AP Language and Composition
Columnist Project
Argument Essay
Ms. A. Martin, M.ED.
The Assignment:
• This assignment is designed to further student
understanding of rhetorical devices and author’s
style used in authentic settings and to have
students look at arguments and draw their own
conclusions.
• Students will read and analyze editorials written
by a syndicated columnist and using that text for
analysis and springboard for writing.
EDITORIALS
• Go to the Opinion section of The Miami
Herald and click on Columnist and chose one
you like.
• Go to Opinion section of The New York Times
and click on Columnist and chose one you like.
• Go to Opinion section of The USA Today and
click on Columnist and chose one you like.
The Method:
• Read many (at least ten) of the columnist’s
editorials so you know his or her beat, looking for
patterns in rhetorical strategies and style.
• Create an MLA format (look up “MLA Citations”
online) bibliography of all the columns you read.
• Make hard copies of three columns and annotate
them heavily—including questions, comments,
definitions, rhetorical devices, connections, or
other.
The Method:
•
Select one syndicated columnist. The following are suggested sources:
• Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel (local newspapers)The New York Times, The Wall Street
Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today (national newspapers)The New Yorker, Atlantic
Monthly, Harper’s, Time, or Newsweek (magazines)
• Your columnist can be any kind (political, humor, sports, etc.), except an
advice columnist whose columns are put together in letter and response
form.
• Read many (at least ten) of the columnist’s editorials so you know his or
her beat, looking for patterns in rhetorical strategies and style.
• Make hard copies of three columns and annotate them heavily—
including questions, comments, definitions, rhetorical devices,
connections, or other.
MLA CITATION
Article in a Newspaper
• Cite a newspaper article as you would a magazine article,
but note the different page numbering in a newspaper. If
there is more than one edition available for that date (as in
an early and late edition of a newspaper), identify the
edition following the date (e.g., 17 May 1987, late ed.).
– Brubaker, Bill. "New Health Center Targets County's Uninsured Patients."
Washington Post 24 May 2007: LZ01. Print.
– Krugman, Andrew. "Fear of Eating." New York Times 21 May 2007 late ed.: A1.
Print.
An Editorial & Letter to the Editor
• Cite as you would any article in a periodical, but include the
designators "Editorial" or "Letter" to identify the type of
work it is.
– "Of Mines and Men." Editorial. Wall Street Journal east. ed. 24 Oct. 2003: A14.
Print.
Basic Rhetorical Analysis Questions
(Annotation Guide)
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What is the thesis, what is the overall
argument the author presents?
What is the writer’s purpose? To
inform? To persuade? To criticize?
Who is the author’s intended
audience?
How does the writer organize his or
her ideas? Chronologically? Other?
Why?
How does the writer use diction?
(Word choice, arrangement, accuracy,
is it formal, informal? Technical
versus slang?) Why?*
Does the writer use dialogue?
Quotations? Why?*
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What rhetorical devices are used? Why?
Is there evidence of problems with the
authors argument? What would the
opposition say about his or her argument that
would weaken it?
What is the sentence structure (syntax) of
text? Are there fragments, run-ons? Is it
declarative, imperative, and exclamatory?
What effect does this have?
Does the writer use punctuation to create an
effect? Italics, underlining, parentheses?
Which marks does the writer use, and when?
What is the effect?
What is the author's tone and voice? Identify
tone and voice.
Personal Connection to the column or topic
– Questions
– Comments
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* Style Questions
Rhetorical Précis
• A précis (pray-see) is a brief summary that follows a specific format.
In this case, you will be selecting three of the
editorial/column/opinion piece and writing a précis with the
following four sentences:
1. A single sentence which includes the author, title, date (in
parentheses); a rhetorically accurate verb (such as
"asserts," "argues," "refutes," "proves," "explains," etc.),
followed by a clause that contains the major claim (thesis
statement) of the work.
Example: In his article “Idiot Warning Labels” ( 2000), Leonard
Pitts Jr. proclaims that warning labels are spreading stupidity
among the public.
Rhetorical Précis
2.
A single sentence explaining how the author develops and supports
the argument.
»
2.
Example: Pitts combines verbal irony, logical appeal, and rhetorical questioning
with a variety of cultural references to support his claim.
A single sentence describing the author’s purpose.
» Example: Pitts vents his frustration in order to bring awareness to the fact that
corporations intellectually demean consumers.
4.
A single sentence describing the intended audience for the piece or
describing the relationship the author establishes with the
audience.
» Example: His audience consists of typical American readers and consumers—
people who may agree with the absurdity of such labels.
Putting it all together:
Rhetorical Précis
• Put all of the pieces together to create an
introduction
• Example: In his article “Idiot Warning Labels” ( 2000),
Leonard Pitts Jr. proclaims that warning labels are spreading
stupidity among the public. Pitts combines verbal irony,
logical appeal, and rhetorical questioning with a variety of
cultural references to support his claim. Pitts vents his
frustration in order to bring awareness to the fact that
corporations intellectually demean consumers. His audience
consists of typical American readers and consumers—people
who may agree with the absurdity of such labels.
The Method:
• Make hard copies of three columns and annotate
them heavily—including questions, comments,
definitions, rhetorical devices, connections, or
other.
• Write a one page analysis of the columnist’s
beat (topic), point of view, and style. Be very,
very specific about style—organization, favorite
rhetorical devices, subject matter, tone, or other.