Instructions for Essay 1:  Rhetorical Analysis / Reader Response

You have already written two brief rhetorical analyses in this unit.  For your major essay, you will write another rhetorical analysis, this time combined with a response or rebuttal.

Format:  MLA paper format and documentation.

Sources:  at least one source (the essay you are analyzing).  Use of additional sources is encouraged but not required.

Length: Three pages,  approx 800 – 1000 words

Due Date: Refer to the assignment calendar for this course.

First,  read/view the texts that I have provided for you in the folder “Texts for Essay #1” located just below these instructions.  Choose one of these texts to be the subject of your analysis and response. You will notice that there are a variety of texts to choose from, including videos and hybrid written/spoken multimedia texts.

Approach your rhetorical analysis much like you have with the previous assignments in this unit.  Identify elements such as audience, purpose and context as a means of understanding how the text communicates its main idea (also known as a thesis).  Also identify and provide examples of the types of appeals used by the author, pathos, logos, ethos, etc.

The new element for this assignment is that you will be responding to the main idea or thesis of the text that you are analyzing.  In other words, once you have established what the text’s thesis is and how it communicates that thesis, you will then need to add your own voice, ideas and opinions to the mix.  Think of it as joining a conversation.  Do you think the author of the original text is mistaken?  Has he/she failed to consider some important point?  Or do you agree with the author?  Perhaps you can provide additional reasons, examples and evidence to support the thesis.  Sometimes you can both agree and disagree with the author, but if you do so, be sure to clearly identify which portions you agree with and which you disagree with. 

You can also use the following questions to help you generate ideas.  

1. What is the author’s purpose?  What does he or she hope to achieve?

2. Who is the intended audience?  How do you know?

3. Identify the types of appeals made by the author (logos, pathos, ethos).  How effective are they?

4. What do you know about the author?  Do you find him or her credible (ethos)?  Why or why not?

5. What evidence does the author provide to support the argument?  Is the evidence relevant and trustworthy?

6. What is the setting or context?  In other words, what event or problem inspired the author to write the essay?

7. Describe the author’s tone or attitude.  Is it serious, flippant, angry or sarcastic? How does the attitude affect the argument?

The questions above are here to provide you some guidance in writing your analysis.  However, you should not merely string together a series of short answers to the questions.  Your analysis should be written in essay format, with an introduction, multiple body paragraphs and a conclusion. 

An outline of your essay might look like this:

Introduction

            Identify the text, the author and the subject matter. Make sure your reader knows what you will be talking about in your analysis.

Rhetorical analysis

            Analyze the rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, context, visual or spatial elements, auditory elements, etc.)   Explain how these elements, along with the author’s use of logos, pathos, and ethos are used to persuade or convince the audience and evaluate the effectiveness of these elements.  This section might be several paragraphs long.

Response

            Respond to the author’s thesis by agreeing/disagreeing.  Add your own ideas opinions and examples.

Conclusion

            Wrap up the essay by restating your conclusions and position on the topic. 

Here is the Article:

Should Apple be Forced to Unlock an iPhone?

The link is here:

https://www.wired.com/2016/02/forcing-apple-hack-iphone-sets-dangerous-precedent/