Inquiry II
Rhetorical Analysis of a Current Text
Moving from Inquiry I, which asked you to reflect upon your own rhetorical practices, this inquiry asks you to investigate and reflect upon the rhetoric produced by someone other than you. In order to do this work, this inquiry asks you to examine the contextual components (also called the rhetorical situation) surrounding the text you choose to explore. Then, based on your interpretations of the rhetorical situation, you should attempt articulate—with evidence—why or why not the text is (in)effective. As we move through this inquiry, we will build a useful vocabulary and methodology for writing the rhetorical analysis.
Begin by selecting a text you wish to analyze. For our purposes, select a timely (produced within the past year or so) piece of rhetoric to analyze. This could be a campaign speech, a newspaper editorial, an activist website, a YouTube video, a set of related social media posts, and so forth. Keep in mind, though, that you will have to do substantial analysis on the text you choose—so sometimes shorter is not better. As you carefully examine both the text and context (the author, the audience, the larger cultural conversation), consider the following questions to help you begin:
Your paper should do more than simply plug in answers to these questions. It should introduce and analyze your chosen text in a logical manner. We will discuss some possible arrangements during class, but remember that these arrangements are just guides. Your carefully organized paper should be between 4-6 pages (approximately 1,500 words).
Important Dates
Rough draft due: Wednesday, Sept 19
Final due: Wednesday, Sept 26
Point Break-Down
Peer Response (including rough draft): 30 points
Final Draft: 100 points
Writer’s Letter: 20 points
TOTAL: 150 points
Evaluation
Successful analyses will do the following:
Begin by selecting a text you wish to analyze. For our purposes, select a timely (produced within the past year or so) piece of rhetoric to analyze. This could be a campaign speech, a newspaper editorial, an activist website, a YouTube video, a set of related social media posts, and so forth. Keep in mind, though, that you will have to do substantial analysis on the text you choose—so sometimes shorter is not better. As you carefully examine both the text and context (the author, the audience, the larger cultural conversation), consider the following questions to help you begin:
- What is the central claim? What support is given for the claim? What is the purpose?
- When and where is it published?
- What brought this piece of rhetoric into existence?
- What was occurring socially, culturally, economically, and/or politically during the time the text was delivered/published?
- What external influences do you see has influencing the composing of this text?
- Who is the audience? What kind of relationship (e.g., formal, informal, hostile, etc.) does the rhetor attempt to build with his/her audience?
- How does the rhetor appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos? Are these appeals balanced? In what ways do the appeals intersect? Are the appeals working, given the audience and rhetorical situation?
- What kind of tone does the rhetor establish?
- Does the rhetor’s style attempt to connect with the intended audience?
- Does the author use humor, irony, satire, and/or metaphor to make a point?
Your paper should do more than simply plug in answers to these questions. It should introduce and analyze your chosen text in a logical manner. We will discuss some possible arrangements during class, but remember that these arrangements are just guides. Your carefully organized paper should be between 4-6 pages (approximately 1,500 words).
Important Dates
Rough draft due: Wednesday, Sept 19
Final due: Wednesday, Sept 26
Point Break-Down
Peer Response (including rough draft): 30 points
Final Draft: 100 points
Writer’s Letter: 20 points
TOTAL: 150 points
Evaluation
Successful analyses will do the following:
- Introduce the rhetor and the text examined
- Describe the argument (i.e. demonstrate an understanding of the central claims made)
- Discuss the context surrounding the rhetoric (i.e. what brought this rhetoric into existence? What is the larger conversation?)
- Explain how the rhetor attempts to appeal (ethos, logos, pathos) to his/her audience
- Integrate textual evidence for any claims you make