Before You Begin

Read the Introduction to the Course (above).
Read the following short articles:

• Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis in the Real World: A Useful Thinking Tool

These readings will help you apply rhetorical concepts—audience, purpose, ethos, genre, and context—to your analysis of this scholarly journal.

Purpose

This assignment helps you understand how scholarly communities in Professional and Technical Communication (PTC) define what counts as credible knowledge. By rhetorically analyzing the Journal of Business and Technical Communication (JBTC), you’ll explore how researchers in this field frame problems, design studies, and communicate their findings.

Instructions

1. Explore the JBTC Website
Visit the Journal of Business and Technical Communication (SAGE) homepage. Examine:

• The About or Aims and Scope section
• The Editorial Board
• The Most Read, Most Cited, and Trending Articles lists

2. Select Three Articles
Choose one article from each list (Most Read, Most Cited, Trending). Read the title and abstract only. Identify the research question or central problem each article addresses. Copy the full APA 7 citation for each article—you’ll use these in your post.

3. Organize and Post Your Discussion Response
Write ≈500 words and include the following elements in order:

At the Top:

• Word Count: [insert number]
• Table of Sources: Create a simple 3-row table listing the three articles you selected. Include the full APA 7 in-text citation format for each.
  (Example: (Andersen & Katz, 2024))

Article Title	In-Text Citation (APA 7)
Example article title here	(Author & Author, Year)
Example article title here	(Author, Year)
Example article title here	(Author et al., Year)

Headings and Structure:
Use the following section headings in your post:

• Introduction (1–2 sentences explaining your focus)
• Homepage Analysis – Discuss the journal’s purpose, audience, tone, design, and credibility.
• Article Analysis – Summarize the three research questions and compare what topics, methods, or rhetorical strategies seem to be valued.
• Takeaway – Complete this sentence: “Based on this analysis, I think JBTC values research that…”

At the End:
Include a short Reference List in correct APA 7 format for the three articles you analyzed.

Title:
Use a descriptive, engaging title that reflects your insight (e.g., “Theory in Action: How JBTC Defines Knowledge” or “From Design to Data: What Counts as Research in JBTC”).

Peer Replies:
No replies are required for this discussion.

Why This Matters

By analyzing how a leading journal constructs credibility and defines knowledge, you’ll learn how rhetorical values shape research design and scholarly communication—skills that will help you frame and justify your own research later in the course.

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Evaluation Rubric (100 Points Total)

Criteria	Description	Points
Insight & Depth of Analysis	Demonstrates thoughtful understanding of JBTC’s rhetorical situation, purpose, and values; moves beyond description to interpretation.	40 pts
Use of Evidence	Effectively integrates concrete details from the homepage and three selected articles; includes accurate APA 7 in-text citations and reference list.	25 pts
Organization & Clarity	Follows required structure with headings and citation table; presents ideas clearly and cohesively in professional prose.	20 pts
Engagement & Professionalism	Meets word-count requirement; uses appropriate title, tone, and formatting conventions for a scholarly discussion post.	15 pts

Total: 100 points