Revised Thesis Statement and Proposed Project Plan

Today I did some thinking about how to structure my research project. Here are my initial thoughts, pending approval. (Steve: I would appreciate your comments on this preliminary plan ASAP.)

Based on this plan, I'm revising my thesis statement. Instead of "The innovative design and engineering processes used to create the World Trade Center resulted in buildings that were taller, less expensive to build, and more profitable to rent than any that had come before. But the "tube" design, lightweight materials and untested construction techniques called for by the new technology failed completely after the impact of the aircraft. The structural integrity of the towers was destroyed, which made their collapse inevitable," I propose the following statement:

The World Trade Center has been the subject of controversy since its conception in the days following World War II. Opinions continue to differ widely on topics ranging from the twin towers’ innovative but untested design and construction methods to explanations of why they collapsed. During the early days mass communication was limited to traditional media such as newspapers, television and radio, but in the current era anyone with access to the Internet can reach a global audience. As a result, what people believe to be the "truth" about the World Trade Center is no longer limited to official reports and conclusions.

The project will be in the form of a paper, although not presented in a traditional academic format. Instead, I'd like to use InDesign / PDF to structure it similar to a journal article, with copy interspersed with photos, diagrams and tables. My idea is to present and analyze the material in three sections (topoi), representing a before, during and after perspective of the World Trade Center catastrophe. These three topoi would be presented not as a regurgitation of the existing literature, but rather in the context of Aristotle's theory and practice of rhetoric. I would present the opposing arguments in terms of enthymeme, ethos, pathos, kairos, pisteis, enstatis and blaisosis. In addition, I plan to summarize each topoi using a side-by-side comparison that illustrates the rhetorical features of each enthymeme. Following a final analysis and conclusion, I plan to include an appendix that will contain any relevant illustrations that were not featured in the body of the paper.

Following a general prooimion to establish a context for the paper, I would present the first topos, the pre-construction rhetoric about the wisdom of building the twin towers. Enthymemes might include the battles for control between New York and New Jersey; the differences between the New York City building codes of 1938 and 1968; and objections from fire officials, the business owners / residents who were evicted from the building site, and the public. Kairos will be an important factor in this analysis, as mass communication was the domain of traditional media -- and more likely to be trusted than it is today.

Topos two would present the rhetorical differences between the "official" explanation of the towers' collaspe (from the perspectives of investigative agencies and conservative / mainstream architects and engineers) and the opinions held by "radical" (but qualified) professionals. Discussion might include opinions about the temperature of the fire; whether / how the fireproofing materials failed; the question of whether the towers could withstand an airliner collision; and whether the innovative new "tube" design of the towers was the cause of their collapse. Again, kairos is an important factor as new media had gained a strong foothold by 2001.

The third topos would include some of the ongoing "Monday morning quarterback" conversation about how and why the towers fell, and the lessons learned. I envision that this discussion will include the many conspiracy theories that continue to the present day, as well as a synopsis of the new 2008 building code that was just signed into law. It also may include some of the controversy about the design of the new World Trade Center "freedom tower." Kairos will be an essential element of this analysis, as technology such as Web 2.0 has enabled virtually all Americans to share their opinions globally.