Rhetorical Analysis

University of Scranton
Writing107
Bonnie Lini Markowski
Rhetorical Analysis
3-4 pages
150 points
MLA
Limit: 5 TO BE verbs per page

This assignment asks you to analyze an argumentative article, editorial, essay, etc. using the criteria in our text. By analyzing the Ethos of the author and source, the Logos, Pathos, Language, Tone and Style of the piece, determine if you thought the argument was weak or strong and explain why. You are NOT responding to or writing about the subject of the argument. You are analyzing the strength of the author’s argument. In other words, your opinion about the subject does not matter. Consider yourself an objective observer whose job it is to report to your reader whether the author makes a strong or weak argument and explain why you feel this way. Summarize the article and provide context in your introduction so the reader can understand the situation, then analyze the appeals, the language, tone and style. Below is a checklist you should follow:

CONTENT: In your analysis you should
_______ Have a clear and obvious understanding of the article
_______ Have a clear understanding of the background and references
_______ Give complete attributions in the introduction
_______ Set the context for the reader (the larger conversation)
_______ Give information regarding the author (research well)
_______ Identify the author’s audience
_______ Identify the author’s main claim/argument
_______ Analyze the tone, style, language and how they affect the argument
_______ Understand and analyze the three appeals: Ethos, Pathos, Logos and show their relevance to the argument
_______ Develop each section well
_______ Analyze, not summarized.
_______ Clearly support your analysis with accurate textual evidence
_______ Judge the overall effectiveness of the author’s argument in the conclusion and give a brief summary of why you feel the way you do.

STYLE: In your writing you should

_______ Communicate ideas clearly through writing: Write well constructed sentences that are clear, coherent and precisely written.
_______ Write unified and coherent paragraphs
_______ Avoid wordiness
________ Avoid repetition
________ Write so that your essay flows seamlessly (use transitional words and phrases)
________ Use sophisticated vocabulary and ideas
________ Write an effective introduction and conclusion
________ Meet the paper format criteria
________ Meet the MLA criteria