thesis-driven rhetorical analysis

Write a thesis-driven rhetorical analysis of two texts
or sources, related to your semester topic on a social, environmental,
economic, or local issue. You need to look specifically at texts that directly
address a contemporary ethical problem or question related to your issue of
choice. This involves researching and finding articles in the library or online
relating to your topic.
Ideally, you should choose
two texts that offer two different views on your topic. Remember, they need to
be making an argument about the topic.

TELL ME THE TOPIC OF YOUR CHOICE

A
successful essay will:
1. Bring readers into the context of the reading. In
what larger conversation is the author participating? What ethical problems or
questions appear in this text? Why are they important? What is at stake?
Introduce the text to the reader, briefly summarize its main idea, and make a
claim (thesis) for each author’s rhetorical strategies. A strong claim is both
contestable – reasonable people might disagree – and predictive – it will set
up expectations for your reader.
2. Develop your
main points around specific rhetorical strategies. Consider how the author
constructs the argument, not whether or not you agree. Analysis relies on
objective judgments. Remember also that rhetoric encompasses any tools
available for persuasion. For example, would it be useful to talk about the
argument in terms of ethos, logos, and/or pathos? Or on purpose, audience,
and/or genre?
3. Support your main points with concrete examples
(evidence) from the text. To develop and support your own points, you will need
to include specific examples in the form of paraphrase or short direct
quotations.

Formatting
Specifications and Due Date:
MLA formatting with 12-point font (preferably Times
New Roman)
Provide a works cited page for the sources researched
(there should only be two sources)
Section headers should be used throughout the paper
(a road map for your reader)
4 to 5 pages (excluding the works cited page)

Structure of Paper:
Introduction
Section:
•
Purpose (Introduces two sources to include author names and title of text,
along with the subject matter.)
•
Claim/Thesis/Main Idea from Authors (Provide the main claim or thesis statement
of each author.)
•
Analysis Parameters (What methods of analysis will you use to analyze the
sources? Explain what criteria are used
in your paper.)

Analysis
Section:
•
Provide at least three characteristics by which to analyze each text (i.e.,
Ethos, Pathos, Logos or Style, Tone, Sentence Structure, Toulmin Model,
etc.)
•
Compare and contrast elements of each text/author arguments (What are the
similarities? How are they different?)
•
Provide specific examples from each text in order to support your comments (at
least 3 quotes with in-text citations from each source)
•
The details should be thorough and logical

Conclusion
Section:
•
States the major inferences that can be drawn from the analysis.
•
It is based entirely on previously stated information.
•
It does not introduce new material or evidence to support your analysis.

Works
Cited (new page – last page of paper):
•
MLA format must be use for both sources listed
•
Works cited page contains each source used in the in-text citations.

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