ANALYZING RHETORICAL SITUATIONS

1. Researched report. The FBI report was written primarily for a specialized audience of FBI professionals. As a general reader (assuming you’re not employed by the FBI), to what extent do you feel the piece is geared toward a general audience in terms of the writing style, use of (or lack of) specialized terminology, and level of detail, for example? What choices have the writers made in order to appeal to multiple audiences?

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2. Researched report. Which of the myths covered in the FBI analysis of serial killers did you believe prior to reading? After reading the evidence debunking that myth, do you still believe that myth? Why or why not?

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3 Argument. How does David Von Drehle link the concept of narcissism to the motivation of killers? How effective is the evidence he uses?

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4 Argument & profiles. After reading through the profiles created by detective Charles Montaldo, how does Von Drehle’s argument about narcissism figure in? Do Montaldo’s profiles (and the actions of Dahmer and Yates) support Von Drehle’s argument?

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5 Profiles. What do Dahmer and Yates have in common? Based on Montaldo’s information, what interventions do you think might have prevented their killing?

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6 Murder indictment. What is your take on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s indictment of Lizzie Borden? How does the genre and tone of the piece, composed in the nineteenth century but adhering to legal language still used today, affect your reading of it?

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COMPOSING IN GENRES

7. Create a profile of a murderer. Research a serial killer mentioned in the FBI report, and find out to what extent his actions and story connect with the myths outlined here. Present your findings in a one-page profile, perhaps organized by specific assumptions/myths, as the FBI report is. (Or perhaps use Montaldo’s profiles as models.) Alternatively, choose a criminal mentioned in this cluster and conduct research to create an FBI wanted poster for that individual. Visit the FBI site (http://www.fbi.gov/wanted.htm) for models of actual posters.

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8. Why are people fascinated with serial killers? Conduct & present research. Why do you think people are fascinated by serial killers? And what assumptions do they have about them? Brainstorm a list and then ask your classmates to add reasons to that list. Then interview random people on campus about whether or not they are fascinated by serial killers and why. See if their reasons match your list. Based on your interviews, put together an oral presentation that helps people understand what makes serial killers such a fascination for the public.

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9. What is a narcissist? Research & respond to Von Drehle’s argument. Research the psychological attributes of a narcissist. Do a Google search, including for academic articles (Google Scholar). You might also go to psychologytoday.com or the American Psychological Association to find articles. Then choose one of the killers mentioned in the cluster and do some research about the killer to have a better understanding of some of the killer’s attributes and motivations. Go further by writing a response to Von Drehle’s argument about how narcissism motivates killers, in which you agree or disagree, backing up your claims with evidence.

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10. Research killers & create an infographic. Research some of the differences between serial killers, mass murderers, and spree killers. Then create a chart that illustrates ways they are similar and ways they are different.

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11. Write a film review. Serial killers are the focus of many films, such as The Silence of the Lambs, Summer of Sam, The Boston Strangler, and Seven. Choose a film that focuses on serial killers and watch the film. Then write a film review (see Chapter 8 for details about how to write a film review).

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12. Profile Lizzie Borden. Research this famous nineteenth-century crime and learn all you can about the life and possible motives of Lizzie Borden. Present them in a profile format such as the one Montaldo uses.

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