Essay 2: Rhetorical Analysis

WR 13300 / Fall 2016 / McLaughlin

Overview
As weve discussed in class, rhetorical concepts are useful for
understanding how we construct and interpret arguments. To
extend our discussion of multimedia rhetoric, and to strengthen
your analytical writing skills, you will carefully analyze and
develop a claim about the rhetoric of a film we watch together as
a class. Taking into consideration the films purpose, audience,
persuasive appeals, and context, you will draw from our course
readings to frame a distinct claim about the films rhetoric. In
other words, your goal is not to present a comprehensive summary
of every rhetorical strategy present in the film. Rather, your goal
is to persuade an academic audience to see something focused and
interesting about the film, a focus that is uncovered by way of the
rhetorical frameworks you use. By doing so, your analysis should
deepen your readers understanding of rhetorical theory, its
relevance to visual culture, and the content of the film itself.

Step 1: View the film (carefully).

We will watch the film together in class, and you will be provided
with a worksheet to organize your note-taking. You may also jot
down notes on key ideas, techniques, or concepts that could be
later developed into a claim about the film. Be attuned to WHAT
the film is trying to accomplish with viewers and HOW it attempts
to achieve that goal.
Poster of Happy (2011 film). Thehappymovie.com.
Wadi Rum Productions. 2011. Web. 12 Sept 2016.

Step 2: Formulate questions.

Once youve viewed the film, begin formulating questions to motivate your analysis. For example:
Who seems to be the intended audience of the film? What moves does the film make to try to appeal to
that audience? Are there any assumptions the film seems to make about its viewers? How can I tell?
What claims does the film make about class? About family? About religion/spirituality? How are those
claims articulated and developed?
What are viewers supposed to do/think/feel differently at the end of the film? How can you tell? Does
the film accomplish what it sets out to do?

Step 3: Return to the readings

Once youve identified key questions to drive your analysis, consider which of the course readings might help
you to explain to your readers some of what youve noticed about the films rhetoric. What key concepts that
weve read about are important for understanding the experience of the film? How are viewers invited to
respond to particular moments? Which readings might help you to better understand both WHAT the film is
claiming and HOW the film attempts to persuade its viewers to accept that claim?

Requirements

Your essay should be around 6-8 pages (double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, MLA format)

The essay must meaningfully integrate at least 2 of the sources we read in class. You may use outside
source material so long as our course readings remain central to your analysis.

Your essay must include an MLA-formatted Works Cited page, with an entry for each source cited in
the paper, as well as the film being analyzed. You must include appropriate in-text citations.

You must include an introduction that offers basic information about the film, relevant context,
frameworks for analysis, and rationale for the applying those frameworks to the film .

Your essay should be driven by a clear, debatable thesis that makes a claim about the films rhetoric.
That thesis should be supported with clearly defined points of analysis that prove your thesis

All points should be supported with examples from the film and quotes/paraphrases from your sources
to help analyze the examples described.

Your essay must respond to the counterarguments (or counter-analysis) of skeptical readers.
Your essay should end with a meaningful conclusion that underscores the relevance of your analysisto
a larger scholarly conversation, to a current cultural context, to a specific group, etc.

Assessment Criteria (we will review each of these in more detail during class)
Focus
Organization
Development
Conventions (quoting, source citations, etc)
Clarity

DUE DATE: 10/7

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