Prompt Essay 1: Rhetorical Analysis

Essay 1 – Rhetorical Analysis

“To analyze an argument rhetorically means to examine closely how it is composed and what makes it an effective or ineffective piece of persuasion. A rhetorical analysis identifies the text under scrutiny, summarizes its main ideas, presents some key points about the text’s rhetorical strategies for persuading its audience, and elaborates on these points.”                               -- Ramage, Bean, and Johnson in Writing Arguments

Write a rhetorical analysis essay of 4-5 pages on one of the articles listed below from our textbook Writing Arguments:

·      “Why the Supreme Court Should Rule that Violent Video Games Are Free Speech” by Daniel Greenberg, pp. 454-7

·       “Our Gas Guzzlers, Their Lives” by Nicholas Kristof, pp. 564-565

Your essay should explain the argument presented in the article and evaluate its effectiveness in persuading its audience of its central claim and reasons. Your essay should identify at the outset the audience at which the piece is aimed, its argumentative purpose, and its central argument.  Once you have identified these concerns, evaluate the rhetorical effectiveness of the given text.  A rhetorical analysis examines 1) the writer’s use of the three rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos); 2) the arrangement and style of the piece; 3) the context (kairos) of the piece (use what you know and what is in the textbook about the piece only, as research is not a component of this assignment). Review Chapter 8 – Analyzing Arguments Rhetorically for more guidance.

To earn a passing grade, your essay should include:

1.     A title!

2. An introduction that identifies your article and sets up your argument about the article.
3. A thesis that evaluates the effectiveness of the article based on the author’s use of rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos), style, and context.
4. Effectively organized paragraphs with strong topic sentences and transitions.
5. Examples from the article (summaries and paraphrases in your own words and sentence structure, as well as some brief, correctly integrated direct quotations).

6.     A conclusion that provides closure to the essay and considers the implications of the argument.

7.     Consistent, correct use of MLA style, including

1. Proper MLA in-text citations for all paraphrases and direct quotations from the article (see pp. 384-7) and
2. A Works Cited page in correct MLA format (which does NOT count towards your page minimum) since you will be quoting from your article (see pp. 387-96). Your only source will be your article. No other research is allowed.

8.     Adherence to the conventions of standard written English.

Prewriting:

1. Choose an article and read it over carefully a few times.
2. Freewrite on your response to the argument made in the article.  What is the argument? Did the author convince you of the argument? Why or why not?  Be specific.
3. Freewrite or brainstorm responses to each of the following questions:

a.     How does the author present her- or himself as credible (ethos)?  Does this strategy work? Why or why not?

b.     Does the author use any emotional appeals (pathos)?  Are such appeals effective?  Why or why not?

c.     Does the author use sound reasoning (logos) to present the argument?  Be specific.

d.     Is the style and organization of the text effective? Why or why not?

e.     What does the author do to frame the context (kairos) of the piece?  Could more have been done? How so?

4.     List 4 quotes you might use in your essay, and explain how each one relates to your assessment of the author’s use of ethos, pathos, logos, or kairos.

5.     Write a possible thesis for your essay.

Due Dates:

Outline (10 points):  To receive full credit, you must bring your outline to class and participate in the prewriting/outline workshop.

Rough Draft (10 points): Your rough draft must be typed and double-spaced (Be sure to save it somewhere you can easily find it. If you don’t have your own computer, email it to yourself!).  To receive full credit, you must bring your draft to class and participate in the draft workshop. No credit for late drafts!

Final Draft (100 points): Upload to Turnitin.com before class. Please put your final draft in this order: (1) clean, revised draft of your essay, (2) rough draft with peer comments on it, (3) the peer review sheets your group gave you, and (4) your prewriting. Please do not put your paper in any kind of folder. A corner staple will be fine.

Before you turn in your essay, you will be given 5-10 minutes to write a brief cover letter for your paper (you may prepare your cover letter in advance, if you wish). In your cover letter, you should reflect on your writing process and identify issues you especially want your reader to respond to. You may explain what you were trying to achieve with your essay, what you feel you did well, and/or what you had trouble with.