Fazal Mirza

ENGL 393 Tuesday-Thursday

Homework #2

Due Date: February 12th

Rhetorical Analysis

I am currently pursuing a major in Media & Communication Studies (MCS). One of the core

classes mandated by the school is MCS 333, History and Theory of Mass Communication and Media

Studies. I am going to analyze the cover page of the required textbook for this class which is named

Media and Cultural Studies: KeyWorks. Overall, this textbook looks very appealing compared to the

other textbooks I have been assigned this semester. At first glance, this cover would promote creative

thoughts in the viewer’s eyes. In this rhetorical analysis, I’ve come to the conclusion that the

illustrators created the cover page based off of the audience, presentation, as well as the appealing

factors.

When looking at the cover page, the first thing I noticed was the fist symbol. During the 1968

Olympics gold medalist, Tommie Smith, and bronze medalist, John Carlos, put their fist up in the air as

the US national anthem started playing during the ceremony. Ever since that moment, African

Americans have been doing the same to represent their strength and power against oppression in this

country. This historical symbol is shown on the cover page of my MCS 333 textbook and after viewing

it I started to wonder what it has to do with theory. I came to realization that it suffices the media

aspect because that moment during the 1968 Olympics was news breaking.

The second thing that I noticed looking into this book was the background which is also unique.

The background consists of a wall that seems to be dented/broken with graffiti marks which makes it

seem like it isn’t a typical textbook. These features of the textbook cover page could possibly

represent the old media and communication theories in the past that this book will discuss.

The rhetorical components can be towards the audience. The creators of the cover page wanted to

find ways that can grab a reader's attention. One of the first things a reader notices while examining a

book is the cover page. If the cover page looks bland or uninteresting, the chances of someone willing
to read it are lower. Textbook designers have to keep their audience in mind in order to sell the product

and in turn make college students keep interest in the MCS field. The details such as the fist symbol

and graffiti are something that will definitely grab the reader's attention and they’ll ask themselves

questions on what the textbook could possibly be about.

Other rhetorical components include presentation and appeal. The cover page represents the

presentation because the creators of the textbook want to present it in an attractive manner to college

students. Nowadays, many college students hate textbooks for several different reasons. Usually, a

college textbook is heavy and isn’t usually appealing. This is where the appealing concept comes into

play, because if the cover page does not look appealing then it won’t grab college students attention.

The main goal of the cover page is the bring more students into the Media and Communication

Studies field. One of the ways to do this is to make a creative cover page so more college students

can notice it. The font in this textbook is also different. They use Rhetorical strategies because it is the

best way to make students more open-minded to different possibilities in the topics that will be

discussed.