essay due in 3-4 hrs

Essay 1

Taking a Stand Regarding Death

 

Background

 

Catholic nun, Helen Prejean, writes persuasively against the death penalty, while Jessica Mitford critiques the funeral industry, and Jenna Worthham wonders how social media sites like Facebook should handle the death of its users. Death, as a topic, covers a number of controversial issues, from important social questions such as euthanasia, to local issues such as whether or not a community needs another cemetery.

 

Assignment

 

Using a topic of your choice, take a position in regard to your subject. For example, you may agree with Helen Prejean that the death penalty should be abolished, or with Jessica Mitford that funerals are too costly and elaborate. Whatever your topic and views, write a persuasive essay with a clear position, good reasons, convincing evidence, and attention to audience. You may wish to do some research using the resources of your campus library and/or the Internet to find other opinions on the subject, as well as evidence to support your position. Remember, whatever topic you choose, your goal is not so much to change the views of your audience as it is to construct an argument your audience will give serious consideration.

 

Questions for Research and Invention

 

1 What makes your topic controversial?

2 What possible stands can you take in regard to your topic?

3 For what major reasons would people agree with your position?

4 What audience are you identifying for your essay? Your class, your local community, or just a general audience?

5 Where might you find other essays, newspaper articles, Web sites, blogs, or books on your topic?

 

About Persuasive Essays

 

As you begin to draft your essay, keep in mind that all persuasive essays share the same basic features:

 

• A clearly stated position in regard to your topic;

• Good reasons that support your position;

• Convincing evidence to support your reasons;

• A careful consideration of your audience through counterarguments raised and refuted.

 

Other Requirements

 

This second major assignment should contain at least 1000 words and must adhere to correct MLA format (7th or 8th edition is fine). If you need MLA reminders, refer to our Praxis textbook and/or the OWL Purdue web site (link in D2L).

 

Some Examples from our Text: Prejean-59; Mitford-109; Worthham-137

 

From page 187, Death, Fountainhead Press, Edited by: Rachelle M. Smith

 

You might also refer to our Praxis text for additional information on arguments.

 

Essay 2

Analyzing the Rhetoric of Sympathy Cards (approximately 800 words)

 

Background

 

Death is an unfortunate fact of life, and most people respond when hearing of a death with expressions of care and concern, often in the form of a greeting card expressing sympathy for the person’s loss. Like an advertisement, a painting, or a music video, sympathy cards are texts whose meaning lies not only in the actual words they contain, but in the images (and in the case of e-cards, music) they depict. Implicit arguments exist in all of these media forms, yet we often allow the images, designs, colors, and sounds to impress upon us without much thought as to why or how these effects are achieved. A rhetorical analysis of sympathy cards can tell us a great deal about how our culture views death, grief, and loss.

 

Assignment

 

Using Google, Bing, or another Internet search engine, examine the print and e-cards available on a number of greeting card companies’ Web sites, such as http://www.americangreetings.com ; http://www.bluemountain.com ; or http://www.hallmark.com . Using specific examples from these Web sites, from a retail outlet, or from your own collection, write a rhetorical analysis of a sympathy greeting card or a group of cards. Be sure to include specific design elements to support your analysis.

 

Questions for Invention

 

1 Who is the intended audience for the card or cards you analyzed?

2 What message does the card or cards literally provide in words?

3 What meaning is created by the images? By the music?

4 What effect do the design elements and compositional features (font, layout, use of space, color, graphics, etc.) convey?

 

About a Rhetorical Analysis

 

As you begin your analysis of your chosen sympathy card or cards, keep in mind that such an analysis should include:

 

• A brief description of the sympathy card or cards;

• A clear statement of the intended effect the card has on the recipient;

• The audience for whom the card is intended;

• An analysis of the design elements and compositional features of the card or cards;

• Specific evidence from the card or cards to support the analysis;

• A color copy of the card or cards attached to the final draft of the assignment