Rhetorical analysis in critical policy research |
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| Authors: | Sue Winton |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Education , York University , Toronto , ON , Canada swinton@edu.yorku.ca |
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| Abstract: | Rhetorical analysis, an approach to critical discourse analysis, is presented as a useful method for critical policy analysis and its effort to understand the role policies play in perpetuating inequality. A rhetorical analysis of Character Matters!, the character education policy of a school board in Ontario, Canada, provides an illustrative example of the method’s contributions to the field. I identify rhetorical appeals of Character Matters! texts that aim to persuade the policy’s audience to support a predominantly traditional approach to character education. I then present contributions of rhetorical analysis for critical policy research and possibilities of rhetorical analysis for democratizing policy processes. I conclude by considering possible implications for York Region if the rhetoric of Character Matters! successfully convinces its audience to support the traditional approach to character education it advocates. |
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| Keywords: | rhetorical analysis character education critical discourse analysis |
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