My Rhetorical Action Plan

For this post I will be developing my rhetorical action plan for my public argument. This will include my thoughts on my audience, genre and responses/actions of my article.

Indiawaterportal.org. "structure of action plan" 01/07/13 via Flickr.
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Audience:

• Knowledge: My audience will not know the specifics of AI technology, but will instead only know what they have experienced themselves. Luckily, most people these days have a smartphone, and maybe even a smart TV (or any other "smart" technology). Therefore, they will know how it has improved their own lives. However, there is a wide belief that if AI were to get any more intelligent that it would invade an individual's privacy, which is something that I need to address.
• Values: Opposing my argument, I know that most people value their privacy and would like businesses to stay out of their personal lives. In support of my argument, many people enjoy convenience in many aspects of their lives, and now with the introduction of new technologies, there are many things that can make many things easier to do. Some people simply value the idea of technology and would support almost anything new that appears in the market. 
• Standards of Argument: I think that research that my audience can relate to their real-life experience would be best. For example, talking about some new technologies in development may get my audience more excited about the future, which is one purpose of my essay. I may have to translate some terminology but overall I feel that this will be easy to understand. 
• Visual Elements: I feel that including videos or photos of new AI technology being used in the lab, or even of new technology that is out in the market, would be best to include. This is because I can invoke an emotional response of from the new technologies that my audience will be able to use in the future and showcasing people whose lives have been improved from technology (most likely in regards to medicine).
• Purpose: I think my purpose is to mainly to expand my audience's knowledge on the concept of AI. If there is some legislation about AI in the future, then maybe this article will help to convince them that they should vote in favor of AI. However, until then, I would like my audience to not fear this future.

Genre:

1. Listicle

• Example 1, Example 2
• Function: This genre allows a lot of information to be showcased in a short amount of space, all while being pleasing to the eye. Also, because it is easy to read, a short article like this will be able to keep the reader's attention for longer and in turn, they will be able to remember the information that my article shared.
• Setting: This article is found online on quite a few websites. I could see it on a big website such as Buzzfeed.
• Rhetorical Appeals: I feel that all of the rhetorical strategies could be used for this topic. However, I feel that with this genre an emotional appeal would be best because the author must get the audience's attention in a short amount of time. Looking through statistics exclusively may not be as pleasing to read as stories.
• Visual Elements: For this genre there are many visual elements used. I will most likely use ebedded videos and pictures that pertain to this topic.
• Style: This genre is typically more informal. Therefore, I will attempt to create a more personal and informal tone, but not too informal as to harm my credibility. 

2. Editorial

• Example 1, Example 2
• Function: This genre is used to showcase the author's opinion in a short amount of time, but has the ability to be more in depth and scholarly.
• Setting: This genre is found online, in newspapers and in scholarly journals. I could see an editorial such as this in the New York Times, whether it be in their physical newspaper or on their website.
• Rhetorical Appeals: With this genre I think that taking the more logical route would be better for the audience. In my audience, the older half will be reading editorials and therefore, they will want to know the logic and research behind AI. This is not to say that I will not try to include an emotional appeal, thought. 
• Visual Elements: Usually, editorials don't include very many pictures, so possibly one or two pictures or even a video would suffice for this genre.
• Style: I feel that editorials are more on the formal side. Therefore, I will stay true to the genre and keep a formal tone, which will also help with the appeal of my credibility. 

Responses/Actions:

• Positive Reactions:
• People become excited about what's in store for the future of technology
• People become less afraid of AI taking over society
• Younger audiences think about their career with AI, or science in general, in mind
• Negative Rebuttals:
• People still don't agree with my argument/don't trust my credibility
• I could include more reading on this subject in my article. Maybe if they don't trust my word, the audience would trust someone else's on the subject.
• Audience allows AI to completely control their life
• I should mention the fact that there are still risks, and that we still have the ability ,as humans, to do things for ourselves. We shouldn't become lazy because of AI.
• People are still afraid of the risks of AI
• I will mention in my article that there should be precautions taken before AI gets too intelligence and that scientists wouldn't be so blind as to create a dangerous technology and mass produce it.

Reflection:

I read through Rachel and Jenny's posts to reflect. I have learned that there are a variety of genres to write in, some that I didn't even know about! Both seemed to understand the purpose of this project very well and know how to write on their topic. I also learned that all of the appeals can be used in any topic, but what matters is the emphasis you place on one or two depending on the genre and topic.