Length: 3-4 pages; double-spaced; MLA formatting
The purpose of this assignment is to analyze the
rhetorical effectiveness of a speech.
Because this is your personal assessment of the speech’s
effectiveness, it is appropriate to use first person.
You are not required to use any outside resources for this
assignment. If you choose to do so, you must cite them appropriately.
You may choose to focus on one rhetorical strategy or a
combination. For instance, you may choose to focus on:
·
How the speaker establishes
expertise and moral authority. (Ethos)
·
What appeals are made to
the readers’ emotions. (Pathos)
·
What arguments and evidence
are used. (Logos)
·
A combination of the
three.
·
Structure: You
are not required to follow this organizational structure, but it may help you
to get started.
Introduction:
§ Introduce
the speech by characterizing the speaker and the occasion.
§ Identify
the audience and situation for which the speech is intended.
§ Describe
the writer’s purpose. What does the writer want to achieve with this community
upon this occasion? What does he want these particular people to think and/or
do?
§ Identify
the rhetorical strategies that you have decided to discuss and indicate how
they function to promote the author’s purpose in relation to the intended
audience.
Body: The
organization of your body paragraphs will depend on your focus.
§ Use
quotes or paraphrases to illustrate the writer’s use of the strategy/strategies.
Explain how the example illustrates the strategy. Explain how the strategy contributes to the writer’s purpose.
§ You
may write about the visual impact of the video compared to the written transcript.
§ Consider
pointing out weaknesses as well as strengths. Offer suggestions for
improvement.
Conclusion: Briefly
summarize the main points of the analysis.
