critical analysis essay.
Essay 2: Critical Analysis Instructor McQueen
A critical analysis is an examination of an argument’s effectiveness. It is important, when writing one, to keep your own perspective on the issue out of the paper. Instead, this paper is about evaluating how good the writer was at being convincing.
For example: The paper you are evaluating is trying to convince you the earth is flat.
You do not let your own opinion affect how you see the paper. You purely evaluate it on how good it is at convincing you.
Pick one of the following articles to do your critical analysis over:
“Imagine if We Listened to Scientists Before the Hurricane” by Jill C. Trepanier.
“Take a Social Media Break Until You’ve Voted” by Greg Binsinger
“Give Hong Kong the Autonomy It Was Promised” by Nathan Law Kwun Chung
Purpose: You are breaking down a writer’s arguments to explain why they are effective or ineffective. You are using their own text as evidence.
Audience: You aim to have a general audience. You want to write to people who most likely haven’t read the article; take that into consideration when writing your paper.
Source Use: You must use at least one quote and one paraphrase (a paraphrase is when you rewrite the article’s words in your own words). You should probably either paraphrase or quote at least once per paragraph (except in the introduction).
Style: MLA format. 12 point Times New Roman font. You will make a works cited page.
Length: 750 words, not including works cited.
Tone: This is a formal paper. Not overly formal, but professional. Do not use any first person (I, we, me, us) or second person (you, you all, y’all) in this essay. Do not use any contractions. We will go over grammar before this is due, but since the semester is tough already I recommend you put it through a grammar checker like grammarly.
Due: 11/16/2020 Rough Draft Extra Credit Opportunity
Finish your rough draft, don’t worry about how good it is, and email me a copy for +5 extra credit.
Due: 11/20/2020 Writing Center Extra Credit Opportunity.
Revise your rough draft and submit it to the writing center. Send me a copy of their comments along with your paper for +5 Extra Credit.
Due: 11/23/2020 Final Draft Due Date.
This is when the final draft is due.
Tips:
1. Read the article carefully at least twice.
2. Determine your subjective response to the issue so you can be aware of your own bias. Remember, your emotions and your thoughts on the issue do not go in the essay.
3. Determine the article’s purpose. Is it trying to inform, persuade, entertain, or attack?
4. Does the article have a clear thesis?
5. Determine the context of the argument the article is making.
6. Determine the writer’s target audience.
7. Identify places where the author uses ethos, pathos, or logos. Be specific!
8. Determine the article’s tone. Is it sad? Comedic? Angry? Biased?
9. Identify any comparisons the author is making.
10. Identify places where the author’s argument is particularly weak. Are they being illogical? Are they being emotional in a place where it doesn’t make sense? Are their ethical or cultural arguments sensible and well targeted?