Rhetorical Analysis Assignment(Technical Writing)

RhetoricalAnalysisAssignment.docx

Home >Computer Science homework help > Rhetorical Analysis Assignment(Technical Writing)

English 2311 – Rhetorical Analysis Assignment

A Rhetorical Analysis can be a helpful way to learn to look at documents (letters, brochures, memos, reports, proposals, etc.) and / or websites in a very specific and detailed way. In order to be strong communicators, we need to know both what to do and what NOT to do. Thus, a Rhetorical Analysis helps you to slow down and really examine documents to see how they are operating as pieces of communication. You will look at how and why pieces of writing are made and evaluate how effective they are in fulfilling their purposes.

Step 1

The first step in this process is to select a document. In order to make this more meaningful for you, I would like to you select a document that is applicable for your field of study or your current profession. Acceptable items for this project would be things like a report, pamphlet, letter, proposal, website, memo, set of guidelines or instructions, etc.

If you are not yet sure what would be an appropriate document for your future field, ask one of your professors in that field or you can consult with me. I am also open to other possibilities for documents, but they will need to be written, not in video form. You will need to identify your document item by the date indicated on your schedule.

This document will need to be submitted electronically along with your assignment, so you may need to scan it or take a picture of it (good quality please!) if it is not available electronically already.

Step 2

Once you have identified your artifact / document, you will want to begin your analysis. In order to complete this analysis, you will depend heavily on the information from your textbook, specifically in Chapter 1, where Markel gives the visual with the eight measures of excellence. Use these measures as a way to test your document and its effectiveness.

You will need to ask yourself questions such as “Who is the intended audience for this document?”; “How / where would this item be read?”; “When / where did it first appear?” and other questions that allow you to think about why the document was created and what it’s actual purpose is, as well, before beginning the careful analysis.

Step 3

Once you have completed your analysis of the document, write up your findings in a memo addressed to me. You will find the information for memo format on pages 253-254 of your textbook. The categories of the memo that are listed in the book might not work for this particular assignment, so it will be up to you to decide how you want to organize the information in the memo. The information on formatting and headings from Chapter 7 will likely be helpful here.

As you write the memo, be sure to focus on detail. Use examples from the document to show us what you mean, rather than just writing that the document does or does not meet the standard for excellence. This assignment is called an “Analysis,” which means that you will need to look below just surface level things like how the document appears and the basic information listed (though those things are important too). You will want to be sure to analyze the document and not get caught up in just describing it.

A successful memo will do the following:

· Be at least 2 pages, single spaced (there can be some additional spacing around headings, but don’t try to pad the memo with extra space).

· Be free of grammatical and spelling errors.

· Use some sort of documentation style to give credit to the document’s origins (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)

· Use professional language, avoiding slang and colloquialisms

· Meet Markel’s criteria for excellence