EGL 101—Reading Response #2: Analyzing Arguments
Assignment: We’ve spent the past couple of classes talking about rhetoric, especially as it relates to writing argument. You’ve already completed a couple rhetorical and argumentative analyses, both in class and on your own.
For this reading response, you will do an extended analysis of one essay, chosen from the selections I give you on d2L. Essentially, you will be doing another rhetorical analysis, coupled with a summary, which will be written in essay form.
Your two-page essay should do the following:
- begin with a thorough summary of the article you’ve chosen, using all of the summary techniques we discussed in class (summary should be around 250-300 words);
- make good use of signal phrases;
- accurately paraphrase the original text so to avoid excessive direct quotation;
- and fully analyze the rhetorical approach used by the author, asking questions like: What is the argument? Is it effective? Who is the target audience? Is the argument well-supported? How has the writer established their ethos?
Keep in mind, this is not a reaction paper. That is, I don’t want you to write about how you feel or what you think. Instead, try your best to remain objective. Tell us what the argument is, and do your best to analyze that argument, considering the various factors we’ve discussed in class.
In order to do this well, you are going to have to read the essay at least twice, annotating it as you go. Highlight the main ideas, take notes in the margin, indicated examples of pathos, logos, and ethos. These notes will be tremendously useful to you as you write your response.
Requirements: typed; double-spaced; Times New Roman, size 12 font
MLA format
2 page minimum
OUTLINE FOR READING RESPONSE #2
- Introduction
- Identify the author’s name, title of the article, publication source
- Give 1-2 sentence overview of the article’s main idea
- Begin summary 1 full page
- Paraphrase the article in roughly the same order as the original argument
- Rely on paraphrasing and use only 1 or 2 direct quotations
- Remember: paraphrasing means changing both the words and the order of the original text.
- Begin rhetorical analysis 1 full page
- Start by identifying the argument: What is the claim? What kind of reasons/evidence are provided? Is the argument effective? Who do you think the target audience is? How do you know?
- How does the author establish ethos? How do they earn your trust? How do they establish credibility? Through personal experience? Research? Expertise or credentials? Language that evidences a broad understanding of their topic?
- How does the author make use of logos, ethos, or pathos? Is this an emotional appeal? Are there personal examples? Stories? Is there a lot of logos used? Data? Statistics? Are other sources/research referenced?
THIS IS THE ARTICLE