ACTIVITY: Write a Rhetorical Analysis
Use questions fom Lesson 5 to help you write an essay. The list of sample questions provided will assist you in making a general thesis statement by turning one of the questions into a statement. Then, write details that support your thesis. These supporting details should be quotes and paraphrases with commentary.
Remember, you are writing about the persuasive techniques, language, and tone; also, how effective they are, and how they relate to the purpose and audience.
Unit 2, Lesson 5 gives more information on Rhetorical Devices. Unit 3, Lessons 4–8 provide example essays and exercises. Be careful to write using the analysis genre and not an informational or persuasive essay. Use a dictionary or literature resource for definitions and English usage to write your paper. You may also use one other source for information to help explain the idea of your essay. Remember to write a complete citation for it.
Change one of these sample questions into a statement to make a thesis.
•What is the main purpose of the rhetoric President Bush uses in his speech, and how does he do it?
•What is President Bush’s audience, and what rhetorical devices does he use to persuade them?
•How does President Obama’s speech persuade his audience that the Afghan War’s goals have been accomplished?
•What is the main purpose of President Obama’s speech, and how does the organization and rhetoric appeal to his audience?
•How do Bush’s and Obama’s speeches compare in ideas, persuasive techniques, and tone? Why are they different considering the two audiences and purposes?
Use the MLA format and the following guidelines for typing your essay.
1 –Use Times New Roman font and 12 pt. font size in a 550–700 word essay.
2 –Double space. Put page numbers on the top right corner.
3 –Begin the essay with an introductory paragraph that includes a thesis.
4 –Write 2–4 body paragraphs that give evidence for the thesis. Organize these paragraphs by topics.
5 –Each body paragraph will have a topic sentence.
6 –End with a concluding paragraph that contains a rephrased thesis.
7 –Write the complete source information at the bottom under “Works Cited” and include any other source cited in the text, as well.
8 –Revise to achieve a high score by following the grading requirements on the Speech Rhetorical Analysis Rubric.
Begin writing the outline and draft of your rhetorical analysis essay. You will turn in a completed typed paper at the time of your Unit Test. This Speech Rhetorical Analysis will be weighted in with your Unit Test score.
Your essay should have the following elements:
Give an interpretation of the meaning of the text by—
•advancing a clear thesis statement.
•analyzing the effects of the author’s use of stylistic and rhetorical devices.
•identifying and analyzing the ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text.
•anticipating and responding to a reader’s question or opposition about your idea of the text.
