Dr. Alyssa J. O'Brien is a Lecturer in the Program and Writing and Rhetoric at Stanford University, where she directs the Cross-Cultural Rhetoric initiative and publishes scholarship and textbooks on visual rhetoric, writing pedagogy, and global learning. She has been an invited speaker in Asia and Europe on subjects such as global learning, communication for leadership, visual rhetoric, and “mapping a change in writing.”  In 2006, Alyssa won the Phi Beta Kappa Outstanding Teaching Award, and what she enjoys most is helping people discover their voices in writing of all kinds.  Her current first- and second-year writing courses focus on visual rhetoric, cross-cultural rhetoric, globalization, and communication for leadership.  Before coming to Stanford in 2001, she taught composition, creative writing, literature, and business writing at Cornell University, the Eastman School of Music, and the University of Rochester.  

      Chapter 1    Analyzing Texts and Writing Thesis Statements  

Understanding Texts Rhetorically  

Strategies for Analyzing Rhetorical Texts  

Understanding Visual Rhetoric  

Understanding Written Rhetoric  

Reading: Heidi Przybyla, “Gifford Shooting in Arizona May Cool U.S. Political Rhetoric, Hurt Palin”  

Writing Across Diverse Media  

Analyzing Published Writing  

Reading: Karl Rove, “After Four Bleak Obama Years, an Opportunity”  

Brainstorming Parts of an Essay  

Developing a Thesis Statement  

Analyzing Student Writing  

Student Writing: Sophie Shank, “Better Watch Out: “Monsanto Claus” is Coming to Town”  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments  

      Chapter 2    Understanding Strategies of Persuasion  

Identifying Strategies of Argumentation 

Reading: Ian Bogost, “Persuasive Games”  

Understanding the Rhetorical Appeals  

Appeals to Emotion: Pathos  

Appeals to Reason: Logos  

Appeals to Character and Authority: Ethos  

Considering Context and Value: Kairos and Doxa  

Reading an Ad Analysis 

Reading: David Zweig, “What Everyone is Missing about the Lauded New Dove Ad Campaign”  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments  

      Chapter 3    Composing Arguments  

Understanding the Canons of Rhetoric  

Invention in Argument  

Arrangement in Argument  

Using Classical Strategies of Arrangement 

Using Toulmin to Arrange or Analyze an Argument  

Considering Rogerian Arguments 

Style in Argument  

Constructing Your Persona  

Choosing a Rhetorical Stance  

Writing with Style:  Titles, Introductions, and Conclusions  

Writing a Position Paper  1

Student Writing: Lindsay Funk, “Rand Paul Asks Does Foreign Aid Make Us Safer? Yes, It Does”  

Writing a Position Paper that Considers Multiple Arguments  

Reading: Richard B. Woodward, “One 9/11 Picture, Thousands of Words:  Rorschach of Meanings”  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments  

Part II Research Arguments  

      Chapter 4    Planning and Proposing Research Arguments  

Asking Research Questions  

Constructing a Research Log  

Generating Topics and Research Questions  

Narrowing Your Topic  

Brainstorming Topics Visually  

Writing About Your Research Plans  

The Research Freewrite  

Student Writing: Bries Deerrose, Research Freewrite  

Drafting the Research Hypothesis  

Drafting a Research Proposal  

Student Writing: Molly Fehr, “Inspiring Nazi Germany: How Hitler Rose to Power through the Use of Propaganda and Rousing Rhetoric”  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments  

      Chapter 5    Finding and Evaluating Research Sources  

Visualizing Research  

Developing Search Terms  

Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources  

Finding Primary Sources  

Searching for Secondary Sources  

Evaluating Your Sources  

Using Field Research 

Conducting Interviews  

Developing a Survey  

Other Models of Fieldwork 

Evaluating Field Research Sources 

Creating a Dialogue with Your Sources  

Student Writing: Amanda Johnson, “Dialogue of Sources” (excerpt)  

Writing an Annotated Bibliography  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments  

      Chapter 6    Organizing and Writing Research Arguments  

Organizing Your Draft in Visual Form  

Learning Outline Strategies  

Outlines with Argumentative Subheads  

Student Writing: Dexian Cai, “Research Paper—Outline”  

Transitions  

Spotlight on Your Argument  

Analyzing a Published Argument  

Reading: Bret Schulte, “Saying It in Cinema”  

Integrating Research Sources  

Selecting Summary  

Picking Paraphrase  

Using Direct Quotations  

Working with Quotations in Your Writing  

Documentation During Integration  

Drafting Your Research Argument  

Keeping Your Passion  

Analyzing a Student’s Draft of a Research-Based Essay  

Student Writing: Wan Jin Park, “Environmental Leadership: How Al Gore Illuminated an Overlooked Crisis”  

Revising Your Draft  

Troubleshooting  

Collaboration Through Peer Feedback

Analyzing a Student’s Revision of a Research-Based Essay

Student Writing: Wan Jin Park, “Balancing the Soft and the Passionate Rhetorician: Gore’s Dynamic Rhetoric in His Environmental Leadership”  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments  

      Chapter 7    Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources  

Understanding Intellectual Property and Plagiarism  

Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism

Working with Images and Multimedia as Sources  

Understanding Documentation Style  

In-text Citations: Documentation as Cross-Referencing  

Using Notes for Documentation  

Producing a Works Cited List in MLA

Documentation for Print and Online Text-Based Sources  

Documentation for Visual, Audio, and Multimedia Sources  

Student Paper in MLA Style  

Student Writing: Stephanie Parker, “Soompi and the “Honorary Asian”: Shifting Identities in the Digital Age” (excerpt)  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments

Part III Design And Delivery  

      Chapter 8    Designing Arguments  

Understanding Document Design and Decorum  

Understanding Academic Writing Conventions  

Integrating Images in Academic Writing  

Design of Academic Papers  

Student Writing: Zachary Templeton, “Video Games:  A Viable and Accessible Treatment Option for Depression” (excerpt)  

Tools of Design for Academic Audiences  

Writing an Abstract  

Constructing Your Bio  

Student Writing: Molly Cunningham, Bio  

Formatting Writing for Audience and Purpose

Reading: London Greenpeace: “Press Release: What’s Wrong with the Body Shop?”  

Designing Arguments in Popular Formats

Crafting an Op-Ad  

Student Writing: Carrie Tsosie, “Alternative Energy for Whom?”  

Producing a Photo Essay  

Student Writing: Conor Henrikson, “Art on Campus”  

Composing in Newsletter or Magazine Format

Student Writing: Miranda Smith, “Charities Taking Action Against Hunger”  

Composing a Website  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments

      Chapter 9    Delivering Presentations  

Understanding the Branches of Oratory  

Branches of Oratory

Audience, Purpose, and Persona  

Transforming Research Writing into a Presentation  

Selection  

Organization  

Translation  

Writing and Designing a Presentation

Student Writing: Nicholas Spears, “Script for a Proposal Presentation”  

Strategies of Presentation Design

Writing for Poster Sessions

Writing for Multimedia Presentations

Working with Slideshows

Beyond the Slideshow

Choosing Methods of Memory and Delivery  

Harnessing Memory for Live Performances

Mastering Delivery for Live Performances

Practicing Your Presentation  

Anticipating Problems and the Question-and-Answer Session  

Documenting Your Presentation  

The Writer’s Process  

Writing Assignments  

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.