DUE WEDNESDAY 9/29 BY 11:59 PM

According to Maggie Koerth-Baker in “Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy
Theories”, “63% of registered American voters believe in at least one political conspiracy theory.” Explain one political conspiracy theory that you may have heard of or fallen for. Examples might include conspiracies surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the accusation that President Barack Obama was secretly a Muslim or not a U.S citizen (otherwise known as the “birther” conspiracy theory), the “deep state”, the Q conspiracy, or something else. (If you haven’t heard of any of these, do a little research to understand one – keeping in mind, firmly, that conspiracy theories are by their nature rhetorically unsound.)

Do not analyze the conspiracy theory you have chosen – simply explain in 1-2 paragraphs what it is and who believes it to the best of your ability.

DUE SUNDAY 10/3 BY 11:59 PM

Select one conspiracy theory explained by a classmate and analyze it in 2-4 paragraphs. Feel free to look up videos, imagery, and rhetoric associated with that conspiracy theory and refer to it in your analysis. Make sure to evaluate the rhetoric and imagery employed. Explain what makes it a conspiracy theory, what sort of fallacies it rests upon, any rhetorical appeals used, its audience and purpose, the effect it may have on social discourse, and how it is propagated online, if a newer conspiracy.

2.9 Four Arguments on Troubling Rhetoric, the Tech that Enables It, & Its Consequences (READ)

OVERVIEW

The following articles in the Unit 2 readings consist of “Anti-Intellectualism and the ‘Dumbing Down’ of America” by Ray Williams, “YouTube, the Great Radicalizer” by Zeynep Tufekci, “Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories” by Maggie Koerth-Baker, and “How the Pandemic Defeated America” by Ed Yong.

In his article, Williams lays out the problem of “alternative facts” and opinions replacing science and real facts, and the consequences that has on social discourse. Zeynep Tufekci argues that YouTube’s algorithms radicalize people, and Maggie Koerth-Baker explains that even with more access to information than ever before in the history of our species, even the most rational of us are unable to avoid falling for conspiracy theories. Finally, biologist Ed Yong argues that being led by an anti-science government that is hostile to the truth has had serious consequences for our country – and he lays out in great detail exactly what those consequences are.

INSTRUCTIONS

Read these four articles, taking note of the ways in which they discuss issues arising from information disorder, particularly as propagated online. Consider which rhetorical fallacies might be at play in the issues and arguments they explain and refute. Consider, as well, the rhetoric the writers themselves employ, and its relative effectiveness.

124 UNIT 2 READINGS.pdf

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