Rhetorical Analysis in the Real World: A Useful Thinking Tool

This piece has been published in the online textbook Writing Commons.  

Rhetorical Analysis in the Real World: A Useful Thinking Tool

 

 

The right way. The right time. The right issue.

I shared these words at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring on Feb 7, as part of a service led by the Racial Justice Task Force.  Mine was only one of many pieces shared, many beautiful songs sung.  Many, many thanks to Eli, Nathan, Susan, Daniel, Rev. Liz, Rev. Leon and all the musicians.

 

toward a mini-sermon on racial justice

The snow piles up and swirls around my windows.  My cat went out on our covered porch to investigate.  When he reached the growing pile of snow on the steps, he paused, lifting his paw in surprise. He waited for quite a while, before plunging down the steps and under the porch.  He scurried back in a few minutes later.

I feel a little like my cat as I get started on some writing projects.  That trepidation about beginning: what is this mess of ideas I’m jumping into?  How do I begin?  Here are some notes for one upcoming deadline: