Project 2: Rhetorical Analysis

Overview: In our second project this semester, we’ll be moving from a less formal analysis of
our own writing to a more formal analysis of someone else’s writing. As we discussed in the first
project, analysis is the way that we, as humans, investigate something deeply in order to interpret
it and integrate that information into the way we view the world. There are many ways to
analyze, as we’ve seen, and all of them are based on different systems of knowledge. For this
project, we will be narrowing our focus to use the system of rhetoric for that analysis.

Written Elements: For this project, you will choose a short piece of written text that meets the
following requirements:
 Must be 500 – 1500 words in length
 Must make an argument of some kind
 Must have been written in the last 15 years
 Must be intended to be read (no speeches, video transcripts, etc)
In an academic analysis, you will analyze the text’s rhetorical situation, identify the author’s
rhetorical strategies, and consider how these strategies connect to the author’s intended audience
and rhetorical purpose. Example articles will be provided on Canvas, which we will practice with
in class. For your paper, you will need to find your own article. Just make sure that your choice
meets the four requirements above.

Evaluation Criteria:
o Physical Requirements: 1200 words minimum. This paper must be typed, double-
spaced, in 12 point Times New Roman font, and must have 1 inch top and bottom
margins and 1 inch left and right margins. It should also use either MLA or APA
formatting.
o Your Rhetorical Situation: While, at times, your readers (your classmates and
instructor) may be familiar with the text you are analyzing, it’s best to assume that we
don’t have immediate access to it, which will mean that you’ll need to provide some
summary of the article to adapt to your audience. Also, unlike the self-study, this kind of
formal analysis is considered to be less personal because you’re looking at someone
else’s writing in a rigorous, systematic way. You should avoid a personal voice in this
text and adopt a formal, academic style.
o Content: As stated above, you should be taking a close look at the text’s rhetorical
situation and strategies as they relate to the author’s intended audience. In order to do so,
you must examine the arguments being made in your text as objectively as possible. The
purpose of this essay is not to agree or disagree with the arguments being made, to
produce an extended summary of the article, or to write a research paper on the topic of
the article. Your task here is to analyze the rhetorical strategies used by the author to
achieve his or her purpose for the intended audience of the text. You’ll be using the
 concepts of rhetoric that we’ve been discussing this semester, but we’ll also talk in class
about how to most effectively use these concepts for the strict rhetorical analysis you’ll
be writing for this project.
o Structure and Cohesion: Although the last project allowed you some flexibility, Project
2 must be written in the form of an academic essay. Effective essays must have a central
thought that clearly and consistently guides the direction of the paper. Begin and
conclude your review effectively through framing paragraphs that help the reader to
understand the overall organization and content of the essay. Your supporting ideas
should be organized in a logical manner, progressing from point to point in a way that is
easy for your reader to follow. Additionally, be sure that the individual parts of your
essay are cohesive and flow together through the use of effective connective language
(see the cohesive devices handout on Canvas if you need a refresher).
o Source Usage: Beyond the article you are analyzing, no research is required for this
project; however, your article must be correctly cited in an academic citation style such
as MLA or APA. For your discussion of the author’s intended audience, you may wish to
consult additional sources about the place of publication. These sources must also be
correctly cited if you use them. Beyond the citation, you should also make sure that you
are clearly and effectively using material from your source(s) through summary,
paraphrase, and direct quotation in order to support the analytical points that you make.
o Mechanics and Style: As with every project in this class, a certain degree of conformity
to the dialect of Edited American English is expected. You are also expected to use a
style that is clear, engaging, and appropriate for your rhetorical situation.