Your task in this assignment is to write a rhetorical analysis of an article. In other words, youll analyze
the authors rhetorical devices (i.e., writing techniques). Please follow the instructions below to write your
essay.
Step 1: Choose an Article to Analyze
Choose from one of the articles listed in the Assignment 6 drop-box. Choose an article you enjoy,
understand, and want to work with. Read the article several times (following the steps in the Assignment
6 drop-box) so that you fully understand it and can confidently examine the authors techniques.
Step 2: Paraphrase and Summarize
Without looking at the article, paraphrase the authors thesis and briefly summarize the article (in 2 to 4
sentences). This will make up the first few sentences of the first paragraph of your essay.
Step 3: Identify the Authors Writing Techniques
Your task is to identify some of the authors writing techniques and then choose two or three of the main
writing techniques that the author employs to argue the thesis. Each of these techniques will become the
focus of one body paragraph.
Examples of techniques include tone, diction, logical arguments, statistics, examples, allusions, figurative
language, references, establishing his/her own experience demonstrates credibility, anecdotes, real-life
cases, metaphors, imagery, emotional appeals, sentence structure, paragraph structure, etc.
As you can see, that list is broad (and it is not complete). You can Google rhetorical devices for more
ideas.) You may find Chapter 2 of AOW helpful. Choose techniques that are strongly represented in the
article and that fit together well for your essay.
Some students choose to use ethos, pathos, and logos (from Chapter 1 of AOW) to structure their essays.
This is not required. If you are confident analyzing ethos, pathos, and logos, you are welcome to do so;
otherwise, consider choosing some of the techniques mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Step 4: Develop a Thesis
The key to writing a successful analysis essay is a strong thesis statement. Your thesis statement should
identify two or three writing techniques the author uses to convey the thesis.
Step 5: Draft the Essay
a) Introductory paragraph
Introduce the title and author of the text youre analyzing. Introduce the topic of the article. Then,
in three or four sentences, restate the authors thesis (in your own words) and briefly summarize
the main points of the text. End the introductory paragraph with your own thesis statement. In that
thesis statement, identify two or three main writing techniques that the author employs to argue
the thesis.
b) Body paragraphs
In the body of the essay, support your thesis by analyzing the writers techniques. Begin each
body paragraph with a topic sentence introducing the writing technique that you will analyze in
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that paragraph. Essentially, your argument in each body paragraph is that the author uses this
particular technique to bolster/convey/support his or her thesis. In each body paragraph, include
several brief quotations from the article that demonstrate the technique, and then comment on the
effect. Provide the page number for each quotation, if available/applicable. End each body
paragraph with a simple closing sentence that sums up that paragraph.
c) Concluding paragraph
Re-state the authors name and the title of the article. Reinforce your thesis and main
points. Conclude.
Research?
No research is required for this essay. However, if you do include researchsuch as biographical
information about the authorcite it.
For this assignment, MLA-style documentation works better than APA style does; however, you may use
APA style if you wish.
