Essay # 1 Connections (5 pages).
Write an essay in which you analyse rhetorical strategies and identify and
summarize common assumptions, reasons, or evidence of the two texts: When
Americans No Longer Own America by Thom Hartmann ( CILA, Chapter 3, pp
100-104) and Watching Greed Murder the Economy by Paul Roberts ( GILA,
Chapter 4, pp 194-197)
Rough draft due: February 12
Final draft due: February 14
Assignment Guidelines
Carefully consider the rhetorical situation and the writers' choices concerning
audience, purpose, genre, and style. Figure out:
- to whom the articles are directed. To figure out what audience was targeted by the
articles, identify the audience for the periodical in which the article was originally
published. If this information does not appear anywhere in the article, such as in an
abstract or citation, you can probably find it through a Google search or with the help
of a librarian.
- why you think the authors wrote these pieces. What were they trying to
accomplish? What is the intended message, and why do the authors want to
communicate it to their readers?
the genre: Was the piece an editorial? An article in a popular magazine? A
scholarly article?
the style: What sorts of stylistic choices did the authors make? For example, are the
articles written in an academic style? A journalistic style?
As you continue your analysis of the articles, and before you begin to draft your
paper, study the authors' appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos.
As you read, you can also note whether the authors concede or refute competing
positions.
Audience for your essay: It’s very important to think of an audience BEYOND this
class. In other words, do NOT assume that everyone reading your paper has read the
articles you’re writing about. Write the paper as if your readers do not know anything
about the articles or their authors.
When you begin drafting, follow the suggestions below to help you organize your
paper.
Beginning of the Paper
Your essay should begin by
Introducing readers to the articles you read by identifying the title, author, and
the author’s credentials.
Describing the article ’s intended purpose and audience; this requires you to
determine where it was originally published and to find out more about its readers.
Introducing readers to the topic; provide any other background information about
the subject matter or the article that readers might need in order to understand the rest
of your essay.
Summarizing the article to give readers an understanding of the articles' contents.
Consider stating the thesis following the summary, as that is an effective way to
set up the analysis. Your thesis should be a claim about how the authors use rhetoric
to persuade.
In the body of the paper, your goal is to develop your analysis so readers
understand how you arrived at your thesis.
Body of the Paper
Begin your paragraphs not by restating one of the author's points; instead, begin each
paragraph by presenting your point about the author's rhetorical strategies and style.
This is a key concept and is the reason many students have trouble with early drafts of
this assignment.
Remember that you should discuss the topic only as necessary to explain the
authors' rhetorical strategies. This is what makes the rhetorical analysis so tricky.
Many students have trouble staying focused on their purpose for this assignment, and
begin giving their opinion on the issue the article discusses. So be careful as you draft
to keep your focus on the rhetoric.
You will support your points by drawing details from the article. When you
reference the words or strategies of the author, make sure you attribute them to him.
When using paraphrases and/or quotes from the article, insert the page number in
parentheses at the end of the borrowed material, like this: (531).
Wrap up your essay by pulling your discussion together. Again, your focus should
be on the rhetoric and relationships between the two texts, not on the topic. You may
re-emphasize your main points, but avoid simply restating your thesis.
When I respond to what you’ve written, I will be looking to see if you have:
* An effective introduction to the articles, authors, and the publications in which
they appeared
* A successful summary of the articles
* A strong thesis focused on the rhetoric of the article, not the topic of the article
* Thoughtful points that support your thesis
* Well-developed examples and details that support your points
* An organization based on your points about the writing style (not a
chronological recounting of the author's points)
* An awareness of an audience outside this class
*Correct MLA in-text citations & WC page