Overview

In this assignment you will hone your ability to analyze popular texts' persuasive operations. To complete it you will identify a popular persuasive document (one from outside of academia without documented research, such as an advertisement or opinion piece) and explicate how its rhetorical aspects function.

Deliverables

Analysis (20 points):

The analysis is a written document of approximately 1,200 words (no particular stylistic format is necessary) containing the following sections:

1. Summary—State generally what the document is and provide instructions for how to access it (or attach a copy).


2. Audience—Describe the argument's likely target and explain how its concrete features attempt to construct an image of this audience. Probably no text is "for anybody" or "for a general audience"; identify who actually would respond to the argument.


3. Context—Discuss relevant aspects of the document's situation. Identify issues, conversations, or historical events that might be relevant to its argument. Place it within a generic context and connect it with similar documents that function as a peer group.


4. Purpose—Articulate the specific argument that this document makes and what it wants the reader or viewer to do. Keep in mind that many documents share a general goal; push to uncover the particular assertion this document makes.


5. Strategies—Discuss the specific rhetorical strategies the document employs in order to sway the reader or viewer. Focus on fine-grained issues such as word choice, use of metaphor, use of color and imagery, and choices of document design. Classify these strategies in terms of their rhetorical appeals and their effects.


6. Medium—Discuss how the document uses its medium to suit its audience, context, or purpose.


7. Arrangement—Discuss how the document's material is sequenced and assembled and the effects of this arrangement.


8. Evaluation—Determine if the document's argument is effective for the audience, context, and purpose you identify based on what you have uncovered about its strategies, medium, and arrangement. Consider if it has other intended or unintended effects apart from persuasion.

All sections should be thorough and informative. Analyses will be submitted as an electronic file in a common format (such as Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or .pdf).

Presentation (5 points):

The presentation is a brief (no more than three minutes) overview of your analysis. You will have access to the instructor station, and you should show the class the popular argument you selected and provide a succinct statement of your findings about how it functions rhetorically. (Your evaluation may assist you with this.) A brief Q&A opportunity will follow each presentation.