RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

Composition I | Fall 2015

We are surrounded by rhetoric all the time. Billboards, TV commercials,

political cartoons, formal speeches and Youtube videos are just a few
examples of where we can find rhetoric in our daily lives. Being able to
analyze how people create and use rhetoric to persuade a target audience is
an essential skill for understanding the society we live in.
Goals
This assignment is designed to help you learn how to think analytically about
the rhetorical visuals and texts we see all around us. You will learn to:
1. identify what a work of rhetoric is saying (i.e. purpose or
message)
2. identify the audience and context of a given work of rhetoric
3. identify the use and effect of the three rhetorical appeals (i.e.
ethos, pathos, logos)
4. explain how a work of rhetoric is persuasive
Requirements
uploaded to Blackboard as a PDF file by the due date--NO
EXCEPTIONS
2-3 pages, double-spaced, 1 margins, size 12 font, Times New
Romans
cover page with your name, due date, class name, and the
visual/text you will analyze
must clearly identify and focus on the purpose or message of the
work of rhetoric
must elaborate on the audience and context of the work of
rhetoric
must give specific examples to support your claims
must have a clear introduction and conclusion
must explain what makes the work of rhetoric persuasive

Due Date
November 25th (first draft due November 23rd)