Commonplace Posts: Recording Textual Moments

As discussed in class on Tuesday, I want you to choose a passage or paragraph that stands out to you and post it to the blog. You might like a particular passage, hate a particular passage, or think that a particular passage captures your attention for some reason that you cannot put your finger on. In a moment, I am going to post my "textual moment" right here in this blog and tell you a little about what I like about it. After taking a look at what I post, post your own passage as a comment to this post.

A moment that stood out in bell hook's, "In Our Glory: Photography and Black Life":

The image in this snapshot has lingered in my mind's eye for years. It has lingered there to remind [me] of the power of snapshots, of the image. As I slowly work on a book of essays titled Art on My Mind, I think about the place of art in black life, connections between the social construction of black identity, the impact of raceand class, and the presence in black life of an inarticulate but ever-present visual aesthetic governing our relationship to images, to the process of image making. I return to the snapshot as a starting point to consider the place of the visual in black life--the importance of photography (81).

This passage stands out to me because it marks the place in the essay where hooks connects her discussion of her personal story of her father's photograph with larger issues of the role of photography in black life. She breaks down the barriers between the personal and the theoretical, personal writing and academic writing. This is the point that I got even more interested in what she had to say. I think she really hits the nail on the head when she says two paragraphs later: "The history of black liberation movements in the United States could be characterized as a struggle over images as much as it has also been a struggle for rights, for equal access" (81).

I guess I like the directness of her writing and the willingness to take risks and advocate for a position with no apologies.

Campaigning and Political Rhetoric

Watch each of the candidate videos again. They are posted on the blog.

As you watch each of the videos, keep in mind what you've read about the RHETORICAL TRIANGLE in our text book, Rhetorical Visions. Using your notes, post a comment that discusses your initial observations about Rhetor, Audience, and Text. Use “Rhetorical Analysis: A Summation” on page 7 as a guide.

We will be discussing this in class more--think of your blog post as an early draft of a rhetorical analysis. Don't worry about being right or wrong...just try to be specific and descriptive.

Welcome to Mahoney's ENG 023 Spring 2008!

Hello all,

Welcome to my College Composition course--version Spring '08! Other than being another new year, another new semester, we are in the thick of an election year. Many observers have commented that this year saw the earliest start of presidential campaigning in our history. I'll leave it to my friends over in political science and history to determine the accuracy of that claim, but it does seem the campaigns began very early this time around.

If you're sick of all the campaigning already, you'll probably let out a great big sigh when you learn that you won't get away from it in this class. Nope.

You see, one of the important issues that we writing teachers face when we talk about critical analysis, persuasive rhetoric, research writing--you know, all that stuff that goes into "academic writing"--is the question of "relevance." That is, what's this all have to do with the "real world." Well, we're going to test some of that out this semester. Given that it's a fact that there is a presidential campaign going on and we're supposed to like the fact we live in a democracy, we're going to practice a little critical citizenship this semester. By doing so, I hope to link questions about "writing" with questions about "democracy." That is, I believe they are connected and important. I believe that learning and practicing critical analysis and writing is integral and vital to a healthy democracy.

Ok, Ok...enough of all the heady stuff for now.

A proper introduction. Hi, I'm Dr. Kevin Mahoney. I grew up in Utica, NY...that's "upstate" to most people, but we always referred to it as "Central New York"...it part because, well, it's in the center of New York State. I've got a B.A. in Political Science, an MA in English, and a Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric (don't worry, you'll know what that means by the end of the semester). I've been teaching at Kutztown for just over 5 years and I am currently the Coordinator of Composition in the English Department. My office is 237 Lytle Hall and I you are always welcome to stop by during my office hours or set up an appointment if my office hours conflict with your schedule.

So, now it's your turn. Introduce yourself. Let us know what's on your mind. And while you're at it, check out what other people have to say and respond to them. See you next class!

Post New Hampshire Primary Speeches

In the posts below, you will find video of four speeches following the New Hampshire Presidential Primary on Tuesday, January 8, 2008. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were the two candidates who received the most votes in the Democratic Party Primary. John McCain and Mitt Romney were the two candidates who received the most votes from Republican Party primary.

Take a look at each of these videos again. As you watch, keep in mind what you've read about the RHETORICAL TRIANGLE in our text book, Rhetorical Visions. Using your notes, post a comment that discusses your initial observations about Rhetor, Audience, and Text.

Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire Victory Speech:

Barack Obama's New Hampshire Second Place Speech:

John McCain's New Hampshire Victory Speech:

Mitt Romney's New Hampshire Second Place Speech:

Hillary Clinton's NH Victory Speech

Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire Victory Speech:

Barack Obama's NH Second Place Speech

Barack Obama's New Hampshire Second Place Speech:

John McCain's NH Victory Speech

John McCain's New Hampshire Victory Speech:

Mitt Romney's Second Place NH Speech

Mitt Romney's New Hampshire Second Place Speech:

Video on Digital Rhetoric

A little video fun for your perusal. Ok, you might not think that a short film on digital rhetoric is "fun," but maybe you soon will?!?