Your assignment is to 1) choose an interesting contemporary or historical photograph related to your Major
Project book, and 2) write an essay of 750-800 words that meets the requirements of this assignment. 1-2
outside sources are required.
Before you begin this assignment: Read Chapters 1-2 in Writing Analytically and review the supplemental
readings on visual rhetoric supplied by your instructor.
Follow MLA guidelines for format. A Works Cited page is required. (LINK TO MLA FORMAT
HANDOUT)Preview the document
Before you begin this assignment: Read Chapters 1-2 in Writing Analytically and review the supplemental
readings on visual rhetoric supplied by your instructor.
Getting Started
The purpose of the Major Project in 1302 is to “read the book that’s not for you” and learn about someone
who is different from you.
arch online for contemporary or historical photographs that are related to the topic/author of your Major
Project book. (For example, if you are reading a memoir by a Native American author, you could search for
photos taken on Native American reservations, or at the recent Dakota Access Pipeline protests, etc.).
Select one interesting photograph. Find 1-2 credible internet sources that provide background information
(context) about the photograph AND/OR the issue that help you understand the photograph and its
meaning. These could be the article that goes with the photo or news, editorial, or historical articles.
Paper Organization
Your essay will be a rhetorical analysis of the photo you have selected.
Required Paper Outline
Introduction
General background information on the topic of the photo
Identify the photographer (if known), location, and date of the photograph
Thesis: What you think the photograph means (its message)
Body Paragraph 1: Contexts
Topic sentence-What is the photograph of? (Or claim to be of?)
Using the source, describe the historical, physical, social, and ethical contexts of the photograph (with intext citations!) –don’t just describe the photo
Body Paragraph 2: Notice & Focus/The Method
Topic Sentence-What is notable about the photo? (What did you notice? What caught your attention?)
Using Notice & Focus, what do you find most interesting, strange, and revealing about this photograph?
Why?
Using The Method, what do you see repeating in the image? What strands do you see? What binaries do
you see? What anomalies do you see? What do you think they mean?
Body Paragraph 3: Main Signifiers
Topic Sentence: The three main signifiers in the photograph are X, Y, and Z.
What do each of these signifiers stand for? List at least 4-5 per signifier. Which do you think are the most
important, and why? (Make a bubble map to organize your thoughts)Conclusion: What Does It Mean?
What do you think this photograph means? (Expand on thesis) What is its message? How can you tell?
What reaction or feelings was the photographer trying to create with this photo? Why do you think so?
How does this photograph help you better understand this topic?
Answer the SO WHAT question: Why is this topic/issue important for us to understand?
NOTES
Do some brainstorming (mind maps, freewriting, listing, etc.) on scratch paper—save to turn in!
Organize your thoughts into an outline so you have a writing plan. The sooner you organize your ideas into
an outline, the easier it will be to write the paper.
Note: DON’T DESCRIBE THE PHOTO! Remember that I’ll have it in front of me. Analyze analyze analyze!
Remember you are analyzing the photo. Stick to analysis and avoid writing an opinion essay about the
event or person(s) depicted in the photo. Opinion essays (or essays that do not meet the min. requirements
of the assignment, including min. word count) will not receive a grade higher than a D.
_________________________
In-Text Citations
All information you take from your article should include a signal phrase that includes the author’s name.
For example:
According to reporter Tim Mak, “critical veterans’ advocates and veterans charged that the Wounded
Warrior Project cares more about its image than it does about helping veterans.”
(When the author’s name is in the sentence, there is no in-text citation because there is no page number
for an internet article.)
_________________________
Sample Works Cited Page
Paper 1 Visual Rhetoric Works Cited Sample.pngWorks Cited page should be a separate page at the end of the document (not a separate document).
To insert a new page, go to the end of your paper and go down an extra line. Go to INSERT and select
PAGE BREAK. This will begin a new page. Type Works Cited at the top of the new page.
Once you type your citation, highlight it. Go to FORMAT à PARAGRAPH and change SPECIAL from
“None” to “Hanging.” This will automatically indent the second line ½” as shown above.
Reminders
The Writing Lab. Consider visiting the Writing Lab as you work on this project. The Writing Lab is available
ONLINE 24/7 via the CReW and Tutor.com links on the left side of your Canvas screen.
Things the Writing Lab will help you with:
Avoiding plagiarism
Brainstorming/Outlining
Paper and paragraph organization
Research (finding sources)
Grammar
MLA format
Citations & Works Cited
Understanding and using your sources
Integrating Quotes
Sounding super smart!
Academic Integrity. It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes scholastic dishonesty and to
avoid it at all costs. Anything (homework, quizzes, daily work, papers, and exams) that appears to be a
violation of academic integrity will be reported to the Executive Dean of Academics. You will receive a zero
for the assignment and a warning for the first offense; subsequent offenses will likely result in expulsion
from the college.
Grading. Your paper will not receive higher than a D (and may score significantly less than that) if it:
Does not meet the minimum length requirement
Does not include a header with last name + page number and heading on first page in MLA format
Does not include a Works Cited page
Does not include 2-4 short direct quotes of about 2 lines each
Contains more than 25% quotes
Does not include a signal phrase and an in-text citation for each quote
Does not answer the questions listed above under “Requirements and Paper Organization”
Contains plagiarism