Abbreviated BA3 Assignment Description:
Many writers, in the academic setting and beyond, analyze other writers’ language to explore how effectively the language helps the writer make his or her point. This practice is called rhetorical analysis. Your task for this assignment is to analyze a rhetorical analysis in preparation for writing your own in draft 1.1. Your analysis should focus on the structure of the rhetorical analysis.
Write a 400-600 word essay in which you analyze the organization of one of the three articles below. Identify the author’s thesis, and then describe the organization of the essay. Describe how the paragraphs build the essay as well as how the sentences build the paragraph. Choose two examples of places where the author conducts close reading of quotations. What does the author say about the quotations, and how does the author’s analysis help him or her develop the paragraph’s topic sentence and the article’s thesis?
You should cite examples from the article to illustrate your points. Your essay should be in MLA format. (Please refer to section 16 of the St. Martins’ Handbook for information on MLA citation). You must also include the author and the title of the article in your introduction.
Choose from one of the following articles:
“Obama Reviews Thanksgiving History, or Are You Ready for Some Football” (Alexis Teagarden)
“‘Who, li’l ol’ me?’: Sarah Palin on Naivete and Credibility” (Matt Zebrowski)
“You Know Twilight Isn’t Really about Vampires, Right?” (Doug Cloud)
What graders will be looking for:
Criterion 1 – Issue Identification and Focus
Has the student focused on identifying and analyzing the pieces of the rhetorical analysis? Has the student answered all questions thoroughly?
Criterion 3 — Sources and Evidence
Has the student supported the analysis with textual evidence?
Criterion 5 – Own Perspective
Is the student’s voice apparent throughout the evaluation? Has the student asserted his or her own views of the article’s effectiveness?
Criterion 6 – Conclusion
Does the conclusion demonstrate the student’s understanding of the genre of rhetorical analysis? Does the conclusion articulate the features that make the article a rhetorical analysis and evaluate the article’s effectiveness?
Criterion 7 – Communication
How well does the student do all of the above in regard to tone, style, word choice, and other writing conventions? Does the student communicate his or her purpose and perspective clearly to an intended audience?
***Remember to check the blog again on Saturday afternoon! I will have several articles posted. You must choose one to evaluate for Draft 1.1. Print it out, annotate it, and bring it to class next Thursday.***
***Extra Credit #1 – Work on your BA 3 with a tutor at the Writing Center before it is due on TUESDAY (9/13). This will be worth 5 points for one day of participation.***
ENGL 1301 