translate academic inquiry into public-facing communication, using creativity and critical thought to contribute meaningfully to conversations about racism and resistance.