WRA 125:: Project II

Due Dates:

Quick Facts

Project Proposal Feb. 16 (in class

& Online)
Group Presentation: March 2-4
Oct 17: Final Draft + 1pg. group
reflections (D2L 5:00pm)
Individual Final Paper Due:
Friday, March 6 @ 5pm D2L

Individual Paper length-1800-2000

words (plus works cited page), doublespaced,12-point font
Presentation Length: 20mins
Grade: 15%
5% Group Proposal & writing
processes (Peer Response,
workshop, reading annotation)
5% Individual Paper
5% Group Presentation

What is it? The Cultural Artifact Analysis

Earlier in the semester, we define Culture as:
a way of practice to create, preserve, and/or pass on new or old
knowledges and understandings.
Artifact (Webster):
An object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or
historical interest.
This Projects Agenda
To describe and analyze an artifact to in a way that provides alternative cultural
value, beliefs and representations.
Method: How its done
You will work in groups of three to collectively agree on an artifact. Then each
student will rhetorically analyze the artifact from his/her own cultural
encounter and/or experience to the artifact.
Project Requirement
Project Proposal & Writing Processes (5%)
o Individual Project Proposal: write a one page (300-400 words) that
describes the selected artifact. Connect artifact to larger cultural
implications including your personal encounter to the object.
o Group Proposal 4-5-pages total should include the following:
Proposal length 500-600 words (about 2 pages)
Include the common thread/theme that unifies your
object.
Proposal should indicate each team members
point/place of analysis.
One-page detailed and specific presentation outline.
One-page project plan that includes your method of analysis.
One-page project management plan that describes each
member duties and responsibilities.
Individual Paper (5%): 1800-2000 Each student will approach the
groups selected cultural artifactan objects, pieces of clothes, things
people see, touch and useful for everyday practices; excluding
technological tools, bread, pizza, facial hair, cheese, etc. Your paper
should provide a critical cultural analysis and insight into the habits,
values, and beliefs surrounding the artifact.

WRA || 125 || Projects II || Fofana

WRA 125:: Project II

Group Class Presentation (5%): 20 mins: Each group will present its
collective artifact analysis to the class. Presentation will account for each
student alternative approach and its cultural significance. Each team
member should speak for at least 5mins during the presentation.
Research sources
This project does not require research, but rather should rely on your expertise
as a member of the culture and community. On that note your analysis should
be thoughtful, includes deep connection; thoughtful and careful explanation.
Support your object analysis argument/claim with clear and specific evidence
from your cultural encounter with the object. Again, avoid doing any form of
research for this project. However, if you choose to do research, you must cite
using MLA format.
Learning objectives
To gain practice in processes of inquiry: forming & asking questions, revising
questions, & seeking answers
To inquire into cultural values and/or practices
To increase analytical, rhetorical, and critical skills
To consider audience and genre as functions of purpose
Grading Rubric || individual paper
Criteria
Project Proposal- 20% Your project proposal should be detailed, thorough, and
insightful. It should describe the cultural object in detail including the culture and
community its identifies with. Also provide the alternative angle you intend to
address within your paper and eventually in your group presentation.
Rhetorical Analysis30%: Your analysis of the artifact is detailed, thorough, and
insightful. You discuss what meaning the artifact has, how that meaning was
made, and what implications the meaning has for the people who use the artifact.
You identify the ways the artifact changes or influences behavior or thoughts. You
avoid identifying the culture to which the object belongs as "everyone"--try to be
specific.
Claims and examples/evidence10%: You support your analysis with evidence,
description, and examples related to your groups artifact, observations, and
sources.
Context20%: You provide the social, historical, and cultural context for your
audience by discussing the history of object and examining alternative angles of its
use and practice
Style10%: Youve effectively targeted your intended audience through use of
descriptive details and varied sentence structures; appropriate diction (variety of
words); avoids clich; appropriate voice (passive, active); exploration of new
vocabulary
Format5%: paper is correctly formatted and 1800-2000 words long; pages are
numbered, double spaced, and in 12pt font with 1 margins. Sources are cited intext and on a works cited page in MLA citation style.
Mechanics5%: Your essay is reasonably well-proofed so errors do not interfere
with readers ability to clearly understand content of paper.

WRA || 125 || Projects II || Fofana

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