Argument paper

Guide to Single Text Analysis

Brief Introduction: (1 Paragraph) Start with this sentence: I read Title by author’s name, published in/by company name. Then spend a few sentences regarding the author and explaining their professional background and then try to summarize the argument in three sentences.

Author’s Purpose: (2-3 Paragraphs) Write 2-3 sentences on what you think the purpose of the entire argument was. After the third sentence, put a quote from the work proving your point. Remember, the quote should look like this: “And I am your lord and savior” (Johnson 1). Then spend two sentences discussing if this was clear or not. And if it wasn’t, how could they have clarified it. Start another paragraph and discuss if you think that the author fulfilled their purpose on writing this. Do you think they succeeded in convincing the audience? And if they didn’t, how could they have, in your own ideas, went about changing that.

The Three Appeals: (1-2 Paragraphs each) Start a new paragraph for Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. Start the paragraph explaining in your own words, what each of these appeals mean. Then you need to state if these appeals were used in the argument. If they were, you need to supply a quote from the text/video. Once you’ve supplied the quote, then discuss if it was effective and how they could have done something different. If they didn’t use one of these, spend some time talking about how they could have. What would you have done differently?

Audience: (1-3 paragraphs) Talk about who the argument is for. Is it for the public, millennials, dogs, or parents? Then once you’ve done this, assume of if they succeeded in reaching said audience. Talk about their presentation: Are they dressed professionally? Does dressing the way they do distract the audience? If it’s a paper, are the word usages accessible for the audience and do they talk about things that they would understand? Then think about media. Are there graphs and charts? How are they presented? If it’s a speaker in a video, do they use any type of visual tools? And again, if you think they should have done something different, then you explain that.

Optional Reaction: (1 paragraph) This is when you write out a reaction to the argument, if you feel that you need to. Just a basic overall thing. Nothing with outside sources or anything like this. This option are for those that the argument has touched them in some way.

Overall Assessment: (1-2 Paragraphs) Use this to address the argument in general and touch on anything that you might have found. Refer the fallacies of an argument for help. If there are any other faults you haven’t addressed do this here.

Conclusion: (1 Paragraph): Start with “I have assessed author’s name Title…” And make your concluding statements.

Works cited will be on a separate page and it will be only one. The argument you chose to analyze.