In this assignment, you will write a rhetorical analysis essay. When you are asked to do a rhetorical analysis of a text, you are asked to apply your critical reading skills to break down the whole of a text into the sum of its parts. You should try to determine what the writer is trying to achieve and the writing strategies the writer is using to try to achieve it. You should focus on the rhetorical situation: the context of the text, the intended audience, and the author’s purpose in writing.
Choose one article from the following list that interests you. Remember to apply your critical reading skills and focus on the rhetorical situation of the text. There are suggested questions in Step 4 that may help you in analyzing your chosen article.
This essay will follow the MLA formatting guidelines.
The essay should consist of 750 – 1,000 words typed, double spaced with Times New Roman 12-point font.
Please note the word count does not include the Works Cited page.
This assignment requires two (2) additional outside sources to support your rhetorical analysis. These sources will need to be reputable and reliable sources.
Also, include a works cited page listing the information of the article chosen for this assignment and the additional outside resources cited throughout the rhetorical analysis to support your thesis statement and main ideas.
Finally, please cite the speech you chose in your works cited page at the end of your essay. Please note, this does not count as one of the required outside sources. Be sure to cite all outsisde source material using MLA formatting.
This paper is written in the third person. It will not be written in first-person (I, we, us) or second-person (you) perspective.
Outline:
Each section of this essay may be one or more paragraphs. You are not restricted to writing a 5-paragraph essay; however, you should still use this basic organizational structure to make sure required elements are included.
I. Introduction
A. Hook
B. Introduction of author/work
C. Explanation of author’s purpose
D. Thesis – Was the author successful? Why or why not?
II. Body Section #1
A. Summarize article
B. Personal comment on article
III. Body Section #2
A. Analyze rhetorical situation (audience, author, purpose)
B. Use quotes and examples as evidence
C. Use in-text citations
IV. Body Section #3
A. Analyze rhetorical devices (logos, ethos, pathos)
B. Use quotes and examples as evidence
C. Use in-text citations
V. Conclusion
A. Restate the thesis in different words
B. Summarize main point
C. Provide concluding statement
Format Example:
Be sure to format the entire assignment using MLA formatting guidelines and citations. Use this example to correctly format your essay. For additional information about MLA formatting, please read through the section below labeled “Additional Resources”.
Date the paper is submitted (month day, year)
Composition Title
This is the first line of the first paragraph. It should be indented. Subsequent lines
are not indented but the first line of any subsequent paragraph is indented.
The beginning of paragraph two should be indented as the first sentence to the
paragraph. Subsequent lines are not indented.
Step 4: Read Critically
Reading critically means more than just being moved, affected, informed, influenced, or persuaded by a piece of writing. Reading critically also means analyzing and understanding how the work has achieved its effect. Below is a list of possible questions to ask when beginning to analyze a piece of prose. These questions can be used even if the student is being asked only to read the text rather than write a formal analysis. Keep in mind that there is no need to apply all of these questions to every text. This list is simply one method for getting started on reading (and then writing) critically.
Questions to ask when reading critically:
What is the general subject? Does the subject convey any personal meaning? Does it bring up any personal associations? Is the subject a controversial one?
What is the thesis (the overall main point)? How does the thesis interpret/comment on the subject?
What is the tone of the text? Was there an emotional level reaction to the text? Does this reaction change at all throughout the text?
What is the writer’s purpose? To explain? To inform? To anger? Persuade? Amuse? Motivate? Sadden? Ridicule? Is there more than one purpose? Does the purpose shift at all throughout the text?
How does the writer develop their ideas? Narration? Description? Definition? Comparison? Analogy? Cause and Effect? Example? Why does the writer use these methods of development?
How does the writer arrange their ideas? What are the patterns of arrangement? Particular to general? Broad to specific? Spatial? Chronological?
Is the text unified and coherent? Are there adequate transitions? How do the transitions work?
Are there any particularly vivid images that stand out? What effect do these images have on the writer’s purpose?
References and Citations
References and Citations
Students should consider that there might be certain parts of an argument that are not true or require additional research, or that there’s an argument they haven’t yet considered. While students can use common search engines such as Google, they are better off using search engines that are made for academic purposes. This will help filter out unhelpful articles and websites.
Note: Students are not limited to using these specific sources, but all sources must be scholarly and reputable, so it’s important to be careful when choosing what to use.
