1. Unit 4 Assignment Instructions
Multi-Genre/Modal Environment Analysis
At this point in your academic careers, you have studied rhetoric in many written and
verbal terms—books, articles, speeches, debates, etc. But some messages aren’t read or
heard as much as they are seen.
In Unit 4, we are focusing on spatial rhetoric. Spatial rhetoric is a part of the visual
rhetoric family; for example, a music video, a poster, a crafted photograph, and a
commercial are all examples of visual rhetoric. This kind of rhetoric still conveys a
carefully designed message, but through the utilization of visual elements paired with
other meaning making devises to convey logos, ethos, and pathos through means other
than the written or spoken word. Spatial rhetoric is a message conveyed in a
particular space through the use of architecture and design choices, sometimes
paired with cultural history of a particular location.
For this assignment, consider the University of Idaho campus. Many college students
notice a change in their personality or priorities when they move away from home to go to
school. Often times we chalk it up to simply getting older, but what if it is something more
than that? What if the university campus conveys a particular message for the human
beings who dwell within? After thinking these questions over, create a multi-genre/modal
project that conveys your thoughts/findings on the spatial rhetoric of UI through means
other than a straightforward written essay.
This assignment requires:
• Focus on the topic of the university spatial rhetoric and research on the topic
through a variety of supplemental sources, including readings you find on your own
• Introduction/Preface/Dear Reader
• Expository piece (at least 400-500 words. Make this vivid, informational, straight-
forward writing. Boil your topic down to essentials)
• Works Cited Page in MLA format
• A Note Page that documents the process and choices for how your research has
informed each genre of your multi-genre project, and how you connected the topic to
your genres
• 5 chosen genres from the list below. In that five, at least one genre will need to be
relevant to your major/field of interest
• At least one visual element in your project
• Unifying elements from the topic (repeated images/ideas, themes and experiences
related to but exclusive to a particular genre, details just mentioned in one piece but
exploded
“Genre:
a construction/compilation of rhetorical elements (either in writing or another modality) that
has a clear author, audience, style, and convention that is unique to it as it incorporates a focus
about a topic.”
2. Audience:
• This project should consider the wide audience of people who participate in the
university experience (students, faculty, staff, parents)
Format:
• Any writing should be in standard edited English and adhere to the specific formats
of each genre
Assessment:
• Student/instructor edited rubric TBD
Some questions you may consider:
• What does it mean to be a college student at UI?
• What is a particular building used for? Does it fulfill its purpose? How?
• What is the intended culture of the on-campus living options? How do their spaces
convey/suggest these cultures?
• What experiences do college students have at UI?
• How do you fit within your peers?
• What sets you apart from other students?
• What does being a UI student mean to people who share, or do not share, your age,
ethnicity, gender, sexuality, et cetera.
• How does your background/personal history influence your experiences as a college
student at UI?
• How has your identity as a student changed over the year(s)?
• What does it mean to be an ideal student at UI?
Some examples of genres you might try:
Directories Cast lists
Encyclopedia entries Fable
Game rules Interviews
Job application Letters/post cards
Web site home page Map
Parodies Headlines
Manifesto Prayer
Quotations Recipes
Time lines Facebook pages
Tweets Texts
Blog postings Pinterest Pinnings
Want ads Menu
Newscasts Play list
First person narrative Third person narrative
Stream of consciousness Interior Monolog
Dialog (written in play format) Poems for two voices
Free verse Photograph poem
Haiku Limerick
List poem Dramatic monolog
Newspaper article Song lyrics
Alternate Style Pieces Fragments
3. Double voice Lists
Hard news stories Feature stories
Dear Abby Comic strip
Obituary Editorials
Classified ad Reviews
Diary/journal entries Allegory
Character sketch Brochure
Bumper sticker Short story
Video Announcement
Blueprints Museum label
*You may have an idea for a genre that isn’t on this list. Ask your instructor about using a
non-listed genre before implementing it into your project.
Projects are due the week of May 1st – May 5th in class
A presentation order will be determined by random drawing
Your project is due the day you are assigned to present
Any physical genres should be handed in to me in person after the presentation.
All written materials/genres should be submitted in the designated drop box on Bb Learn
as one Word document by class time on your presentation day.
