Overview

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This unit explores the ways rhetoric shapes public perception of news, media, and knowledge itself. Students will examine how media outlets, political figures, and cultural commentators use rhetorical strategies to construct narratives, influence audiences, and frame what counts as “truth” in public discourse. Central to this inquiry is the rise of anti-intellectualism—skepticism or outright hostility toward expertise, higher education, and critical inquiry—and the rhetorical tools that sustain it.

Through close analysis of news articles, opinion pieces, broadcast segments, and digital media, students will identify rhetorical appeals, fallacies, and framing techniques that impact how information is understood and acted upon. The unit also highlights how language can reinforce or resist misinformation, cultivate civic trust or distrust, and encourage either critical thinking or passive consumption.

By the end of the unit, students will:

Recognize rhetorical strategies used in news and media to shape narratives.
Analyze how anti-intellectual rhetoric undermines trust in expertise and knowledge systems.
Evaluate the ethical and social consequences of rhetorical choices in public communication.
Develop strategies for responding critically and responsibly to media rhetoric.

This unit positions students to engage thoughtfully with the contemporary information landscape, equipping them to navigate media with both skepticism and rhetorical awareness.

Mbgoni Handouts

Note: The selected reading from Caste is not on this website. You should have received a handout from me. Ensure to come to every class. Also ensure to keep up with all handouts as that is your responsibility.

Sp26 Media Mbongi Download

understanding-and-using-logos-ethos-and-pathos Download

rhetorical_appeals_questions_revised-1 Download