Comprehensive Study Notes on Rhetorical Register and Visual Description Methodology

Comparative Presidential Rhetoric and Speech Styles

  • Differences between presidential speech styles illustrated through Barack Obama and Donald Trump:

    • Donald Trump's rhetoric:

    • Features a conversational, tangential style resembling a comedy performance rather than a formal presidential address.

    • Involves talking around the central point without directly delivering a clear core message, rambling across disparate topics.

    • Duration comparison: Delivered a speech lasting 48 minutes.

    • Barack Obama's rhetoric:

    • Structured, precise, and concise speech delivery resembling journalistic reporting.

    • Focuses on efficiently communicating exact facts and crucial information directly to the audience.

    • Duration comparison: Delivered a concise speech lasting nine minutes.

The Concept of Linguistic Register

  • Definition of Register:

    • Register refers to the specific tone, style, and level of formality utilized in spoken or written communication depending on the context and target audience.

  • Comparative Examples of Register:

    • Newspaper Article vs. Fantasy Fiction: A journalistic news report utilizes an objective, factual register, whereas a fantasy novel uses a creative, descriptive tone.

    • Rhetorical Contrast in Announcing the Death of Osama bin Laden:

    • Formally structured announcement: "The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."

    • Informal/Unconventional announcement: "He died like a dog… A beautiful dog."

  • Pedagogical Objective:

    • Over a two-year period, students aim to master identifying, analyzing, and applying various communicative registers and tones appropriate to specific mediums and audiences.

Visual Rhetoric and Picture Description Methodology

  • Methodology for Describing Images:

    • Allocating preparation time (one minute) prior to oral description.

    • Systematic spatial analysis: Identifying elements on the left-hand side, right-hand side, foreground, and background.

    • Theme identification: Mapping visual elements to broader sociological themes such as "The individual and the society."

  • Analysis of Unit Images:

    • Picture 1:

    • Theme: The individual and the society.

    • Composition: Individuals standing on the left-hand side holding posters and using megaphones; protesters in the background standing on busy roads, blocking traffic to advocate for land rights or social causes.

    • Picture 3:

    • Theme: Environmental activism and climate action.

    • Content: Demonstrators protesting for the protection of the planet and ecosystem, advocating for green energy, and standing against environmental destruction.

    • Pictures 2 and 4:

    • Theme: Gun violence and regulation.

    • Content: Picture 4 depicts demonstrations against gun violence and gun control regulations.

    • Context: Gun violence and gun regulation highlighted as a major ongoing issue in the USA.

Academic Skills and Presentation Requirements

  • Vocabulary Strategy and Cover Terms:

    • Utilization of dictionaries for completing analysis tasks.

    • Finding and applying "cover terms" (broad category terms) to organize information (e.g., grouping concepts like ancestral monuments under the umbrella term of history).

    • Vocabulary mastery: Avoiding words whose definitions are unknown; ensuring complete understanding and familiarity with all vocabulary used in oral and written work.

  • Assignment Structure and Coursework Tasks:

    • Classmate Material Preparation: Students must read material submitted by peers and prepare thoughtful questions.

    • Article Submission Timeline: Students are required to submit an article exactly one week (the week before) prior to their scheduled presentation date.