1.8. Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Objectives
- Apply critical reading techniques to test
- Compose a rhetorical analysis essay
- Evaluate how personal context influences a perspective
- Summarize, respond to, and document sources
Instructions
For this assignment, you will apply the techniques of rhetorical analysis from chapter 4 to an article on recycling
You may continue with one of the articles you summarized for the previous assignments or select another article from Chapter 2 except for “It’s Time to Phase Out Single-Use Plastic”.
Review the following concepts that you need to use in the analysis: rhetorical situation and appeals to logos, ethos, and pathos (Introduction Chapter); elements/structure of argument including refutation (chapter 1); rhetorical analysis, rhetorical situation, context, means of persuasion, rhetorical strategies, and stylistic techniques (Chapter 4).
Review your earlier assignments and discussion posts on recycling articles prior to the analysis. You will write to an imaginary critic as your audience. Understand that your imaginary critic is sceptical and needs convincing.
Requirements
Approximately 1000 words, plus a work cited page in MLA format. Don’t forget your in-text citations.
Tips:
- To see a sample paper, read the article “Terror’s Purse Strings” by Dana Thomas on page 118-119 and the following sample rhetorical analysis of the article on page 119-121. This sample student’s paper is structured similarly to the assigned paper. Pay attention to the marginal comments and notice how the student states the claim and moves through the analysis of different rhetorical elements.
- To gather ideas for analysis, please view this handout on writing a critical response and this page on the rhetorical situation. The file with a powerpoint presentation is located at the top of the linked web page.
- Please review MLA lesson available in this weekly folder.
- You can start with the templates for writing rhetorical analysis on page 123.
- To make sure your paper meets the expectations for this assignment, review the page with “Tips for rhetorical Analysis Essay” that follows the assignment and consider the grading rubric for the assignment included in this weekly folder.
- If you have questions about the assignment, post them to Q&A Topic on the discussions.