assignment attacked as a pdf
guidelines for the Rhetorical analysis paper
Rhetorical analysis is the practice of investigating the various parts that make up a whole. We’ve already discussed how this happens in the messages (ads and commercials, FB status updates, tweets, Instagram pictures, media in general) we consume daily, but now, let’s turn our attention to the essays we’ve read and videos we’ve watched.
Several themes come up when discussing the theme of Love. I’d like you to identify one for your essay to develop into a rhetorical analysis. Here are some examples that you are free to use.
•What role does the media, including social media, play in defining and redefining love? Must use the literature and video to make your arguments.
•What role does setting, language, culture, religion, and/or upbringing play in love?
Examples of thesis statements:
· By carefully incorporating ethos, pathos, and logos into his argument, the author defines love as a tale of two stories.
· The goal of your rhetorical analysis is to form an opinion or value statement about the question/theme you’ve selected. I am not interested in a summary of the work but an analysis of certain elements of the literature you choose about the prompt you are pursuing. To do this, you need to read the text closely.
I will also be looking for:
· Specific details from the text.
· A
literature and
video source to make your argument (provided at the end)
· Thoughtful rhetorical analysis.
· Interesting conclusions that grow naturally from your observations.
· ethos, pathos, and logos into the argument.
· Wonderful opening & closing paragraph.
· Tightly focused body paragraphs.
· Careful proofreading.
· Creative organization pattern that works with thesis.
· Coherence between sentences & paragraphs.
· A variety of sentences.
· A format that follows MLA guidelines.
Instructions, examples, and steps that are required for Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay
· Your task in this assignment is to Analyze the strategies the writer uses.
· The essay should be a maximum of
4 pages, in MLA with a separate works cited page.
·
Two sources are mandatory. (the literature and video that was used to make your argument)
· Have one direct quote in each body paragraph.
· Follow the steps that I have included (coming up).
Rhetorical Analysis
Identify the rhetorical situation (author, audience, purpose, context).
Analyze rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos).
Examine tone, style, and structure (diction, syntax, figurative language).
Consider the historical and cultural context (why the text was written and its impact).
Blend textual and contextual analysis to show a complete understanding of the text.
Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis/Organize your paper in the following order:
INTRODUCTION
· Begin with a hook/attention grabber
· introduce your text and author, describe briefly the argument you are analyzing, and supply the necessary background
· State your thesis as the last sentences (sentences) of the introduction paragraph
Rhetorical Analysis
Your task in this assignment is to analyze the writer’s strategies and content. Choose two bodies of work. An article and a video. The theme must be about love. You may also include your own argument based on the analysis
.
BODY PARAGRAPHS FOR ANALYZING THE CONTEXT
Who is the author? Through research in the library or on the Web, learn all you can about the author of the argument.
Discuss the following ideas in this paragraph(s):
–How does the argument you are analyzing repeat arguments previously made by the author?
–What motivated the author to write? What is the author’s purpose for writing this argument?
ANALYZING THE CONTEXT
Through research, learn all you can about the place where the argument appeared and the audience.
· Discuss the following ideas in this paragraph *This paragraph can be combined with the previous paragraph about the author, or it can be separate:
–Who is the anticipated audience?
–How do the occasion and forum for writing affect the argument?
–How would the argument have been written differently if it had appeared elsewhere?
–What motivated the newspaper or magazine (or other venue) to publish it?
· What is the larger conversation?
· Discuss the following ideas in this paragraph *This paragraph can be combined with the previous paragraph about the author and/or audience, or it can be separate:
–When did the argument appear?
–Why did it get published at that particular moment?
–What other concurrent pieces of “cultural conversation” (The article given and the video given) does the item you are analyzing respond to or “answer”?
BODY PARAGRAPHS FOR ANALYZING THE TEXT
Summarizing the argument
Discuss the following ideas in this paragraph(s):
–What is the main claim?
–What reasons are given to support this claim?
–How is the argument organized? What are the components, and why they are presented in that order?’
ANALYZING THE TEXT CONTD.
What rhetorical appeals are used?
In separate paragraphs, analyze the author’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos.
–Analyze the ethos: how does the writer represent himself of herself? Does the writer have any credentials as an authority on the topic? Do you trust the author? Why or why not? How does the author’s use of ethos support his or her central claim?
ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS, CONTD.
–Analyze the logos. What finds of facts and evidence in the argument? Direct observation? statistics/? Interviews? Surveys? Quotations from authorities? How does the author’s use of logos support his or her central claim?
–Analyze the pathos. Does the writer attempt to invoke an emotional response? Where do you find appeals to shared values? How does the author’s use of pathos support his or her central claim?
ANALYZING THE TEXT
How would you characterize the style?
Discuss the following ideas in this paragraph:
–Is the style formal, informal, satirical, or something else?
–Are any metaphors used?
–How does the author’s style and/or figures of speech support his or her claims
CONCLUSION
· Summarize your main points
· End with an example that typifies the argument
· Remind readers what your thesis is
Literature articles sources that must be used are:
Video sources that may be used are:
(these are the two sources that MUST and ONLY be used to write the rhetorical analysis paper)
