In this module you have watched TED talks on two different topics: economic equality and racial equality. Your job first is to choose two TED talks within one of these topics. You might, for example choose two talks about economic equality, or you might choose two talks about racial equality. The choice is yours, but you must choose two TED talks that are about the same topic from this module.
Next, watch the two TED talks of your choice again. While you are watching, think about the big picture—what is the author trying to argue overall. Then, watch the two talks again. This time, write down the rhetorical strategies the speaker uses to make their point and how they employ this strategy. Do they use pathos by telling a heart wrenching story? Do they use pathos by describing their experience in the field? Do they use logos by showing graphs and discussing statistics? These are just a few ideas; you may want to review the rhetorical strategies before you start this part. Take good notes because they will be useful when you start to write the essay.
Next, think about how the speakers in the two TED talks you chose used similar and different strategies. Think about both the strategies and the arguments the speaker tried to make. How are they alike and how are they different? Use your ideas here as the starting point for your essay. What you should do in this essay is compare the way the speakers used different and/or similar rhetorical strategies to make their arguments.
Be sure to come up with a thesis for your essay that not only states that you are comparing these two TED talks and how they use rhetorical strategies, but also captures why your comparison is important. That is, you need to also come up with a “so what” as part of your thesis statement. Why would it be important to notice that one speaker is using different strategies from another? Which speaker is more successful? Be sure to include your in-text citations and a Works Cited page in the outline.
