Process Essay: Rhetorical Analysis

As a part of our Personal Essay genre study, you will choose a professional, published personal essay to rhetorically analyze. The purpose of this activity is to identify how rhetorical strategies are used even in extremely accessible nonfiction works with less obvious or“buried” arguments.

You are familiar with this type of essay, as we have been writing them since the beginning of the year. However, this essay will be a longer and more in-depth analysis that unpacks not only what rhetorical devices and strategies the author uses to advance their argument, but the myriad implications and nuances involved in each approach. For instance, do better than just naming satire as a strategy used. Think about what type of satire. What was the rhetorical purpose of choosing this form of satire? Where does it appear in the work? Is that also deliberate?How?

In the interest of meeting length requirements, you may want to consider naming and analyzing at least three rhetorical strategies used in the work. As always, your analysis must be supported by text evidence.

Essentials to Remember:

No quotes from the text should stand alone. All quotes should be connected to your analysis, otherwise they are useless.

Your thesis must make an observation about what the argument of the work is, and then your analysis in the body paragraphs will connect that purpose to the rhetorical strategies and devices.

Rubric for Process Rhetorical Analysis:

Selection of Detail / Effective Organization / Sophisticated Style / Effective Use of Conventions
Rhetorical situation substantiated with evidence from the work. Strong connections are made between strategies and purpose. Effective combination between paraphrase and original text. Analysis supports all quotes. / Opening paragraph provides background to the work being analyzed. Rhetorical situation statements noted in first paragraph. Paragraphing enhances flow and precision. Conclusion answers the question, “So what?” / Effective integration of quoted source material. Diction and syntax mirrors academic tone of analysis. Prose is mature in style, including parallel structure, subordinate openers, appositive phrases, etc. / Meaning enhanced by overall attention to grammar, mechanics, and spelling. Essay is written in Times New Roman or Courier, 11 or 12 pt. font size, and double-spaced. 600 words minimum.
40% of grade / 25% of grade / 20% of grade / 15% of grade

Pitch: Locate a personal essay and submit to me for approval no later than Friday, April 7th (9 PM).

Due: Final drafts must be uploaded to Turnitin.com on Monday, April 10th by midnight.