TERRORISM
"What is terrorism? Where does the word come from, and how is it used? For how long has it been a part of our vocabulary? How has it changed throughout the centuries?" - Joseph Tuman raises and attempts to answer these questions in Communicating Terror: The Rhetorical Dimensions of Terrorism (2003).
Resources:
Tuman, Joseph Communicating Terror (2003) Call Number: HV 6431.T845 2003. This book is available on reserve in the Purdy-Kresge Library for ENGL 1020-001. There are also copies at several MEL libraries; these can be requested at checked out through the Wayne State Library Online (this is a fantastic resource for defining and thinking about the term/idea "terrorism").
Also:
You could read either of the articles below and apply the list of questions in the Project Three toolbox to begin generating your paper.
Harpham, Geoffrey Galt. "Symbolic Terror." Critical Inquiry (2002): 28.2. 573-79.
Available on JSTOR through the Wayne State University Library: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1344283
Ahmad, Eqbal. "Comprehending Terror." MERIP Middle East Report (1986): 140. 2-5. Web.
Available on JSTOR through the Wayne State University Library: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3012023
- Does your interpretation of this article (and it's definition of "terrorism") change when you consider that fact that it was written in 1986, just after the Cold War ended and more than a decade before the present "War on Terror"?
Comments (3)
Tiffany Williams said
at 1:42 am on Mar 2, 2011
1. What word/term/concept/idea will you be defining and why? Terrorism is the term and I will be defining it because I want to inform readers of what a terrorism is.
2. What do you offer in defining this idea that has not been (well) covered elsewhere? What is your unique perspective?I don’t understand this question.
3. What is the audience for this piece (be as specific as possible)? The audience is people who get on planes, trains, public buildings or any where a terrorist might attack or just a person who wants to be informed.
4. How is your audience likely to feel about this issue/concept before the read your project? My audience is likely to feel not totally clear on what exactly a terrorist is but after reading they will be informed.
5. What is your purpose in arguing this definition? (I.e, what's your point?)to define a terrorist. The purpose in arguing this definition is to inform people if they are unclear what a terrorist is.
6. What strategies (pathos appeals, resemblance arguments, etc.) do you plan to use in making this argument? Pathos because in the reading, September 11 the terrorist attack was brought up.
Alexis Cora said
at 7:31 am on Mar 2, 2011
1. What word/term/concept/idea will you be defining and why? Terrorism is the term, I am defining it because everyone needs to know what it means to different people and how it has affected our society today.
2. What do you offer in defining this idea that has not been (well) covered elsewhere? What is your unique perspective? I would hope that I cover the difference in terrorism now then in the past (but I know that has probably happened before), my unique perspective is to go into readings with an open mind, if i only have one view on this then I might not be able to get as much information as I would like.
3. What is the audience for this piece (be as specific as possible)? The audience would be people who had dealt with either a terrorist attack or have lived in a time where it has been a big problem.
4. How is your audience likely to feel about this issue/concept before the read your project? Some may like it some may not, depends on the type of reader, like I said I have to keep an open mind and I would hope the reader would too.
5. What is your purpose in arguing this definition? (I.e, what's your point?) To help people understand the concept of terrorism and also help me become more understanding of it.
6. What strategies (pathos appeals, resemblance arguments, etc.) do you plan to use in making this argument? Don't know yet.
ef1099@wayne.edu said
at 9:27 am on Mar 2, 2011
1.THE WORD TERRISOM IS BEING DEFINED IN THE ARTICLE, TO INFORM US PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPENING IN OUR EVERYDAY SOCIETY.
3. THE AUDIENCE ON THIS PIECE ARE THOSE WHO TRAVEL, THOSE WHO ARE ALWAYS IN PLACE THAT CAN BECOME A TERRIOST ATTACK.
4. THE AUDIENCE OPINIONS ON THIS ARTICLE, WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE AGE GROUP. THOSE WHO ARE OLDER WILL MAYBE HAVE A MORE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING, WHILE THE YOUGHER GENERATION MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND.
5. HE IS TRYING TO SAY THAT TERRIOSM IS THIS VAGUE, BIG THREAT, THAT ITS NOT JUST A BAD THING, BUT SYMBOLIC. HE CRITICITEZ AMERICA FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO DESCRIBE TERRISOM.
6. LOTHOS, THIS ARTICLE IS FILLED WITH NAMES, DATES, EVENTS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CURRENT EVENTS THAT HE LIST THROUGHOUT THE ARTICLE.
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