Is there a specific episode in Daniel or Revelation that you find fascinating for some reason?
1) Begin by describing some specific aspects of apocalyptic writing that you find interesting and want to explore further in your RA. These aspects that you find interesting (or otherwise worthy of your attention) will offer some context for the arguments that you will ultimately make in the essay.
- Is there a specific episode in Daniel or Revelation that you find fascinating for some reason? What is it and why do you want to write about it?
- Or, are you more interested in the original audience for Daniel or Revelation? What interests you about these readers and their historical/cultural context?
- Or, are you more interested a specific contextual lens that informs Daniel or Revelation (cultural assimilation, religious persecution, war and violence, imperial power, or gender, for example)? What interests you about this particular issue?
2) Then, ask yourself some questions about what you’ve just described–these questions should help narrow your RA topic. What rhetorical aspects can you explore further? Your questions might consider any combination of rhetorical and generic elements: message, purpose, genre conventions, social/historical context, rhetor and/or audience. Your questions don’t have to cover everything, but they should focus on HOW one element affects another, not simply what they are.
- Your questions should be as specific as you can make them. Asking something like “how does context affect the message?” is very vague. A question like “How does John of Patmos appropriate Roman imperial violence to instill hope and fear in his audience?” is more like what you want.
3) Next, describe your own, individual purpose and goals for writing this Rhetorical Analysis essay. What do you want to understand better by the time you finish writing this essay? How do you want your RA to contribute to and/or build on our larger classroom discussions? What specific skills and knowledge do you want to practice or demonstrate in your RA?
4) Finally, list some requirements and advice for yourself to keep in mind as you write the RA. Draw on your own knowledge of your writing process and work habits and understanding of the assignment itself. What note-taking and drafting strategies do you want to employ? What potential problems do you anticipate and wish to avoid? What do you need to remind yourself to do?
Answer preview:
Words:390