Assignment: Bush-Obama Morph

Before class TUE JAN 28, post a personal, evaluative, analytical, narrative, argumentative, persuasive, categorical, or reflective response to the graphic I have used for the header and background to this blog . . .  or any combination of the foregoing. You may use and cite sources if you wish to react to the graphic, or you may make express your singular and unmediated response to the argument it makes. Or you may choose to argue with my premise that the graphic makes an argument, but I warn you, I believe all writing and every image makes an argument.

1. Analyze your reaction to the graphic and whether it has changed since the first time you saw it.
2. It is first of all someone’s creation, but it is also someone’s choice . . . mine. When you look at the image, you are reacting both to the premise advanced by its maker and to the choice I made to present it to you in such a prominent way.
3. What did its maker intend? What did I intend?
4. What part of your reaction results from your political affiliation, if any?
5. Is your reaction in any way defensive?
6. If you prefer to pretend that have no reaction at all to a premise that, frankly, has nothing to do with you and is not worthy of your attention, who do you know who would applaud your reaction, and who do you know who would be appalled or disappointed with you for it?
7. In other words, you can’t escape this assignment. The image means something to you, whether you like it or not. The harder you deny its meaning, the more difficult the assignment.
8. Relax. There are no wrong answers except evasive or meaningless answers.
9. Give your post the title Morph–Student Name substituting your own name, of course.

Notes: I haven’t categorized this assignment as analytical, evaluative, or argumentative because I don’t care whether you analyze, evaluate, or argue. Consider this a poke. Turn in interest, flinch in fear, or poke back . . . or stay still but document how the poke felt. I want a writing sample that expresses your natural reactions, not your compliance with an assignment.

Mechanics and Specifications: Write as many words as you require to make yourself understood. Waste none. Reject your first draft as the crap it is. Revise it until it has a shape that persuades its reader. Reject that too. Then revise it again until it is something that won’t embarrass you for fifteen weeks. With luck, it will embarrass you in fifteen weeks.

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

• DUE: NOON TUE JAN 28.
• Word count is irrelevant. Thorough analysis will be graded higher than superficial writing that wastes words. Complex ideas briefly expressed are rewarded best.
• You will receive just one grade for this sample of your true writing self.
• Special late penalties. (0-24 hours late, 100% penalty, you will fail, 0/100%)
• Rhetorical Writing category (15%)