Prof.

Nelson ::: ENGL 1301 ::: F22

Exercise: Rhetorical Analysis of TAMIU Mission Statement

Example Text:

Texas A&M International University. “Our Mission.” Tamiu.edu,

https://www.tamiu.edu/general.shtml#ourmission. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

Our Mission
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), a Member of The Texas A&M
University System, prepares students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex, culturally
diverse state, national, and global society. TAMIU provides a learning environment built on a
solid academic foundation in the arts and sciences. The University offers a range of
baccalaureate and master’s programs, the Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Business
and the Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice. In addition, the University pursues a
progressive agenda for global study and understanding across all disciplines.
Through instruction, faculty and student research, and public service, TAMIU improves
the quality of lives for citizens of the border region, the State of Texas, and national and
international communities.

Step 1: Determine GAPS

 What is the genre of the TAMIU Mission Statement? What are the common components /
rhetorical moves of this genre? See the “Mission Statement” handout created by Duke
University’s Thompson Writing Program (Week 9)
o Who: TAMIU
o What: TAMIU “offers a range of baccalaureate and master’s programs,”
including “the Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Business and the
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice,”

 Who is the audience of the TAMIU Mission Statement?

o Aspiring students (undergraduate and graduate)
o Professors/Academics interested in teaching at TAMIU
o Potential donors

 What is the purpose of the TAMIU Mission Statement?

o To convey the aims of the university in toto to its audience (to motivate support
from that audience):
o “prepar[ing] students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex, culturally
diverse state, national, and global society”
o “improv[ing] the quality of lives for citizens of the border region, the State of
Texas, and national and international communities.”
o TAMIU’s unstated aim is to be self-perpetuating as an economic engine in the
region, one that has international ties, and as a cultural center

 What is the context of the TAMIU Mission Statement?

o It’s [the mission statement] published online, on the university website on the
“About” page
o The university is located in Laredo, TX, a border region of the US, in close
proximity to Mexico
 Prof. Nelson ::: ENGL 1301 ::: F22

o The university is (probably) one of the largest/significant employers in Laredo

o It styles itself as an international university in the A&M system, which is a state
university system, it has a distinct identity from the other A&M institutions and
other Texas state universities that it actively cultivates: “Texas A&M
International University (TAMIU), a Member of The Texas A&M University
System”

Step 2: Locate Rhetorical Appeals (Gather Evidence)

 Where does the TAMIU Mission Statement provide examples of appeals to ethos?
o Credibility through common values associated with universities
o prepares students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex, culturally
diverse state, national, and global society
o Through instruction, faculty and student research, and public service, TAMIU
improves the quality of lives for citizens of the border region, the State of Texas,
and national and international communities.

 Where does the TAMIU Mission Statement provide examples of appeals to logos?
o Facts to support the claim in sentence 1:
o (1) TAMIU provides a learning environment built on a solid academic foundation
in the arts and sciences. (2) The University offers a range of baccalaureate and
master’s programs, the Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Business and
the Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice.

 Where does the TAMIU Mission Statement provide examples of appeals to pathos?
o [Strategy] Creates a sense of confidence and assurance with emotive keywords
(lots of active verbs that makes the university sound purposeful and effective plus
adjectives that indicate the university’s steadfastness / stability in contrast to the
uncertainty in society / world beyond the university):
o “Prepares […] complex […] society”
o “provides a learning environment […] solid […] foundation”
o “progressive agenda”
o “TAMIU improves the quality of lives […]”

Step 3: Identify the Strategies Delivering the Rhetorical Appeals (Analyze Evidence)

 How does the TAMIU Mission Statement deliver appeals to ethos?

o Credibility through common values associated with universities

 How does the TAMIU Mission Statement deliver appeals to logos?

o Facts to support the claim

 How does the TAMIU Mission Statement deliver appeals to pathos?

o Creates a sense of confidence and assurance with emotive keywords (lots of
active verbs that makes the university sound purposeful and effective plus
 Prof. Nelson ::: ENGL 1301 ::: F22

adjectives that indicate the university’s steadfastness / stability in contrast to the

uncertainty in society / world beyond the university)

Step 4: Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Text’s Use of Rhetorical Appeals (Draw a
Conclusion)

 Do the appeals to ethos in the TAMIU Mission Statement match the genre expectations?

 Do the appeals to ethos in the TAMIU Mission Statement address the audience?

 Do the appeals to ethos in the TAMIU Mission Statement match the purpose?

 Do the appeals to ethos in the TAMIU Mission Statement address the context?

 Do the appeals to logos in the TAMIU Mission Statement match the genre expectations?

 Do the appeals to logos in the TAMIU Mission Statement address the audience?

 Do the appeals to logos in the TAMIU Mission Statement match the purpose?

 Do the appeals to logos in the TAMIU Mission Statement address the context?

 Do the appeals to pathos in the TAMIU Mission Statement match the genre expectations?

 Do the appeals to pathos in the TAMIU Mission Statement address the audience?

 Do the appeals to pathos in the TAMIU Mission Statement match the purpose?

 Do the appeals to pathos in the TAMIU Mission Statement address the context?