ESSAY 2: Dont Let Me Be Lonely: A Cry for Social Justice

Now that you have familiarized yourself with a social issue, researched the impact of
social media, and begun your own social campaign, you are ready to write an
analytical/research essay that develops your entrance into the activist discourse.
While your activism takes place within social media and multimodal genres, you began
by choosing a theme from Dont Let Me Be Lonely and analyzing its rhetorical and visual
strategies to draw its audience out of their social and political complacence using poetic
language and text. You noticed, of course, that the rhetorical moves made in DLMBL are
similar to those made by the social campaigns you studied. In the following paper, you will
analyze Claudia Rankines call to action and her proposed solution, compare it to the social
campaigns you researched, and finally, develop your own proposed solution.

Your essay must have:

Well thought-out and analyzed evidence/details from Dont Let Me Be Lonely.

At least (3) news sources/credible websites discussing the social issue, of which (1)
must be a counterargument.
At least (2) scholarly articles that allude to the social/political issue in terms that
weve discussed in class or that are key components of the said issue. Examples:
Social construction
Panoptocism
Microaggressions
Hegemonic constructs
Intersectionality
Heteronormativity
Power dynamics
Dichotomous thinking
At least (2) examples of social media activism that effectively promote the
discourse of your chosen social issue and (1) example that is not effective with
specific evidence as to why it is effective/not effective.
A Works Cited page.

Your tasks in this essay:

A) You will answer the following questions from Dont Let Me Be Lonely and find
evidence/details/symbols from the reading to justify and further develop the theme you
chose in Progression 2. You will distinguish Rankines form of activism: What is her
medium? What is her message? Who is her audience and how does she invite them into
her discourse?

What does DLMBL suggest the relationship between hope and loneliness is? Do
you believe that Rankine believes that activism is a form of breaking through
loneliness? What is the new awakening of hope and how does it come about for
Rankine? Think about this quote: Because the foundations for loneliness begin
in the dreamscapes you create. Their resemblance to reality reflects
disappointment first (121). How does it relate to the rhetorical moves that

DLMBL makes? What does Rankine think language should be used for? Do you
think Claudia Rankines form of social activism is effective? How so?
B) You will summarize/evaluate the social issue you have chosen that pertained to the

theme from DLMBL and the ramifications of said issue in our culture/society by
analyzing its prevalence in social media outlets. In other words, you will explain the
importance of this event to the larger discourse/the world and compare it to the
ideologies and social activism found in DLMBL.

You will analyze the social issue and the (3) news sources used (one of which
must have a counterargument). Keep in mind that while you are expected to use
sources and evaluate the arguments therein; your own argument and analysis
will always be the most important part, as well as your :

What is the event/issue in question? What is the position of the news

sources on this event? How can you tell?
What is the genre of this specific?
What kind of language does it use?
Who is the audience?
What specific examples of propaganda are being used?
What rhetorical appeals are being used?
What is the counterargument and what new perspective does it bring?
What are the ideologies that create the social issue?
What is your position on the argument?

You will then analyze the news sources and the social issue you have chosen
using at least (2) scholarly sources that corroborate your argument. Finally, you
will analyze the (3) social campaigns you have chosen (one of which must have
a counterargument)

What is the conversation surrounding the event that you have chosen?
What is the reaction of the public?
What is the reaction of the government?
What rhetorical strategies and visual rhetoric is being used to ensure the
audience is receiving the message? How?
How could it be more effective? If it is an effective use of social media, how
was it effective? If it wasnt effective or if you find it problematic, why? What
would you do differently? Why?

C) Finally, you will discuss your own proposed solution through your social campaign.
Some things to consider:
How is it similar to or different from what Rankine proposed in DLMBL and
how is it similar to or different from the social campaigns you reached?
Who is your audience?
What rhetorical moves will you make to ensure that you reach them?

What is the purpose of your argument? Remember that you will have a thesis
for your social campaign that broadens the scope of your essay to include the
larger discourse. Your thesis should encompass the following:

Main subject of your choosing + argument+ why/how it is important to the

larger discourse/world+ A COUNTERARGUMENT+A PROPOSED SOLUTION
2,500 to 3,500 words
Your paper should follow MLA guidelines and should include a Works Cited page.
Rough draft: due Sunday, 11/19
Final Draft: due Friday, 12/1