Rhetorical Analysis of Documentary Film
AP Language
Rhetorical Analysis of Documentary Film
Background: You have studied elements of rhetoric in written text in depth in this course. You have studied how literary devices are used to persuade, and how even fiction can be a genre used by authors to make assertions. In this project, you will use what you’ve learned in this class and the lessons you’ve learned over the course of the years about fallacies of logic to analyze a documentary.
Objectives: You will view and analyze a documentary film for the writer’s use of the elements of film and rhetoric to persuade the targeted audience of the writer’s assertion. This requires that you can identify the audience, writer’s assertion, the elements of film and rhetoric, and evaluate the writer’s effectiveness by viewing the film through the rhetorical triangle, noting bias and partiality, and identifying the fallacies of logic.
Requirements: You will either write and present an essay or create and present a slide show. Either will demonstrate your ability to meet the objectives.
- Identify writer’s assertion
- Identify the targeted audience
- Identify the support the writer offers for his assertion
- Identify elements of film and rhetoric used
- Identify fallacies of logic
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the elements as support as well as the effectiveness of the film as a whole
Grading Rubric: Whether you choose to write an essay or create a slide show, the rubric on the back of this page will be used to evaluate your analysis. Although a slide show requires less text, the text is critical. If you choose this medium, be certain your prose is flawless.
Grading Rubric:
Student has not achieved mastery of rhetorical analysis / Fair2 pts
Student has some mastery of rhetorical analysis / Good3 pts
Student has good mastery of rhetorical analysis / Excellent4 pts Student has excellent mastery of rhetorical analysis
Invention
20 % Since invention concerns finding something to say, audience and purpose are addressed her as well as your central argument (Thesis) / Poor
Student has not identified the audience and has not constructed a clear thesis or central argument / Fair
Student has identified the audience and suggested the central argument, but has not convinced the reader of the purpose / Good
Student has identified the audience and stated the central argument by giving a thesis with support / Excellent
Student has clearly identified the audience and clearly stated the central argument. Writer's purpose is clear to the reader.
Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies
20 % Student has chosen a selection of rhetorical strategies to analyze and has given examples from the film / Poor
Student has not successfully identified the rhetorical strategies employed by the writer. / Fair
Student has identified some of the rhetorical strategies employed by the writer and alluded to examples of same / Good
Student has identified several of the rhetorical strategies employed by the writer and has given some examples. / Excellent
Student has clearly identified several rhetorical strategies employed by the writer and has given clear examples for each.
Film techniques
20 % Student has identified film techniques and explained the rhetorical purpose in the documentary / Poor
Student is not aware of the film techniques employed in the documentary / Fair
Student has some awareness of the film techniques employed in the documentary. / Good
Student has good awareness of the film techniques employed in the documentary / Excellent
Student has excellent awareness of the film techniques employed in the documentary.
Organization
20 % Student has effectively organized his or her ideas in a logical, persuasive manner. / Poor
Student has not mastered the art of organization in the essay. Ideas are not logically presented and fluency is an issue. Topic sentences are not clear - no transitions. / Fair
Student has a planned structure to the essay, however, it is somewhat mechanical and lacks fluency. Needs better transition and topic sentence. / Good
Student has a good structure - Topic sentences introduce main ideas and transitions serve purpose of movement from one idea to the next. / Excellent
Student has an excellent structure - Excellent fluency with creative topic sentences and meaningful transitions
Grammar, Usage and Mechanics
20 % Student has written with style and maturity, varied sentence structure, vocabulary, and effective compositional choices. Free of spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. / Poor
Student lacks style and mature prose for junior AP level. Proofread and correct spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. / Fair
Student demonstrates adequate style and mature prose. Some variation in sentence structure. Mostly free of G.U.M. errors / Good
Student demonstrates good style and mature prose. Good variation in sentence structure. Free of G.U. M. errors. / Excellent
Student demonstrates excellent style and mature prose. Excellent variation in sentence structure and a firm grasp of appropriate G.U. M.