Choose a feature article from a reputable magazine
Rhetorical Analysis
In this essay, you will learn to analyze the writing methods of an author in order to show how well the given writing achieves the purposes set up by the author. (Later, you will use what you’ve learned from this essay to create your own argument-one that utilizes the strengths you find while avoiding the pitfalls.) You will choose an article to read and do your best to write a thoughtful analysis. Though you may not agree (or disagree) with everything the author is saying, you do need to decide if you think the author has presented these ideas well. Please remember that this paper is not a summary. And more importantly, it is not a chance for you to share your opinions about the topic at hand. Instead, you are required to analyze how well the author presents his or her ideas. Is it good, bad, or somewhere in between?
To begin, choose a feature article from a reputable magazine or newspaper (or see approved list from our book on next page). If you choose an outside article, it needs to be approved by me ASAP. (Here are some good publications to start with: Time, Atlantic Monthly, Newsweek, and New York Times). The article you choose must be at least 1,500 and no more than 3,500 words. Once your article is in place, you’ll spend time in (and out) of class discussing it and putting together an analysis of the article. Your paper will begin with an introduction that highlights the main idea of the argument and adds your general evaluation of the article (evaluative thesis). Then, the bulk of the paper will critique the writing style and main points of the article by offering both positive and negative remarks (with quotations from the text). Use helpful topic sentences that tell your reader what each paragraph will evaluate. Finally, the paper will end with an overall evaluation of the article that connects your findings to a larger discussion of your topic in the world; please use an example from outside the article in your conclusion.
Your Rhetorical Analysis will be highly polished and should contain few-if any- mechanical errors. As usual, please use MLA format and a 12-point Times or Arial font. (If you didn’t notice, this prompt is in MLA format.) The final paper should be 4 full pages in length (1200 words). Like Paper 1, this paper can be revised for a better grade; you will have one week to revise from the day I return your paper. A full draft of your paper must be uploaded to Turnitin on the designated day by 11:59 p.m. You will write reviews of other student papers for lab credit (via Turnitin.com). And the final paper is due on the designated day by 11:59 p.m. (via Turnitin.com).
This is the list of approved articles-see links in Canvas. (You can choose your own article, but I need to approve it ASAP.)
– Tom Bissell’s “Extra Lives” (see PDF in Canvas)
– Sam Anderson’s “Just One More Game…” (link in Canvas and below) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/magazine/angry-birds-farmville-and-other- hyperaddictive-stupid-games.html?pagewanted=all
– Sherry Turkle’s “Alone Together” (see PDF in Canvas)
