English 102 | Essay #2

Rhetorical Analysis
Genre: Analysis
Goal: Write a rhetorical analysis that focuses on three rhetorical appeals discussed in class
Sources: One primary source
Length: 4-pages
Format: MLA

Assignment
Your rhetorical analysis will discuss at least two of the three rhetorical appeals discussed in class
(logos, ethos, and pathos). Your goal is to analyze the language in your primary source, through
the rhetorical appeals, in efforts to argue for the meaning you find in the language. You may use
rhetorical devices to develop your argument within each main point.

You must choose one of the four speeches available in Blackboard.

Key Points
1. Introduction:
a. Introduce the reader to the speech and your argument, which requires a clear
understanding of the rhetorical situation
i. Who is the speaker?
ii. What is the social context of the speech (what is happening)?
iii. Is the speech effective? How do you know?
b. Thesis statement
2. Body
a. Analyze the rhetorical appeals and devices used in the speech, which requires
understanding of the appeals and devices as analytical tools. Each paragraph
requires a clear topic sentence that introduce the appeal used in the paragraph in
relation to your thesis statement.
b. Some helpful questions to help develop each body paragraph include:
i. Topic sentence:
1. What appeal is used and what is the purpose?
ii. Development:
1. How is the appeal identified? What words or phrases identify the
appeal?
2. How does the appeal relate to the speaker’s purpose? Is the appeal
used effectively or ineffectively?
3. What does the speaker not say? Why is important that the speaker
avoids that point? Why would it be helpful for the speaker to
address that point?
iii. Transitional sentence
3. Conclusion
a. Apply your argument to a higher level
b. Wrap-up all lose ends in your essay

SLOs Achieved
See syllabus for all SLOs
 The writer… reads to evaluation, reads to analyze, and reads to think
 The writer makes informed, effective decisions throughout the writing process
 The writer uses a variety of strategies for idea development

Schedule
The schedule is subject to change; however, the final submission date and time will not change.

Activity MWF TR Homework

Essay is assigned and 1/30 1/29 Read all speeches in
discussed the Essay #2 folder.
Bring to next week’s
classes (printed,
laptop, or tablet)

Discuss primary texts 2/2-6 2/3-5 Write: Begin your

outline based on this
week’s classes. Bring
your outline to next
week’s classes.

Initial Writing 2/9 2/10 Revise: initial writing

for your first peer
review (see syllabus
for peer review
guidelines). Bring to
next class.

Peer review #1, MLA 2/11-13 2/12 Revise: first draft

and Blackboard based on peer
review, and style comments.
workshop
Upload: rough draft to
the appropriate drop-
box in Blackboard by
midnight on 2/13

Conferences are held 2/16-20 2/16-20 Revise: rough draft

in my office at your based on conference
scheduled time (see discussion and rough
Blackboard). You are draft comments in
required to bring a Blackboard. Bring
charged laptop or revision to the next
printed copy of your class.
rough draft.
Review general notes 2/23 2/24 Revise paper based on
from conferences workshop

Peer review #2 and 2/25-27 2/26 Revise: Essay for

revision final submission
based on comments
from peer(s)

Submit final paper 2/27 2/27 Due: Midnight

Grading
Rough Draft: 25pts
See the Rough Draft Rubric in Blackboard
Essay: 100pts
See the Essay Rubric in Blackboard

Revisions
Revisions are completely optional, but they are an excellent way to apply your newly gained
knowledge of writing to your previously submitted writings. See the syllabus for more
information on the revision requirements. The Essay Rubric is applicable to all revisions.

All revisions are due by 5:00PM on 4/29.