Using a developmental approach to the process of criticism, Making Sense of Messages serves as an introduction to rhetorical criticism for communication majors. The text employs models of criticism to offer pointed and reflective commentary on the thinking process used to apply theory to a message. This developmental/apprenticeship approach helps students understand the thinking process behind critical analysis and aids in critical writing.

Table of Contents:
I. Introduction 1. What Are Rhetorical Messages? Characteristics of Rhetoric Definition of Rhetoric Rhetorical Terminology Why Study Rhetorical Messages? 2. Criticism: What Critics Do with Rhetorical Messages Reaction versus Critique Characteristics of Critics A Critical Stance: In the Balcony How This Book Can Help Message Analysis Matters! II. Process to Product 3. Four Kinds of Critical Thinking Creative and Critical Thinking The Process of Critical Analysis of Messages Notes 4. The Process of Description Approaches to Describing a Text Recording Your Thinking Approaches to Describing Context Conducting Relevant Research Text-Context Interaction Applications of Text-Context Interactions Notes 5. The Process of Analysis Naming the Parts of the Message Looking for Rhetorical Patterns Sample Analysis Deriving Questions from the Analysis Notes 6. The Process of Interpretation Characteristics of Interpretation How Does a Critic Develop an Interpretation? 7. The Process of Evaluation Types of Judgments Selecting a Type of Judgment Sample Evaluation 8. Writing Your Ideas Effectively Arguing Your Claims about Messages Documenting Your Sources Notes III. Analytical Tools Classical Approaches 9. Classical Approaches: Ancient Rhetoric Some Classical Rhetorical Concepts The Classical Model Applied Notes Suggested Readings 10. Classical Approaches: New Rhetoric Toulmin and Everyday Argument Perelman and the New Rhetoric The New Rhetoric Applied Notes Suggested Readings Dramatistic Approaches 11. The Narrative Paradigm Some Vocabulary of the Narrative Paradigm Narrative Paradigm Applied Two Concepts--Four Concerns Narrative Applied to WWF Smackdown! Suggested Readings 12. Fantasy Theme Analysis Fantasy Theme Analysis Contrasted with Narrative Some Basic Concepts of Fantasy Theme Analysis The Process of Fantasy Theme Analysis Fantasy Theme Applied: Gettysburg Address The Fantasy Themes of WWF Smackdown! Notes Suggested Readings 13. Burkeian Analysis The Negative and Human Speech The Pentad Two Examples of the Pentad Applied Using Pentadic Ratios Discovering Motives Burkeian Concepts Applied to WWF Smackdown! Notes Suggested Readings Sociopolitical Approaches 14. Ideological Approaches Critical Theory Hegemony and Marginalization Legitimation Naturalization Ideological Concepts Applied to Beauty and the Beast and Shrek Notes Suggested Readings 15. Feminist Approaches Liberal Feminism Cultural Feminism Postmodern Feminism Feminist Concepts Applied to Beauty and the Beast and Shrek Notes Suggested Readings 16. Postmodern Approaches Deconstruction Ideographs Discursive Formations Using the Postmodern Approaches Postmodern Concepts Applied to "America" Notes Suggested Readings Visual Approaches 17. Visual Communication Visual Messages and Argument The Nature of Visual Messages Semantics and Visual Communication Functions of Visuals in Persuasion An Application Expanding the Analysis Notes Suggested Readings Appendices 1. Sample Analysis of "She's Leaving Home" 2. Sample Student Paper: Barbara Jordan's Keynote Address at the 1992 Democratic National Convention: A Neutral Approach to a Partisan Task 3. Sample Student Paper: A Response to the Death of a Princess: The Form and Function of a Eulogy