Uppsala-Stanford
Cross-Cultural Rhetoric
Marratech May 4 2009
Activity: Focus on Intercultural Communication and rhetorical analysis of case studies:
news, business, society, and public policy.
I.
Welcome and introductory remarks
Time: 18.10-18.20 (Uppsala) / 9.10-9.20 am (Stanford) 10 minutes
Location: Put http://switchboard.stanford.edu into Marratech address bar; choose CCR Lounge.
Welcome and introductory remarks: Patrik Mehrens, Alyssa O’Brien
Analyzing Cross-Cultural Artifacts as Rhetorical Texts
II.
Small Group Discussion
Time: 18.20–19.00 / 9.20–10.00 40 minutes
Location: Using “switching instructions handout,” connect to small group room with your letter
(A-E). Click on World, type http://switchboard.stanford.edu in Marratech, choose room letter.
Introductions: Getting to Know Everyone in the Group
What is your name and email? Type answers on the whiteboard. What is a writing activity you
enjoy? (blogging, remixing, poetry, research, facebook, myspace, i.m. other?)
Small Group Rhetorical Analysis and Discussion
Each group chooses two primary texts (cartoons or videos) from the preparation sheet.
Analysis: Look closely at the texts and discuss the following questions as a team:
1. Describe the argument of each text. Is there an additional cultural argument being
made?
2. Does that cultural argument work primarily through logic, character or emotions?
Why might that choice of appeals work right now (kairos)?
3. Discuss the audience/audiences. Who do you think is addressed by the text? How
might other audiences respond to the message? Are there any groups that you think
will not understand it?
4. What specific rhetorical and/or visual elements suggest cultural values? How does the
sample reflect culture or contribute to shaping culture? Consider Doxa (or accepted
cultural values – or what we believe) and Nomos (or imposed cultural values – what
we are told). In what way does each sample reinforce or challenge cultural norms?
5. Most importantly, what do you learn about Intercultural Communication: What
aspects of the sample might be taken as offensive, funny, endearing, outrageous to
certain audiences and why? What blunders of intercultural communication are made
and how might you remedy them? What do you learn about the importance of word
choice, image combination, context, audience, and purpose?
Next Page 
III. Collaborative Projects in Globally-Distributed Teams
Time: 19.00-19.15 / 10.00-10.15 15 minutes
Complete the following task as a team. Please use the whiteboard then COPY the text
into Word or notepad and save it on your computer so you can read the script later.
Also, please e-mail your text to Christine Alfano alfano@stanford.edu & Alyssa at
aobrien@stanford.edu
Task:
Choose one example among the rhetorical texts you have discussed, and try to come up with a
news story about this text. Please write two versions of the story:
1) a spoof version breaking all the rules of effective intercultural communication,
2) an accurate news story, aimed at a specific and real newspaper or journal (pick one).
IV. Report on Team Projects
Time: 19.15-19.30 / 10.15-10.30 15 minutes
Goals: Learn effective communication (writing, speaking, visual presentation, collaboration)
Switch Marratech rooms back to CCR Lounge (http://switchboard.stanford.edu)
Pick 1 person from each side to read your spoof and story versions;
everyone will post comments for your team in the Marratech chat box.
V. After the Video Conference
Activity: Write a 50-100 word reflection as a comment on the Uppsala-Stanford blog post
http://www.stanford.edu/group/ccr/blog/
What did you learn about rhetoric across cultures?
What was most memorable?
What new insights do you have that you can use for your own research paper and future?