Everything’s an Argument

Rhetorical Analysis (SLO 1 – support a thesis and topic sentences with textual evidence integrating quotes smoothly into the analysis that show rather than tell. SLO 2 – analyze passages/texts from a source(s) and provide insightful analysis that looks at word choice, implications, connotations, and/or gaps in the text).

Prompt à Write a rhetorical analysis assessing the effectiveness of an argument found in a piece of text (article, book, poem, image, speech, film, op-ed, etc.). In your analysis, you must use at least three assessments discussed in Chapters 1-6 of Everything’s an Argument. You can choose to analyze the use of purpose, the “who”, appeal to audience, pathos, ethos, logos, Kairos, or fallacies in a piece of text. You are of course welcome to use more than three.

Three Options for Rhetorical Analysis:
1. Analyze a text’s effective use of rhetoric (assessments)
2. Analyze a text’s ineffective use of rhetoric (assessments)
3. Analyze a text’s effective and ineffective use of rhetoric (assessments)
*Remember, you must use at least 3 assessments in your essay.

Guidelines:
o Title = Essay #1
o Write a fully developed thesis-driven analytical essay answering all areas of the prompt.
o Analyze one piece of text (article, book, poem, image, speech, film, op-ed, etc.) and introduce it in your introduction
o Your thesis statement should state the analysis (effective/ineffective), include 3 or more assessments, and the author’s argument. Review Unit 1 Part 2 PowerPoint.
o Your bodies should support your thesis by using evidence of the assessments from the text.
o Must be 4 complete double-spaced pages in length minimum.
o This essay must be in MLA format, including the Work Cited Page and in-text citations.

How to get an A” Checklist:

I followed the prompt and properly analyzed an argumentative source for rhetorical effectiveness using appeals and/or fallacies
I have a clear thesis statement that includes at least 3 appeals and/or fallacies
I have at least 3 well-developed body paragraphs that support my thesis statement
I provide relevant textual evidence to support my thesis (from the source)
I have used proper MLA in-text (parenthetical) citations (cite the evidence)
I have a Works Cited Page (cite the source)
I met the required page length (at least 4 full pages double-spaced)
I attached proof of my meeting with a tutor or a completion of a workshop
I used the correct file type (.doc, .docx, .gdoc, are acceptable, but PDF is preferred; do NOT use .pages or .notes)
I turned it it on time.