Write an expository research paper in which you discuss and analyze a specific rhetorical
failure. This rhetorical failure must refer to a public mistake made by a company,
individual, group, or celebrity. Your essay should discuss questions of purpose, context,
audience, and the overall effects. How did this individual or group fail rhetorically?
This paper has two parts: the audiences you wish to analyze and the communicative
artifact that makes your audiences reaction/interpretation. Your chosen audiences might
be specific family members, friends, instructors, or coworkers. It can be anyone you
know well enough to describe and analyze. You will need enough information to support
your conclusions. The second part of this paper requires you to choose a specific piece of
communication.
Depth:
Your analysis should lead to a meaningful conclusion beyond the audiences like or
dislike of the artifact. A weak idea would be, My best friend hated this movie because it
was boring. A much stronger idea would be, My fathers professional experiences as a
police officer led him to see Zootopia as liberal propaganda. The first thesis is overly
vague and lacks depth. The second thesis offers a meaningful idea that can be fully
explored over the course of an academic essay.
Organization:
This essay must include an introduction, a thesis statement, body paragraphs with topic
sentences, and a conclusion. This essay should be appropriate for an academic audience.
