Something we haven’t considered before is kairos– the influence of time, culture, and context on an artifact’s rhetorical appeals. How have artifacts adapted to time and place? For this assignment, we want to investigate an artifact rhetorically and culturally over time. The artifact can be one of your choosing as long as it has a history of at least 40 years. Examples include products, brands, locations, and services.

In several ways, this assignment is very similar to the rhetorical analysis as you will be finding artifacts and analyzing them rhetorically. However, you will also be discussing kairos and your thesis will make an assertion about change over time and place.

For this assignment, compose a 4 to 6 page analysis paper that contains

Introduction
Detail essential historic or background information about the artifact briefly
Include thesis that makes a claim about how the artifacts have changed over time and the effectiveness of that change
Did the audience change? Did they switch rhetorical appeals? Are they always cashing in on current events?
Analysis of Artifacts
Evaluate the appeals used in each artifact. You don’t need to analyze every – only the ones relevant to your thesis and analysis
Identify changes from artifact to artifact such as shifts in audience, appeal strategies, or message, and explain if these are effective. You can also explore consistencies in these components
Incorporate sources that put your analysis into context or explain a critical component (e.g. historic context, data to support choice, etc)
Focus on questions like “How did they do it?” “Why?” “How do you know?”
Conclusion
Look at your artifacts as a continuum
Establish how rhetoric has changed and if this has been effective End with a lasting message about the artifact, rhetoric, or kairos

Additionally include

Reference page of 5-8 appropriately cited sources
Visual aid (such as a PowerPoint or Infographic) that displays your artifacts and any essential details