Canadian Alumni Magazines: A rhetorical analysis of social sciences and humanities storytelling

Abstract

This research project examines the process and product of social sciences and humanities research storytelling in Canadian alumni magazines at research intensive universities. This research is conducted in order to broaden the field of knowledge of what influences the selection and crafting of these stories. Using rhetorical theory as a foundation, I engage a three-tiered methodological approach to expand upon different layers of the process. By reviewing the rhetorical situation, I identify the constraints influencing the production of alumni magazines. Through a rhetorical analysis, I demonstrate the ways ethos is established for both institutions and researchers, the techniques engaged to build pathos through first person storytelling and visual cues, and identify how style is engaged to enhance both ethos and pathos. Finally, by conducting interviews with editors of the magazines I find that while there are many similarities in their approaches, such as influences and story sourcing, there are also differences, such as editorial review processes.