Peer Review of the Rhetorical Analysis...

Peer Review of the Rhetorical Analysis Essay February 12, 2015

Due Today

!   Rough Draft of the Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Important Schedule Updates

1)  The 2nd Draft of the Rhetorical Analysis Essay is due on Tuesday, Feb. 24

2)  The Final Draft of the Rhetorical Analysis Essay is due Tuesday, March 10th

Agenda

!   Review of What to Look for in Rhetorical Analysis Peer Review

!   Review a Rhetorical Analysis Example (student essay)

!   Peer review of the Rhetorical Analysis

Assignment

!   Work on the 2nd Draft of the Rhetorical Analysis Essay (Due Tuesday, Feb. 24)

!   No other homework assignment for next Tuesday!

Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Tips

!   Conduct Google searches to find a text to rhetorically analyze

!   For instance, Google, “editorial, gun control,” or go to the editorial, or op-ed section for a media source, such as The New York Times or NPR

!   Make sure your text is one of substance, i.e., don’t choose an Altoid’s ad be wary of choosing just any commercial

Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Tips

!   Begin by having a clear and thorough understanding of the text’s main message, or what the text is arguing.

Rhetorical Analysis Tips

!   For the author, or rhetor make sure to use the correct pronoun reference. For example, if Dove created the ad., do not say “They …” Rather, state, “The company …” “The corporation …” etc.

!   As you consider ethos, begin by thinking about what is known about the author by only looking at the text itself, for instance, is there a byline? Does the author establish ethos in the article? THEN, consider what a wide audiences might already know about this author, regardless of what appears within the text itself, as well what more “educate readers” might know about this author.


!   Be specific about your audience, and think about both the wider audience and the intended, or target audience

!   Although the audience might include “all Americans …” consider the target audience(s) within the American population that the text. AND, use evidence from the text to support your assertion on the target audience. For example, DO NOT simply state, “The audience is anyone 20 to 40 years old.”


!   In general, do not make claims in your rhetorical analysis without supporting evidence.

!   Use evidence from the text itself and make sure the evidence from the text logically supports your claims.


!   Write a strong thesis that includes what the text’s message(s) and summarizes how the text persuades the audience(s) of its message(s)

!   Consider organizing your essay by beginning with: (1) Background and context (2) Thesis (3) Rhetorical Strategies (4) Consequences


!   Most of the time, you will need to qualify your statements. !   For instance, you may need to write, “The audience is most

likely persuaded, because …” instead of the statement, “The audience is persuaded, because …”

!   Avoid awkward, wordy phrases, sentences, etc. !   For instance, avoid “somewhat uses logos,” and “the speakers

keeps the audience with him” … “The rhetor in this case would be …” “The rhetor gives information …”


!   Do not psychoanalyze the author: “The author thinks …”

!   Avoid first person: “I feel the author did this because …”

!   Embrace nuances! For example, the rhetor may seem credible in some ways, to some audiences, and not credible in other ways, to other audiences


!   If you can’t suspend judgment when you read the text, for example, you’re already persuaded by the headline, you may want to choose a different text

!   Remember, you want to analyze why the text is persuasive, as well as the reasons as to why the text may not be persuasive

Review Student Essay: “A Rhetorical Analysis of How Much is Left”

In your group decide on two aspects that worked well for this piece, and one critique.

Consider How Langley conveys:

The speaker / rhetor

The audience

Moyer’s argument / thesis

Rhetorical tools used and the effectiveness of those tools

Critiques?

Peer Review Process 1) Each student will offer feedback on at least two other students’ papers for 20 minutes.

First: Read the paper without comment

Next: Read over, write in margins, make notes to self

Last: For last five minutes, jot down a paragraph of comments to discuss

You will discuss the papers for 5 minutes in between each paper.

• Before we begin, write for a few minutes on what you struggled with, or what you need the most help with. You may address this during the discussion part of the peer review.

Peer Review of the Rhetorical Analysis...

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