I CHOOSE THE SPEECH BY BILL COSBY: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/billcosbypoundcakespeech.htm (Address at the NAACP’ on the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education) THIS IS THE SPPECH THAT WILL BE USED TO COMPLETE THE ESSAY
In our first unit, students will complete a rhetorical analysis of a speech delivered in the early 21st century. Skills will include rhetorical analysis, research and documentation. You will watch the speech and write a paper in which you analyze the rhetorical situation and rhetorical appeals. You will determine whether the speaker communicates an effective argument.
Your purpose in this essay is to evaluate the rhetorical qualities of a speech for your audience and provide plenty of evidence/support for your assessment. Ultimately, you will assess the effectiveness of the speechs argument. Your purpose is also to write an evaluative essay and construct a works cited page. The audience for MA 1 will be the instructor and your classmates.
Open your paper by clearly introducing the speech and speaker and explaining the argument the author is making. Then, spend the rest of your essay analyzing how the argument works. Identify elements of ethos, pathos, and logos and be explicit about how the argument gets made. Details will be the key here. Consider the target audience for the reading.
Your paper should include the following elements:
Introduction and conclusion. (I suggest you include the purpose of the speech in the introduction.)
A summary of the speech
The context of the speech (where and when was it given) and how the context may affect the message or effectiveness of the speech
The original audience for the speech. What would the speaker have to consider with audience?
Ethos
Pathos
Logos
The delivery of the speech; how did the speaker present the speech? Was seeing/hearing the speech more or less effective than reading the text of the speech? Why? Was the speaker successful in communicating a convincing argument? Why/why not?
Works Cited page to provide the citation information for the speech
Your essay must introduce your choice of speech (from the options provided by the instructor) and analyze rhetorical situation and rhetorical appeals. You should include a works cited page that provides the citation information for the speech. The final draft must be at least three (3) full double spaced pages in MLA format, not counting the heading or the works cited page. Type your essay in Times New Roman size 12 font
Successful essays will:
Offer a paraphrased summary of the speech that is clear and accurate
Identify and analyze the speakers rhetorical situation
Analyze the speakers use of pathos, logos and ethos
Develop the analysis with details and examples
Present information in focused, organized paragraphs
Be relatively free from grammar, spelling, and usage errors
Conform to MLA guidelines for essay formatting and documentation
