Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical AnalysisCPLT 110Judith LevyFall 2015By critically evaluating the arguments of others, you will be able to more effectively choose your position on a topic and successfully articulate that position to others. As a result, for this essay you may choose any text that you have either encountered in this course or find particularly connected to the course theme and analyze its argument. By text, I mean any form of media developed for a specific purpose. Therefore, you can analyze any written work (book, article, etc.), a visual work (video, film, etc.), or a combination of the two (i.e. a website). By considering the type of argument being made and the argumentative tactics being used by the author, you will interrogate how the text is structured to present its purpose and explain whether or not it effectively fulfills its purpose.

Please note that I use the words argument, and persuade just as loosely as the word text. Literary texts may be subject to various interpretations; in such cases, you might choose one potential interpretation of the meaning or purpose and explain how it is communicated.

Things to consider: What is the rhetorical situation that has stimulated the creation of this text? How does this become apparent in the text (if at all)? To what audience is this text directed? How does the text cater to its audience? What is the purpose of the text (to persuade, convince, explore, etc.)? How is the purpose communicfated to the reader? What type of argument is being made (fact, definition, evaluation, etc.)? What argumentative tactics are being used (ethos, pathos, logos, etc.)?

This essay must: Have a thesis which states the overall reason how the text achieves, fails to achieve, or confuses its purpose. Use supporting textual evidence and analyze the evidence in order to support your thesis. Be an organized argument, with a well-developed structure. Have a creative title. Be 3-5 pages, typed, MLA format.

One Page Outline or one Page Written (depending on your writing process): at the time of your conference Rough Draft Due (2 Pages Minimum): TBAFinal Draft Due (With all parts of the writing process): TBA