You are assessing the Rhetorical Strategies of the author using evidence from their text to prove your thesis.
This involves a deep dive into determining the Ethos, Logos, or Pathos of your source or author.
No Rhetorical Questions! No 1st or 2ndPerson! Yes, you will have an opinion and thesis.
Overview:
For your Rhetorical Analysis essay, you will do a sustained, in-depth analysis of an aspect of your chosen subtopic of cooking.
You are assessing the Rhetorical Strategies that the author uses in their text and provide evidence from the text to prove your thesis.
This involves a deep dive into determining the Ethos, Logos, or Pathos of your author along with their bias or agenda.
It will be necessary to essentially research your research. You must determine the bias or influence that the author reveals whether it is direct or indirect. What is the motivation behind their message: to educate, make money, become famous, spread their agenda, sell a product, etc?
Guidelines:
You will analyze at least 2 primary sources to identify the rhetorical strategies that signal other messages and incite other feelings beyond the simple goal of teaching someone to cook. This can mean looking at a variety of primary sources by the same author and making observations on that author’s body of work. It could also be that you choose multiple authors all working in the same subtopic of cooking instruction and do a comparison/contrast of their rhetorical strategies. It could also mean bringing in another author that reinforces, highlights, or negates the other. Utilizing your SOAPSTone will be necessary to create your analysis. You are critiquing your author’s ability to influence you.
Instructions:
You are required to have 6-8 sources cited in your essay.
At least 2 primary sources
At least 4 secondary sources
Your paper should be 5-7 pages long
Must include an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement. (See Thesis Statement example below.)
Body paragraphs should be organized with topic sentences and use transitions.
You should have both quotes and paraphrases in your body paragraphs (at least one per paragraph)
Must include a conclusion.
The paper must be in MLA format. See prior assignments if you do not know what this means.
Intro Paragraph:
Start with basic sentence stating your topic.
Then tranisition towards your thesis.
Thesis Statement: You must use the punctuation provided.
Name of author,
appositive phrase about the author to establish credibility & authority,
a rhetorically accurate verb (such as “assert,” “argue,” “suggest,” “imply,” “claim,” etc.)
in (name the genre: speech, Tedtalk, New York Times editorial, etc.),
“title of the article,”
provide a tiny stance of the author
that/to/through
Reason 1, Reason 2, and Reason 3 (give three different issues you have chosen to critique that are based on Rhetorical Techniques: Ethos, Logos, Pathos ).
Ex: Martha Stewart, a multi-media food and home mogul, appeals to the modern woman interested in no-nonsense, elevated cooking in her online publication, Everyday Food Recipes, by creating user-friendly recipes, involving basic ingredients, and time-saving techniques.
Do not Quote or Paraphrase in the Intro.
Body: Critique of 1st Source:
This will be multiple paragraphs and pages and these questions should be addressed. Your three different reasons should be typed in the same order as the SOAPSTone format where they will be discussed. For example, if you chose the credibility of an author as one of your reasons, then that would be discussed in the first body part. If you choose the author’s word choice, then that would be discussed in the Subject part or the Tone part.
1st part: provide a transition, then readdress the main point of your thesis regarding your topic.
Provide 1- 2 sentences containing the credentials of the Speaker/Author. Provide background research to support this.
Explain what makes their text worth merit or a piece of rubbish.
2nd part: provide a transition, and identify the intended Audience based on where the text originated or for whom they are trying to influence.
Provide a transition, and determine the Occasion for creating the text: were they answering a question, solving a problem, adding new techniques, or introducing a new idea? What were if any of the biases associated with the publication? Does the publisher have any contradictory stances? Research on the publisher will be necessary.
3rd part: provide a transition, and explain the Purpose: what are the factors that might be involved in how the audience receives information, is this a controversial situation, how will economic or social situations be altered due to the audience’s response to the text? What is the author trying to do with their publication?
4th part: provide a transition, and look at actual components of the text or the Subject. What is the author’s claim and on what evidence is it based (this will be a quote or paraphrase)? What assumptions does the author make and do they have the strength to back it up? Do they refute or qualify their ideas (this will be a quote or paraphrase)? These must have in-text citations.
Do they use specialized vocabulary or materials, equipment, and if so, did they explain?
5th part: provide a transition, and evaluate the Tone (author’s attitude). How well did they craft the message for their audience? What strategies did they use? (Ethos, Logos, Pathos: do not necessarily state the exact term, instead describe it using ideas: experts for ethos, data for logos, emotions for pathos). Whatever strategy or strategies (remember they can use more than one) used, were they any good?
Did they have any logical flaws/ contradiction? (This is when someone makes a claim but then does not back it up. Like the forecast today showed a flash flood warning, but it only had a 17% chance of rain. That is a logical fallacy. Their biases or weaknesses also could be seen as such.)
Do they hide their agenda or bias, or do they reveal it directly and are transparent?
Body: 2nd Source Comparable or Companion
Provide a transition and then introduce the second source by stating the author’s name, the name of the text, and the overall gist of the text.
Determine your overall assessment of how this article furthers the discussion of your topic and is strong or is weak in comparison to your 1st article. This can be the opposite side to your 1st article, it can be opposing, an enhancer, a distractor, a counter-argument, etc.
Provide 2-3 sentences introducing the 2nd source and use it to enhance your position.
You will use in-text citations and MLA formatting.
Conclusion:
Provide a transition and perhaps a metaphor. Be specific and to the point.
Restate your thesis. Not word for word.
Provide a transition and restate your opinion about the 1st source by fully endorsing the author or bashing them.
Works Cited:
Follow MLA guidelines for a Works Cited page.
You are required to have 6-8 sources cited in your essay.
I need this essay to make it through turnitin.com so it cannot be detected for ai or anything like that.
I originally planned on doing Cajun vs creole food but if you would like to go a different route that is ok too.
