Rhetorical Analysis Assignment

Assignment Details

Value: 15%

Due Date: Friday, May 29

Length: 700-800 words

Instructions

Applying the skills and information you’ve learned to this point in the class, you will create a 4-6 paragraph analysis of Grant Mitchell’s argument in “It’s Time to Enshrine the Rights and Protections of Transgender Canadians.” The basis of your rhetorical analysis will be your judgment of the effectiveness of Mitchell’s argument, and you will support your judgment by analyzing some of the rhetorical appeals he makes. I expect your analysis to be thorough, well-reasoned, and concise. Don’t waste space with empty words.

Your analysis should have a strong, clear structure. As a guide, consider the outline shown in the “Structure” section of this handout.

Preparation

· Begin with a close, critical reading of the article

· Determine the author’s purpose and audience

· Look for various rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, ethos) throughout the essay; for each, determine what effect it was supposed to have on readers and decide whether you think it would be effective

· Develop an opinion on the overall effectiveness of the essay: does it achieve its purpose?

· You may have a complex answer to this question; perhaps it achieves its purpose in some respects but fails in others. As long as you can articulate your position clearly, a complex answer is just fine.

· Make a list of 2-4 major reasons that the argument was effective or ineffective

· You must limit your discussion to rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, ethos), but you are not required to discuss all three types. You might, for example, devote two paragraphs to Mitchell’s logos appeals and decide that his pathos appeals aren’t important enough to include in your analysis (don’t forget: it’s your analysis).

· Before you begin drafting, editing, and revising the essay, you should create an outline, following the structure below.

Essay Structure

Introduction

· Introduces topic in an interesting manner (1-2 sentences)

· Explains the original author’s purpose and audience

· Provides a thesis statement that includes your overall opinion about the effectiveness of the argument, as well as brief mention of the major ideas you will discuss to support your thesis

Body Paragraphs (2-4)

· Begin with a topic sentence (which provides your claim and reason)

· Then develop your claim with a mixture of textual evidence and analysis/warrants (see the “CREW Paragraph Development” lecture video for a sample)

Conclusion

· Begins with a re-worded thesis statement

· Reviews major ideas discussed in the body paragraphs

· Leaves readers with a lasting thought about the reading, the argument, or the topic

References list

· A list of the texts cited in your analysis (should be only one), using APA guidelines

Essay Format

Your assignment should be formatted according to APA 7th edition guidelines, and you must cite both quotations and paraphrasing in APA style, which includes a References list.

Academic Honesty

You must practice academic honesty by acknowledging when you use the words and/or the ideas of another author.

· All borrowed material must be cited using APA style

· Paraphrasing must be significantly re-worded from the original material

· All quotation must be under 40 words long

Submission

Submit your completed assignment to the appropriate Assignments drop box on D2L before 11:59pm on Friday, May 29.

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