For your first paper, your assignment is to write a rhetorical analysis of a text of your choice. Be sure to select something complex enough to allow you to write a thoughtful and insightful analysis. By definition, the act of analysis is breaking something into its component parts and examining the ways in which those parts contribute to the whole. Textual analysis often involves extracting and creating meaning. Rhetorical analysis is something more specific.

Rhetoric involves all the available means of persuasion. So as you write a rhetorical analysis, you are not analyzing only the meaning of the text; you are analyzing the effectiveness of the text by examining the different strategies that the author uses to persuade their audience.

1. How effectively does the writer of your chosen text convey the main idea of the text? In what ways do ethos, logos, and pathos affect the author’s ability to persuade the audience? You must discuss all three strategies.

For this topic, you must include thoughtful analysis of direct quotations from the text of your choice. A draft of this paper of at least 1200 words . Formatting Requirements Use MLA format to document all sources. Typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman. You need a header with your last name and the page number on every page. Include a word count at the end of your paper (before the Works Cited list) The Works Cited list should be the last page of your paper and does not count toward the total number of words. Checklist for Paper 1 I. Content ____ A. Development of ideas ____ B. Support ___ direct quotes ___ detailed analysis and discussion of support ____ C. Discussion of rhetorical strategies (ethos, logos, pathos) ____ D. Discussion of social context and ideologies II. Structure ____ A. Title is captivating ____ B. Introduction provides sufficient background and/or context ____ C. Thesis statement (main idea for the whole paper) is clear and specific ____ D. Topic Sentences for body paragraphs are focused and clear ____ E. Conclusion emphasizes the significance of your discussion ____ F. Unity (paragraphs are focused) ____ G. Coherence (using effective transitions) III. Style ____ A. Complexity and variety of sentence structure ____ B. Diction and tone are appropriate for an academic audience ____ C. Clarity IV. Grammar and Punctuation As you proofread, you may want to look for these common errors: ___ Verb tense ___ Subject-verb agreement ___ Fragments ___Point of View ___Comma splices ___Run-ons ___ Apostrophes ___ Comma use V. Formatting __ 12-points Times New Roman, double-spaced __ Heading (Your name, professor’s name, class, date) __ MLA in-text citation __ MLA Works Cited List