cover of Foss (2026), "Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice", 6th edition

Foss, S.K. (2026). Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice (6th ed.). Waveland Press.

Chapter 2: Doing rhetorical criticism (pp. 9-28)

Consider as you read:

What are the (up to) six primary steps in a rhetorical criticism project? Be able to briefly describe each.
What makes for a worthwhile research question (RQ) in rhet crit? What are the key elements of a rhetorical artifact that should be considered when forming an RQ?
Make note of the literature review section -- we will come back to this later in your project process, when you are ready to select and justify a method for analysis.
Be able to identify and describe the primary sections of a write-up for a rhet crit project.
What does it mean to say that a rhet crit project should "make a contribution to rhetorical theory" (p. 21)?
What advice does Foss give about the use of AI for rhet crit projects? Can you think of possible AI uses that would preserve the key objectives for your learning experience?
What does it mean to "apply the analysis in activism" (p. 22)? Can you think of a specific example that might interest you?
Be able to identify and describe the three primary criteria by which a rhet crit project is assessed (especially since this is largely how your work in this class will be evaluated!)

The Foss textbook is available for purchase at the Mizzou Store in print paperback ($67.95) and as an e-book rental ($23.79).