Lens Texts: https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csu-fyw-rhetoric/chapter/what-is-rhetorical-analysis/ AND https://writingcenter.kennesaw.edu/resources/handouts/rhetorical_analysis.php
Target Text for Analysis (Choose 1 to Read and Analyze):
Option 1: Rosaldo, R. I. (2008). Forward: Defining culture. In J. Baldwin, et al. (eds.). Redefining Culture Perspectives across the Disciplines (pp. ix – xiii). Lawrence Earlbaum and Associates. (Rosaldo_2008_Culture.pdf, above).
Option 2: Godfrey, E. (2001, June). Defining culture: The way we do things around here [conference paper]. American Society for Engineering Education 2021 Annual Conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Godfrey_2001_Culture.pdf, above).
What you’re doing:
Analysis, particularly critical analysis is a vital skill for college students to acquire. Moreover, it is one which they will return to in new and expanded ways throughout their college careers. Simply, an analysis is an act of outlining a critical and well-thought-out observation on a specific topic or idea. In an analytic paper, you take that analysis—very much a social and a cognitive function—and you crystallize it into something in the real world that other people can engage with, can struggle with, can argue with, and can learn from.
How you’re doing it:
In this analytic paper, you will carry out a specific form of analysis called rhetorical analysis. In a rhetorical analysis, you look at how someone–either an author (rhetor) or speaker (orator) has built an argument of some sort. And, by argument, we don’t mean that they’re screaming at you and disagreeing with you. Rather, we mean an academic or reasoned argument, one in which they use evidence, reasoning, and logic to convince you of some sort of idea or proposition. Since we’ve only got a short time together, I’m providing you with the tools you need to complete this assignment. I’m teaching you all about rhetoric and argument. And, I’m providing you with options for the target text and with the starting lens texts. A target text is a text that you’ll be analyzing in your rhetorical analysis. You will pick one of the two texts listed above to analyze closely. The lens texts are the texts that give you tools with which to analyze a target text. So, you’ll need to read the target text and analyze how the author makes their argument, and evaluate its efficacy with its intended audience by using the lens texts. You can find the target text by looking at the assignment files, above. This is a solo paper!
Assignment Specifics
Must be 1200-1800 words of sustained and detailed analysis (double-spaced), plus references (mandatory) and any graphical elements (optional).
Must utilize at least five sources, one of which must be the target text, which you chose from the options listed above, and one of which must be one of the lens texts (see above) The keywords below can help you find additional sources, or you can work Dr. Paiz to find your own.
Keywords: Rhetorical analysis, Rhetorical appeals, Argument, Understanding Culture, Defining Culture, Analyzing Culture, Cultural Anthropology, Cultural Linguistics, The Rhetoric of Culture.
Must closely follow APA format
Must be submitted to Blackboard on the scheduled due date, no later than 5:00 PM EST
Must be prepared as a .PDF file type – anything else will lead to the standard points deduction per the course syllabus.
Why you’re doing it: This assignment addresses learning objectives 1-5, 7, 10 (syllabus pg. 2).
Due Dates
13(14) October – Writing Day (out-of-class)
Wherever you are most comfortable/creative/inspired, you should spend at least 75-minutes working on your analysis paper.
I will have office hours available during our regular classtimes that you can sign up for if you need/want help (see calendly)
14 October 1700 (5:00 PM) ET – Graded Draft on-time submission due.
.PDF file uploaded to Blackboard
Submitting any other file type will lead to an immediate 10% deduction in score.
Blackboard assignment submitted
How You’re Being Graded: You will each receive a marked rubric approximately 5-10 business days after you submit your paper. This rubric will show you how you did in each category. Approximately one week after I have completed grading all of the papers, I will email out a feedback memo to the whole class discussing what you all did well and where you, as a class, need to improve for your research paper. I will then be looking for evidence of improvement in these areas for the last graded paper of the course.
Important Notes: Please pay attention to the following:
You have access to the rubric from day 1. Please review this rubric so that you know how you’ll be assessed for the final paper.
If you have questions, ask in class or set up a time to meet with me during office hours.
If you have any questions, ask. I grade each of your papers, and I have designed this assignment. So, I’m the best positioned to answer questions you have about it.
Don’t worry. You can do this assignment, hundreds of my previous students have in the past. Also, don’t worry about bugging me with questions. I’m here to help.
