Rhetorical Analysis

CPLT 110
Judith Levy
Fall 2015
By critically evaluating the arguments of others, you will be able to more effectively choose your
position on a topic and successfully articulate that position to others. As a result, for this essay
you may choose any text that you have either encountered in this course or find particularly
connected to the course theme and analyze its argument. By text, I mean any form of media
developed for a specific purpose. Therefore, you can analyze any written work (book, article,
etc.), a visual work (video, film, etc.), or a combination of the two (i.e. a website). By
considering the type of argument being made and the argumentative tactics being used by the
author, you will interrogate how the text is structured to present its purpose and explain whether
or not it effectively fulfills its purpose.
Please note that I use the words argument, and persuade just as loosely as the word text.
Literary texts may be subject to various interpretations; in such cases, you might choose one
potential interpretation of the meaning or purpose and explain how it is communicated.
Things to consider:
What is the rhetorical situation that has stimulated the creation of this text? How does this
become apparent in the text (if at all)?
To what audience is this text directed? How does the text cater to its audience?
What is the purpose of the text (to persuade, convince, explore, etc.)?
How is the purpose communicfated to the reader?
What type of argument is being made (fact, definition, evaluation, etc.)?
What argumentative tactics are being used (ethos, pathos, logos, etc.)?
This essay must:
Have a thesis which states the overall reason how the text achieves, fails to achieve, or
confuses its purpose.
Use supporting textual evidence and analyze the evidence in order to support your thesis.
Be an organized argument, with a well-developed structure.
Have a creative title.
Be 3-5 pages, typed, MLA format.
One Page Outline or one Page Written (depending on your writing process): at the time of
your conference
Rough Draft Due (2 Pages Minimum): TBA
Final Draft Due (With all parts of the writing process): TBA