Starter 9.18: Find a quote from each reading (Dr. Grossman AND Kagan & Asmus) that you believe encapsulates the bias about foreign policy that each expresses. What does each document express about America’s role in the world?
Discuss take-aways from the readings.
- What questions did you have when you read?
- What bias on foreign policy does each piece of discourse represent?
- What recommendations does each make?
- What does each believe about America’s role in the world and how we should use our military?
Four Corners: a few more…
- When a foreign people is being governed by a tyrannical leader, the United States should intervene to overthrow that leader.
- Citizens should have a say in whether or not their country goes to war.
- It is unpatriotic to oppose a war.
- America has a special role to play in the world to help spread democracy and keep the peace.
What was the response?
Bombs over Baghdad: How is “Shock and Awe” rhetorical?
Leading to War: Examining the “Rhetoric and Spin” of the Bush Administration
Watch the first few minutes together.
As individuals, choose one of the following options to explore how the Bush administration used rhetorical strategy to build a case to go to war with Iraq during the 18 months that followed 9-11. Either option will end with you answering the same prompts in your digital comp book (see below).
OPTION 1: Watch the entire film and answer the prompts in your journal.
OPTION 2: Using the resources provided on their website, explore the rhetorical analysis work of the filmmakers
- After reading the intro, choose min. 6 (of the 12) of the subheaders to explore. Read the intros and then watch the videos in your headphones AND/OR read through the quoted materials. If you are choosing this option, please note in your journal which sections you examined.
- Answer the journal prompts in your digital comp book.
JOURNAL 9.18: Leading to War/Rhetorical Analysis of Bush administration’s case for war
- Explain some of the rhetorical strategies that the Bush administration used to build a public case for going to war in Iraq. BE SPECIFIC! Use examples from their own rhetoric and connect them to concepts we have studied.
- How did they use Aristotelian appeals?
- How did they connect to the value system of their audience?
- Was their use of rhetorical strategy ethical?
- How did their language shape public perception and knowledge?
- Why is this important? What can we learn from studying this as critical consumers of rhetoric in our democracy?
- In your opinion, is the “Bush Doctrine” a good way to fight terrorism? Why or why not?