Format/Style: MLA (page number in top right margin with your last name, MLA header, original title, five paragraphs, and a Work Cited page) Length: 3 (minimum) pages This is a formal, writing assignment. As such, you should adhere to the elements of formality and convention expected in a college writing class – precise grammar, structure, mechanics, word choice, formality level, paragraphing, thesis statement, essay structure, etc. Each paragraph should be a minimum of five sentences. Remember, this is not an opinion assignment. You are not telling me if you liked the reading, but instead if it was convincing (or effective). Assignment Write a rhetorical analysis over the assigned article. This Summary (20%) and Response (80%) will combine your skill of summarizing with the ability to voice your own rhetorical analysis. Introduction Paragraph: Your essay should begin with an introduction paragraph that should include a hook, a short summary of the article, and a thesis. Be sure to introduce the author’s full name, the name of the journal the article comes from, and the “title of the article.” Your thesis should include a claim and three main points. Your claim should be some variation of the following: this article is convincing. Your main points will be: ethos, pathos, and logos. Thesis statement template: This article is convincing because of the author’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos. Body Paragraphs: Your body paragraphs should discuss how effectively the author uses each appeal. You will need to include at least two quotes per body paragraph. The quotes should be examples from the text of each appeal. In other words, if the paragraph is about the author’s use of ethos, the quote should be an example of where the author uses ethos. Each quote should be followed by an explanation of how the quote demonstrates the appeal and how the quote makes the article more convincing. For example, if you gave a quote that shows the author’s use of logos, you would follow it with a sentence or two something like this: This is logos because the author defines the word, community, and by defining it, he helps the reader understand the fuller meaning of the article. Conclusion Paragraph: Your last paragraph should be a conclusion paragraph. You will need to restate your thesis in new words and a new structure. That should be followed by short summaries of each of your body paragraphs. Remember, do not say “paragraph two was about” or anything like it. Do not talk about your essay in your essay. The last sentence of the conclusion should be a call to action which will inspire your reader to do something with the information they just learned. Work Cited page: On the next page after your conclusion, you will include a work cited page. See the module on Canvas named “Work Cited Entry: Journal Article from Library Database.” This will show you the proper way to format your work cited entry for the article. Sample outline: 1. Introduction paragraph a. Hook – this sentence should draw your reader in b. Introduce the author, article title, and journal title c. Short summary of the article (3-5 sentences) d. Thesis statement with three main points 2. First body paragraph Topic sentence – this sentence should introduce the topic of the paragraph (There will be additional sentences of your own words between the topic sentence and your first quote) Introduce quote with signal phrases quote – be sure to use in-text citations Explain how the quote proves/demonstrates your thesis/claim (There will be additional sentences of your own words between quotes. Introduce quote with signal phrases quote – be sure to use in-text citations Explain how the quote proves/demonstrates your thesis/claim Repeat b-c as needed (Do NOT end your paragraph with a quote. Be sure to end it with your own words) 3. Second body paragraph Topic sentence – this sentence should introduce the topic of the paragraph (There will be additional sentences of your own words between the topic sentence and your first quote) Introduce quote with signal phrases quote – be sure to use in-text citations Explain how the quote proves/demonstrates your thesis/claim (There will be additional sentences of your own words between quotes. Introduce quote with signal phrases quote – be sure to use in-text citations Explain how the quote proves/demonstrates your thesis/claim Repeat b-c as needed (Do NOT end your paragraph with a quote. Be sure to end it with your own words) 4. Third body paragraph Topic sentence – this sentence should introduce the topic of the paragraph (There will be additional sentences of your own words between the topic sentence and your first quote) Introduce quote with signal phrases quote – be sure to use in-text citations Explain how the quote proves/demonstrates your thesis/claim (There will be additional sentences of your own words between quotes. Introduce quote with signal phrases quote – be sure to use in-text citations Explain how the quote proves/demonstrates your thesis/claim Repeat b-c as needed (Do NOT end your paragraph with a quote. Be sure to end it with your own words) 5. Conclusion paragraph a. Restate thesis b. Summarize paragraph#4 c. Summarize paragraph#3 d. Summarize paragraph#2 e. Call to action – this sentence should send your reader off with the information they learned in your essay
