Eng 102H Rhetorical Analysis of a Argument Assignment
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This document provides instructions for an assignment to analyze the rhetoric of a written text. Students are asked to choose one of two articles to read closely and annotate. They will then research the rhetorical situation of the text by identifying the communicators, message, audience, exigence, purpose, and means of communication. Next, students will complete an analytical circle assignment and draft an essay analyzing the rhetorical strategies used in the text to achieve its purpose. The essay should include a thesis, summary, support using evidence from their analysis, and a conclusion commenting on the significance of the article or rhetorical analysis. A draft is due for peer review and the final version is due two days later.
Eng 102H Rhetorical Analysis of a Argument Assignment
- 1. English H102 Rhetorical Analysis of an Argument Purpose To develop and practice the skills necessary for synthesizing arguments, this assignment focuses on reading, summarizing, and analyzing an argument in a single text. Description This assignment is based on the “Doing a Rhetorical Analysis of a Written Text” on pages 61 – 63 of Becoming Rhetorical. Steps: 1. Read “The War on Public Schools” and “The Birth of a New American Aristocracy” (Sections 1 and 4) and choose which one you want to analyze. 2. Complete a rhetorical reading annotating both what is said and how it is said. 3. Research the rhetorical situation: a. Who are the communicators? b. What is the message of the text? c. Who is the audience for the text? d. What is the exigence for the text? e. What is the text’s purpose? What does it hope to achieve? f. What is the text’s material means of communication? 4. Complete the “Analytical Circle” assignment on Bblearn. 5. Compose a draft of your essay using the material from the previous steps. Your essay should include: a. Thesis – make a claim about which rhetorical strategy (or strategies) is the most important for achieving the purpose of the text. b. Summary – briefly summarize the significant aspects of the text c. Support – using material from the Analytical Circle assignment, describe what the text does, explain how what it does attempts to fulfill its purpose, and explain how that supports your thesis. d. Conclusion – comment on why this article, its argument, or your rhetorical analysis of it matters. 6. Submit your draft on Bblearn by the beginning of class Friday, 9/14 and bring three hard copies to class for Peer Review. 7. Revise and proofread your draft and submit final version by Sunday, 9/16 end- of-day.