Rhetorical Analysis - Due by 7:00am on Dec. 4

In this blog you will be doing a rhetorical analysis of a speech, article, editorial or news story.  This blog is based on the premise that all writing is aimed at a specific audience for a specific purpose (i.e. an argument).  Your task is to determine the purpose (not just the subject) of a piece of writing and explore the strategies and literary devices used by the writer to achieve this goal.

Begin by introducing the article you analyzed, stating the full name of the author and article, and putting the rest of the source information in the works cited section on the bottom of the blog.  If you found the article online then a link should be included.  Next, offer a concise, but thorough, summary of what the writer says and an analysis of the argument's rhetorical components.  These may include:

• How does the author establish his/her credibility (ethos)
• The purpose (to assert, inquire, negotiate or dominate)
• The significance of the medium (speech, academic periodical, popular newspaper, etc.)
• The context
• The reasons (logos) given as support
• The emotional appeals and/or mood created by the author (pathos)
• Literary techniques utilized in making the persuasive case (metaphors, repetition, alliteration, etc.)

This blog should be 300-400 words (two of which should be vocabulary words) and it should be edited to perfection.

4.2.d (analyze rhetorical devices)
3.3.a (conventions)
3.2.e (transitions)
3.2.a (support and evidence)

Student Choice

What do you want to say, research, present that you haven't had a chance to yet? This is your chance!

You design this blog. The requirement is 300-500 words. At the beginning of the blog, you just need to say what your goal was before you write the actual blog. (i.e. I chose to do a summary of different personal stories around my issue OR I chose to do a review of another website that I have found very informative OR I am writing a research piece on why _______ happens OR this is my recommendation blog about what people should do about ________, etc.)

Incorporate two vocabulary words into your blog.

This blog will be graded on the following standards:
3.2.c (appropriate language for content)
3.3.a (conventions)
3.1.d (manipulate elements of style to appeal to the senses of the reader)
3.2.e (enhance flow of ideas through transitional words)
3.2.g (draw a conclusion)

Research Blog

Time to research! Choose one of your questions from the "10 questions" in class and look for answers! This should be a pretty BIG question with more than a "yes" or "no" answer.

Use the Internet, the public library databases, and the school library. Find as much info as you can. Then, write an expository essay (written to explain with an identifiable intro, body, conclusion) of 600-800 words that reports what you've found. In class on Thursday, we will be reviewing what makes a strong essay and a strong thesis statement.

A few things to remember: 3rd person point of view, clear, supportable, identifiable thesis, each body paragraph focused on one point that supports thesis, and conclusion synthesizes what you've found.

The blog should be edited to perfection and include two vocab words that are used effectively.

Sources: @ least three with both in-text citations and a works cited at the bottom.

Standards: 3.2.a, 3.2.d, 3.2.e, 3.2.g