Dear Readers,

Welcome to the new issue of Convergence/Rhetoric, where we explore a diverse range of topics that reflect the innovative and critical thinking of our undergraduate scholars. This issue brings together three compelling articles that delve into the realms of AI ethics, rhetorical argumentation, and fanfiction, showcasing the breadth and depth of research conducted by our talented students.

To start things off, Andrei Nesterenko takes us back to Ancient Greece to help us see the differences between effective, productive, and good argumentation before applying each of these to arguments laid out during the 2024 presidential election campaigns in “Toward a Sophistic Definition of Rhetorical Argumentation: 2024 Presidential Campaign Edition.” In "Building an Ethical Framework for AI Engagement: A Precursory Overview", Courtney Thurber brings together a range of authors voicing potential issues with uncritical adoptions of AI literacy in order to argue that wide scale curricular implementation of AI technology must be anchored in a critical framework that considers, among other things, equal access and student privacy. Finally, Alondra Rivas-Jimenez explores how Taylor Swift's storytelling influences fanfiction, particularly in reimagining characters from the Harry Potter series with a focus on queer subtext in “Beyond the Wizarding World: Taylor Swift’s Reimagining of the Marauders in Fanfiction.”

We cast a wide net here at Convergence/Rhetoric in terms of how students can approach writing studies, and it always results in such a unique range of scholarship. From analysing political messaging to advocating for ethical AI curriculum development to celebrating the queering of fan fiction, this issue has something for everyone! Each of these pieces made me think in new ways about their topics because each of these authors brought forth a vision and persevered through multiple rounds of revision work to see it through. I’m really proud of these writers and their hard work.

I would like to extend my gratitude to our faculty readers and editorial team for their labor and dedication. I invite you, our readers, to engage with these articles–and also to consider submitting your own work for our Fall 2025 issue!

Sincerely,
Joel Bergholtz
Lead Editor
Convergence Rhetoric