3 of 15

Some angst in the ranks

Project 2 is tricky if you’ve never done rhetorical analysis before.

Most of you haven’t done rhetorical analysis before.

Therefore, Project 2 is tricky for most of you!

4 of 15

So why do it, then?

Understanding the rhetorical situation of a text will help you be a more savvy, more efficient reader and a more savvy, more effective writer.

Rhetorical situation/rhetorical analysis will be a topic in Eng. 112 and Technical Writing and Business Communications and …

You heard it here first, but you will hear it again in college and in your career.

5 of 15

Headings help!

Unlike an argument, which is written to be read from start to finish, this analysis essay can be written and read in sections.

Use these 3 or 4 headings to separate the sections of the essay:

“Title of Article” or Title of Journal

Compare/contrast or a heading of your own

Insights or combine this with the compare/contrast section

6 of 15

Headings help!

Using heading eliminates the need to connect the sections with transitions.

Use transitions within the paragraphs, especially within the compare/contrast paragraph.

7 of 15

You aren’t proving a thesis

In Project 1, you made a claim, then worked to support it.

In Project 2, you reach an insight AFTER you analyze the two articles. You are using inductive reasoning.

8 of 15

Your points can be loosely connected.

The paragraphs can be constructed from the “because” statements in HW #2.3.

You should have @ six “because” statements in the two analysis paragraphs for each essay. You might split these 3/3 or 4/2 or 2/4 depending on the article.

9 of 15

What makes for a good because statement?

A good because statement considers factors outside the article. Here is an example “because” statement about genre from “The Need to Validate Vocational Interests”:

Because she is writing an opinion piece, high school teacher Ashley Lamb-Sinclair does not cite most of her sources (although she does include links) as would be expected in journalistic or academic writing, and she does not use sources as her primary evidence. Instead, because the opinion genre privileges the writer’s expertise and insights, Lamb-Sinclair tells stories about her own high school students who were disrespected because of they wanted to be a barber and a fisherman.

10 of 15

Then what?

Include two more because statements -- one on the author’s role and one on her purpose -- and you are done with the first analysis paragraph on this article.

The next “because” statement could give examples of how Lamb-Sinclair establishes her expertise (author’s role).
Another “because” statement could give examples of how she sets up her argument and what she wants readers to think (her purpose).

11 of 15

And then what

The next paragraph would describe the audience for The Atlantic.

You would explain how much background the writer does or doesn’t include for this audience and why.

You would give 2-3 examples of the appeals the writer uses to persuade this particular audience and explain why they might work.

12 of 15

Then?

Write two similar paragraphs about the next article.

Then you discuss what the two articles have in common and/or how they are different.

Then you explain how you understand the topic differently after analyzing these two article. Alternately, you could say something about how you better understand the difference between genres or audience. Doesn’t matter. It’s your insight. Use first person. Wrap it up!

13 of 15

Outline

Introductory paragraph including topic, publication titles + your purpose (analysis) Heading: “Article Title” or Publication Title Analysis paragraph with 3 “because” statements + examples that discuss genre, author’s role, and purpose. Analysis paragraph with 3 “because” statements + examples that discuss how appeals are targeted to the specific audience at specific time. Heading: “Article Title” or Publication Title Analysis paragraph with 3 “because” statements + examples that discuss genre, author’s role, and purpose.	Analysis paragraph with 3 “because” statements + examples that discuss how appeals are targeted to the specific audience at specific time. Heading: Compare/Contrast Paragraph comparing and contrasting two articles. Heading: Insight First-person paragraph on what you learned about topic as result of analysis

14 of 15

Stay calm and do your best!

As long as you relate what’s in the article to what’s outside the article -- author’s role and expertise, genre expectations, audience, timing -- then you’re good.

I will grade these more leniently. 😀

1 of 15

2 of 15