Assignment #3 Rhetorical Analysis Essay of Opinion Article #1 or #2
Evaluates E06: Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Instructions
1) Make sure you have read Applebaum’s opinion article and the sample rhetorical analysis of it. Note that the writer of this analysis is critical of the rhetorical qualities of Applebaum’s opinion article. You may also be critical of the opinion article you choose to analyse but you may also choose to argue that the writer of the article has made an effective argument. The key thing is discuss how the writer deals with the rhetorical situation as determined by SOAPSTone. Which appeals does the writer make and which techniques does the writer use to support this type of appeal.
A few notes about how opinion articles differ from speeches in terms of rhetoric:
i) There is less emphasis on oratory techniques like parallelism with tricolon, epiphora and anaphora.
ii) There is more emphasis is on cultural allusions, anecdotes, rhetorical questions, evidence in the form of experts or statistics, comparisons, qualifications and counterarguments, problem solution and cause effect arguments.
iii) You will usually see a paragraph intended to deal with potential objections / counterargument.
iv) There will also often be colloquial language, meant to appeal to the average reader.
iv) At the end of an opinion article, there will often be a call to action.
2) Read the two opinion articles.
3) Copy the text of each article into a Google Doc and annotate both, completing SOAPStone and other notes.
4) Write a 500-700 word rhetorical analysis essay that addresses the following prompt:
Decide which text makes a more successful argument and defend your choice by considering the rhetorical choices that BOTH authors make. You may structure your essay however you wish but make sure you establish an effective line of reasoning.
In your response you should do the following:
•Respond to the prompt with a thesis that makes a claim about the prompt.
•Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.
•Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
•Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
•Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.
5) Paste the shareable link by the deadline.
6) Revise based on my comments and if needed, resubmit your essay.
