Analyzing Lines of Argument in a Source

Name:______

____/10 Introduction: Summarize/description of the source. Does the introduction include where the source was found and what it looks like? If it is a visual source (ad, TV show etc), does the intro briefly describe what it looks like, the plot, characters etc.

____/10 Thesis: Does the thesis:

____Address the assigned or central question or questions, is “on topic”.

____Have tension; is it arguable or debatable?

____Address the “so what?” question, saying something interesting or valuable, or both? Does the thesis attempt to use analysis to do at least one of the following with your source:

~ Reveal hidden meaning

~ Reveal hidden purpose

~ Identify how something complex works/reveal structure

~ Reveal the social significance of something commonly taken for granted

~ Describe something familiar in an unfamiliar way

____Does the thesis outline the entire argument put forward in the paper, in the order presented in the paper, including:

____the main point,

____the supporting points, and

____the conclusion.

____/40 Does the essay analyze the Lines of Argument:

____/10Analysis of Character: How does the author or the producers establish credibility and authority?

____/10 Analysis of Values: How does the author attempt to associate his message with other values the readers may share?

____/10 Analysis of Emotional Appeals: Does the analysis identify which emotions the author attempts to incite in his readers and how does he attempt to do so; identity what the author want his readers to feel and how he tries to make them feel it? In your opinion, is the connection between the emotion and the claim valid?

____/10 Analysis of Appeals to Logic and Evidence

___Analysis of Logical Appeals(see questions about logic on assignment sheet)

___Analysis of Appeals to Evidence (see questions about evidence on the assignment sheet)

____Analysis of Logical connections between the evidence and the claims: does the evidence actually support the claims as the author suggests?

____/5 Does your analysis evaluate whether or not the source is effective; that is, whether or not it is actually persuasive?

____/10 Do you clearly evaluate the validity of the argument? Do you explain whether the author's lines of argument actually supports the main point?

____/10 Do you clearly evaluate the ethical nature of source’s method of persuasion?

____/15 General Editing, Punctuation and Grammar

____/100 Total Points