I included this piece in my portfolio because it is the foundation of my RIP. This piece helped me further understand the RIP prompt. It also helped me develop ideas for my essay. The proposal allowed me to really think about the rhetorical triangle in the context of my proposed idea. I explained in the proposal that my audience would be the husband. This was the beginning to identifying my audience and his role in the poem. This proposal helped me get ideas started for both my essay and project

What is the theme of your project? How does it relate to our class theme or texts?

My project is going to be a response of “This is Just to Say”. I am hoping that it will correlate with the ideas I developed throughout my CRR essay. This project relates to our class because it is based off the William Carlos Williams confessional poem we discussed.

Who will be the rhetor? Is it you, or is it someone else? What is the rhetor’s ethos?

For this project, my rhetor is the wife of the speaker from “This is Just to Say”. The ethos of the rhetor will be seen in the essay through familiarity. I will incorporate the “icebox” reference, use words like “you” to directly approach the audience. I will also reciprocate a playful tone with the use of mockery and sarcasm.

What is the rhetor’s purpose? What does the rhetor want to convince an audience to believe or do differently?  Write down the rhetor’s message to them: what points will the rhetor make or what ideas will the rhetor express in the text?

The rhetor’s purpose is to, accept the apology while simultaneously developing the relationship with the audience. She is trying to send the message that she got the letter, she understands he’s joking, now she is going to joke back. Overall, I just want this piece to demonstrate a happy goofy relationship. (My purpose as the rhetor)

Who is the rhetor’s primary audience?  Be specific: research and analyze their demographics (i.e., age, gender, race, economic status, marital status, ethnicity, occupation). Also research their psychographics: activities, interests, opinions, lifestyle, beliefs, values, opinions, and behavior characteristics. Write out a full description!

My audience is a husband, a young husband, 32, who loves and cares for his wife. He originally wrote a poem apologizing for eating plums, which ideally shows he is caring and thoughtful. However, there is irony which shows he does not necessarily take matters seriously, which develops his character as humorous. He is white, I am saying this just because Williams Carlos Williams is.  He works early in the morning, since he was able to leave this before she woke up. Considering he works, he is part of the working class. This character is your average working class man that tries to be positive.

(NOTE: Avoid defining your audience as a “general audience” or “everybody,” or even “teens” or “young adults” or a “mature audience.” These terms are too general to lead to a successful project! One method of getting specific is to draw a picture of a potential or intended member of the audience. Try it!)

What medium and genre will the rhetor use to convey the message to this audience?

This is going to be another post it note poem, perhaps one left with his dinner when he comes home from work.

What is the relationship of that audience to that medium/genre? Where and how would they encounter the text the rhetor will be creating? What elements will hold their interest? Most importantly, what expectations will they bring to the text, because of its medium and/or genre? Think about it and be specific.

A poem works best because this was the medium used in the previously. It will bring the expectation to the audience that she read the first one. I think because the first poem established that both characters are able to mutually share a light-hearted relationship, that he will be expecting for it to be along the same lines. He knows that she would enjoy something like that, and so does she.

Find a model text you can use that is the same medium and genre of the text the rhetor will create.  This must be an actual text.  Give me a link to it and describe it rhetorically (its triangle; you can draw a picture).  

I believe that the “This is Just to Say” text works as a model. The rhetor is the husband. He is apologizing while establishing a relationship with the intended audience. The intended audience is his wife. This serves as the best model just because my purpose is to mock it.

What help will you need to get from someone else to complete this project? (This could include getting help understanding a certain culture (age-based culture included), or help with rhetorical concepts, or even help with writing clearly.)

Off the top of my head, helping to write clearly is definitely necessary for the essay, and all my essays for that matter. I will also need help writing a poem, this is not something I have ever practiced.

Write down your plan for completing this project in the next 2-3 weeks. What will you need to do first? What research do you need to do and when will you complete it by? Etc.

Monday I am hoping to be able to get feedback from my peers on the first two stanzas of the poem and get help on developing the last stanza of my poem. The rest of the week will be used to work on my essay and revise my writing, I find that reading my essay backwards helps clarify my ideas. Use feedback in class to strengthen the control in my writing.

How will you know if the rhetor has succeeded? What will change in the audience? What will they do or believe differently, and how will you know?

My rhetor will succeed if her husband is able to come to bed in the night next to her and know she is the one for him because they understand each other’s humor. I will know because if my peers can reciprocate those emotions then so will he. Also, because I developed my intended audience I know the emotions he is feeling. Maybe he felt lonely because he missed his wife when he was leaving in the morning. As long as she is able to return that love she will be succeeding.