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English 28 – Dr. Jeffries
Fall 2015
Essay 2: Textual Analysis
Purpose: In Essay 2, we will shift our focus from our experiences as readers, writers, and
critical thinkers in the literacy narrative to our experiences as critical readers of texts that
argue a point and/or analyze an issue/problem.
Writing Task: Write a 3-4 page textual analysis of ONE of the required essays on the
educational value and effectiveness of the classroom lecture. The essays are available online
or through our course website (drlavcenglish.weebly.com)
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Paul, Annie Murphy. “Are College Lectures Unfair?” New York Times 12 Oct. 2015:
Op-Ed. 22 Oct. 2015. Web.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/opinion/sunday/are-college-lecturesunfair.html
Wethen, Molly. “Lecture Me. Really.” New York Times 17 Oct. 2015: Sunday Review.
22 Oct. 2015. Web.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/opinion/sunday/lecture-me-really.html?_r=1
Essay Format: Essay should be typed, double-spaced, and use Times New Roman 12-point
font. Margins should be one-inch on all sides and paper should include a properly formatted
MLA heading, title, and last name + page numbers.
READING: First, read and annotate both articles. Make sure you can identify the writers’
thesis or main arguments. Then choose ONE article to analyze.
PREWRITING 1: On a separate sheet of paper, write down your initial response to the text:
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What do you think about the text’s main claim? What’s your reaction to the
argument, the tone, the language, and the images? Do you find the text difficult,
puzzling? Do you agree with what the writer says? Disagree? Agree and disagree?
Consider both your emotional and intellectual reactions. Identify places in the text
that trigger or account for those reactions. If you think you have no particular
response or reaction, try to articulate why. Whatever your response, think about
what accounts for it.
PREWRITING 2: On a separate sheet of paper, type up your responses to the following
questions that ask you to consider the RHETORICAL SITUATION:
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PURPOSE – Why are you analyzing this text? To demonstrate that you understand
it? To who how its argument works? Or are you using the text as a way to make
some other point?
AUDIENCE – Are your readers likely to know your text? How much detail will you
need to supply?
STANCE – What interests you (or not) about your text? Why? What do you know or
believe about it, and how will your own beliefs affect your analysis?
PREWRITING 3: On a separate sheet of paper, list the writer’s main points.
WRITING and ORGANIZING your TEXTUAL ANALYSIS:
I. INTRODUCE YOUR ANALYSIS:
English 28 – Dr. Jeffries
Fall 2015
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Begin your essay with a SUMMARY of the article that includes the title, author, and
the article’s THESIS.
Provide needed context
State your THESIS [When you analyze the text, you are arguing that a text should be
read in a certain way. After reading the text, identify your analytical goal: do you
want to show that the text has certain meaning? Uses certain techniques to achieve
its purpose? Tries to influence its audience in particular ways? Relates to some
larger context in some significant manner? Should be taken seriously – or not?
Something else?]
II. ANALYZE THE TEXT: Answering these questions will help you to analyze the article’s
ARGUMENT:
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Does the thesis make sense? Is it clear? Is it easy to locate? Is it reasonable? Logical?
How evenhandedly does the writer present the argument? Is there any mention of
counterarguments? If so, how does author deal with them? By refuting them? By
acknowledging them and responding to them reasonably? Does the writer treat
other arguments respectfully? Dismissively?
Does the writer use any logical fallacies? Are the arguments or beliefs of others
distorted or exaggerated? Is the logic faulty?
Now look at the SUPPORT the writer uses to reinforce her main claim/thesis:
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Are claims supported by concrete evidence and clear examples? What kind of
evidence is offered as support? Is the evidence credible and relevant? Does the
writer use analogies, personal anecdotes, facts, data, statistics, scientific studies,
and/or experts’ testimonies? Is the evidence provided sufficient to support the
claim? Are sources biased or unreliable?
AUDIENCE:
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How does the writer address you as a reader? Does the writer assume that readers
know something about what is being discussed? Does his or her language include
you or exclude you? (Hint: if you see the word we, do you feel included?) Do you
sense that you and the writer share any beliefs or attitudes? If the writer is not
writing to you, what audience is the target? How do you know?
III. CONCLUSION:
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Restate your thesis and main points.
Explain what your analysis reveals about the text.
DUE DATES:
Thursday 10/29
Prewriting 1,2,3 for Essay 2 due at the beginning of class
Tuesday 11/3
Essay 2 ROUGH DRAFT due for Peer Review (bring TWO typed
copies)
Tuesday 11/10Essay 2 Final due (with all prewriting materials in a twopocket folder)