RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: Writing/Research in the Disciplines
Assignment Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to write a three to four-page rhetorical analysis essay on a text of your choosing. You will engage in inquiry by doing some research on this text or issues it explores, finding credible information from a secondary source or two to support your argument.
Some Information to Keep in Mind from our 112 Text:
As Ruszkiewicz and Dolmage (2012) stated regarding rhetorical analyses, "You react to what others say or write all the time. Sometimes an advertisement, speech, or maybe a cultural image grabs you so hard that you want to take it apart to see how it works. Put those discoveries into words and you've composed a rhetorical analysis" (p. 251).
We will write this particular essay using APA (American Psychological Association) style; therefore, the work we do to prepare for writing the essay will include instruction on this style of writing and documentation.
As writers, you will examine and explore how well all the elements of the text work as a whole and separately to convince or persuade an audience-how effective or successful it is at its goal-and turn that into an essay argument using examples from the text as support.
Ask yourselves this question: What criteria will best support my argument? What aspects/elements of this text help to make it impacting and effective, or ineffective-or a combination of both?
Criteria Ideas:
Credibility of text or author
Timeliness of information
Relevance of information
Narrative style
Audience connection
Use of pathos
Use of ethos
Use of logos
Organization
Use of humor
Visual appeal
Research Element:
Find one or two credible sources either from a WCC library database or a credible internet site (remember you want to find and use the best information to support your arguments.) You will, of course, be expected to have a Works Cited page which includes all your sources: the text itself and the secondary source(s).
You will turn in hard copy of the research with the passage(s) used from the article highlighted or underlined in the article itself, as part of my grading process includes assessing how accurately and precisely you utilize and cite research. For web articles, please turn in the entire article, including the last page. For library database articles, please be sure to attach the citation/publication info page and whatever page(s) you draw information from in your essay only.
Critical Thinking Standards to Guide You:
Clarity: Am I being clear? Can the reader understand my arguments?
Accuracy: Is my information correct?
Depth: Do I provide enough relevant context for my examples as well as explore and analyze them thoroughly? Do I devote adequate detail to my examples and analysis? Do I address the complexities of a well-balanced rhetorical analysis?
Fairness: Have I fairly represented the views and opinions of my secondary research as well as the primary source?
Logic: Does my analysis make sense? Is my essay organized in a logical way? Do my conclusions follow from the evidence?
Precision: Could I be more exacting in my details-both in content and MLA style?
Relevance: Do my examples relate to the criteria? Does my analysis clearly connect with the support/examples? Does my entire essay relate directly to my thesis statement?
Significance: Have I focused on important criteria?