Directions
Read Chapter 14 in your textbook on “Rhetorical Analysis” (pp. 198-219). The chapter outlines the basic requirements for writing a rhetorical analysis. The author also provides you with a professional and student examples. After looking at the chapter, I’d like you to write your own rhetorical analysis essay on a topic of your choice. I recommend that you email me with your idea before you start the essay just to make sure the topic will work well for this assignment. Usually, advertisements, magazine covers, campaign ads, visual rhetoric, commercials, and products work will for this assignment.
Requirements
- Typed, double-spaced, 12-point font of choice (as long as I can read it)
- 3-6 pages in length
- Well organized
- Includes clear thesis & description of text to be analyzed
- Includes rhetorical strategies used (i.e. ethos, pathos, logos)
- Offers evidence to support claims (names specific sources)
- Is free of grammatical errors
- Includes in-text citations and Works Cited page in correct MLA format
Purpose
The first page of Chapter 14 in your textbook highlights the importance of rhetorical analysis in your lives today. The author illustrates the importance by citing editorials, course evaluations, blogs, and news as bases for rhetorical analysis. However, the rhetorical analysis is important because it fosters creative and higher-level thinking, and it encourages you to provide your own “thinking outside of the box” ideas to your writing and to your assignments. After completing the rhetorical analysis paper, you will “read” the world in a new, closer way. But, this skill (analysis) is one that you will use the rest of your college career, as well as in your future jobs.
Grading
This rhetorical analysis is worth 150 points toward your course total.
Rubric
Clear thesis & description of piece to be analyzed — 20 points
Well-organized, cohesive paragraphs & essay; transitions are used effectively — 30 points
Discusses rhetorical strategies used in the chosen piece (specifically, pathos, ethos, and logos) but can use other strategies in addition to these — 30 points
Contains at least 2 credible sources/pieces of evidence, documented in the Works Cited page and via in-text citations (the piece being analyzed does NOT count as one of the sources) — 20 points
Free of grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors — 20 points
Includes Works Cited page & in-text citations, and BOTH use correct 2016 MLA citation style; essay is formatted according to MLA guidelines — 30 points
Additional Tips
The thesis for your rhetorical analysis paper should include the following:
a) The piece that you are critiquing
b) The purpose/overall effect of the piece
c) The rhetorical appeals that the author(s) use(s)
Ex: The SPCA commercials use pathos, music, and celebrities in order to both prevent animal abuse and to encourage people to adopt rescue animals.
Here’s a break-down of the above elements in the example thesis:
a) the SPCA commercials (though for YOUR papers, I would suggest using a specific example)
b) to encourage people to adopt animals and/or prevent animal abuse
c) pathos, music, and celebrities
