The rhetorical analysis is a thesis-driven essay that uses your own critical thinking and evidence from the article to support your ideas.
To begin thinking through your analysis, answer the following questions:
What is the author’s thesis? What main reasons support the author’s claims?
Who is the audience here? What assumptions does the author make about the audience? How does the author choose an argument and evidence that will best appeal to that audience?
How does the author use ethos to establish credibility?
What kinds of emotions does the author appeal to? Why are these emotions going to be the ones that this particular audience has?
What is the logic of the argument?
Remember, while your essay should engage with each of these questions, it should not read as a series of short answers. Work your responses into your larger analysis. Creating a strong thesis statement will help to make the whole essay cohesive.
For this assignment, I am not interested in your opinion on the issues discussed in the articles. Instead, write as an unbiased analyst. You may disagree with some (or even all) of the author’s points, and that is OK; however, it is important to remember that disagreeing with a point does not mean the point is poorly argued. Also, do not bring in facts or ideas that do not occur in the argument; stick exclusively to the text. No additional outside sources should be used for this assignment.
Finally, make sure this paper demonstrates that you can differentiate between SUMMARY of the article (telling me what it says) and ANALYSIS of the article (telling me how it makes rhetorical appeals to its particular audience). Focus on analysis rather than summary.
GUIDELINES:
All assignments must be typed, double spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font
Page margins should be one (1) inch on all sides.
You are expected to use proper grammar and mechanics—refer to a grammar guide as needed.
Do not include a cover page. Instead use an MLA-style header at the top left of the first page that includes your name, instructor’s name, assignment, and date. It should look like this:
Your Name
My Name
Assignment Title
Day Month Year
Include a title.
All pages after the first page should include the page number in the top right-hand corner.
All assignments must be submitted to our Course site as Word documents (file name should end in .doc or .docx).
Include MLA documentation for your article on a Works Cited page and in-text, as needed.
