This document provides instructions for a multi-genre/modal assignment focusing on spatial rhetoric for an English course. Students are asked to analyze the spatial rhetoric of a public location by creating a project using at least three genres, including an explanatory essay and genres relevant to their major and visual genres. The project must include an introduction, explanatory essay analyzing the location's message and audience, genres analyzing the space, and a note page explaining creative choices.

1. ENGL 102 SU2017 – C.J. Hill
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 a particular location—ideally, a very public space. What is
meant to happen there? Does how people use this location coincide with the perceived
intentions? Are there pieces of this location that portray emotion? Logic? Credibility? After
thinking these questions over, create a multi-genre/modal project that conveys your
thoughts/findings on the spatial rhetoric of your chosen location through means other than
a straightforward written essay.
This assignment requires:
• Focus on the topic of spatial rhetoric
• Introduction/Preface/Dear Reader
- Should be around 200 words that simply introduces the reader to who you are
and what this project will include/the environment you are focusing on
• Expository piece
- Should be at least 400-500 words. Make this vivid, informational, straight-
forward writing that articulates the theme of spatial rhetoric. In this essay, you
should address what this environment’s message is, who the speaker is, who the
audience is, and your individual perception of this message
• 3 chosen genres from the list below
- at least one genre will need to be relevant to your major/field of interest
- at least one genre will need to be visual
• 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
• Works Cited Page in MLA format (if applicable)
• A unified compilation of all pieces (a single pdf document, a website, etc. [a
PowerPoint is NOT allowed])
“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. ENGL 102 SU2017 – C.J. Hill
Audience:
• This project should consider an audience both of the people who commonly
experience your chosen location and your instructor.
Format:
• Any writing should be in standard edited English and adhere to the specific formats
of each genre
Assessment:
• This project will be assessed through the attached rubric
Some questions you may consider:
• What does it mean to be a person in this place?
• What is a particular building or other space used for? Does it fulfill its purpose?
How?
• What is the intended culture? How does this space convey/suggest these cultures?
• What experiences does a person have here?
• How do you fit within your peers here?
• What sets you apart from other people?
• What does being a person in this location mean to people who share, or do not
share, your age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, et cetera?
• How does your background/personal history influence your experience here?
• What does it mean to be an ideal citizen or visitor of this location?
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
Double voice Lists

3. ENGL 102 SU2017 – C.J. Hill
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 by Thursday May 3rd at 11:59 pm
Note: How you hand in this project varies on how you choose to compile the materials. You
may be submitting a link to a website, or a pdf file, or a number of other options. However,
you must submit some document to the BbLearn dropbox in order to for me to fill out a
grading rubric for your project. It can be blank if you handed in your project in some other
form.

4. ENGL 102 SU2017 – C.J. Hill
UNIT 4: Multi-Genre Project Rubric
Project Criteria
30 pts
Genre Use /
Creativity
30 pts
Written
Components
25 pts
Organization
15 pts
A
90-100
Total
Points
The project focus/theme
of “Spatial Rhetoric” is
followed closely and
with strong effort. One
can clearly see the
connection between the
project and a
narrative/argument of
how an environment is
communicating with
inhabitants.
All three genres are
present, including one
related to major area of
study and at least one
visual genre. Effort and
concentration has been
placed on creating a
new multi-modal way
to convey a given
message through
creative means. Risks
were obviously taken
(even if they weren’t
completely pulled off)
All written
components are
present and fulfill
the requirements of
each. The Notes
Page has at least ½
page entry for each
genre, separated
clearly in some
form.
All of the required
pieces of the
project are
present and
compiled in the
order outlined on
the assignment
sheet.
B
80-89
Total
Points
The overall topic is
present, but the project
strays from the
assigned theme in a
few places.
There is one missing
genre in the collection,
but the major genre
and visual genre are
not missing. There has
been some creative
effort.
There is one
missing written
component and/or
the Notes Page in
particular fall short
in length or clarity.
There is no more
than one missing
piece of the
project and/or
materials are out
of order and hard
to follow as a
cohesive project.
C
70-79
Total
Points
Project strays from the
assigned topic often
and/or is not displaying
a clear understanding
of spatial rhetoric.
There is more than one
missing genre, and the
major genre and visual
genre is one of them.
There is an obvious
lack of effort put into
the genres’ creation.
There are several
missing written
components and/or
they fall quite short
of meeting the
requirements for
content and
organization.
There are two or
three missing
pieces of the
project and/or
materials are in a
confusing order.
NC
No
Credit
The theme is not
followed in any way.
There are several
missing genres, and
both the major genre
and visual genre are
missing. No effort is
put into aesthetic or
creativity.
The Notes Page is
missing and/or does
not draw any
connections to
message or goals
and choices made
in genre
implementation.
There are more
than three
missing pieces of
the project and
there is no clear
order to their
collection.
Materials are
handed in in
different forms
with no
explanation.