will test your ability to analyze and compare two texts rhetorically. One of the most important outcomes of English 124 is understanding how an author develops a text with a particular purpose in mind. A rhetorical analysis essay should explore the author's purpose, the methods used to achieve that purpose, and the effectiveness of those methods on the intended audience. Apply the same skills to this paper that you did with your analysis of King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."

When writing a rhetorical analysis, you are NOT saying whether or not you agree with the argument. Instead, you're discussing HOW the author makes that argument and whether the approach is successful. Your focus should be on HOW the writer develops their argument. A rhetorical analysis explores an author's claims and body of evidence and the rhetorical strategies used to appeal to emotion, logic, and ethics. A rhetorical analysis should also address any fallacies that the author makes.

For this essay assignment, write a 5 pages comparative rhetorical analysis of two texts within a similar genre that make an argument about a contemporary common concern. Your purpose is twofold:

1). explore and analyze the relationship between the argument and the ways writers/speakers use rhetorical strategies and their body of evidence to advance their claims, and 2). explore and analyze how assumptions affect writing and/or artistic decisions. Ultimately,you should make a case for which text is more rhetorically effective in appealing to its intended audience.

The two texts you compare should demonstrate kairos, or timeliness, and target a topic/issue that is of interest to you.

The two texts you compare should be substantial and worthy of analysis AND should be making an argument (vs. merely reporting or informing). If you need more clarification, meet with me to discuss.

The two texts you compare should have been published/ presented/ dropped/ released within the last five (5) years. If you want to use an older/more historical text, discuss this with me in advance.

These two texts should be similar in genre or category (i.e., two articles of similar lengths, two TED Talks, two speeches, two music videos, two documentaries, two films, etc.)

If you choose to analyze a film or music video, you will need to consider both the visual and textual components.

You will need to consider the rhetorical situation, claims, evidence, assumptions, fallacies, and rhetorical strategies, including appeals to emotion (pathos), logic (logos), and ethics/character (ethos).

You will need to organize your essay in the best manner to support your major claim. Remember, this is a comparative essay; therefore, the structure of your essay should follow.

Successful papers will:

Explain the contextual situation (you will need to do some credible web research), and cite from any outside source that provides this context;

Describe the authors' purpose and articulate the arguments they are making, explaining what the central claims are;

• Identify the intended audience of the texts and explore the text's underlying assumptions;

Articulate your major claim (or thesis);

Comparatively analyze and evaluate the relationship between the argument and the ways writers/speakers use rhetorical strategies and their body of evidence to advance their claims;

Consider how writers/speakers use these rhetorical strategies to appeal to their intended audience.

Consider how assumptions affect writing and/or artistic decisions

• Consider how fallacies may affect the argument
• Smoothly integrate direct quotes and/or paraphrases from your texts;

Effectively conclude your paper - consider your major claim/thesis and the greater significance of this type of analysis;

Use an effective comparative structure that carefully guides the reader from one idea to the next;

Be thoroughly edited, so that sentences are readable and appropriate for an academic audience.

Part 2: Post (15 points)

The purpose of this Discussion is to thoughtfully evaluate one (1) English 124 student essays.

First, carefully reviewthe following four Comparative Analysis Student Samples: Sample 1 on Healthcare during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Sample 2 on Inequality and Hope, Sample 3 on Islam and Stereotypes of Terrorism, and Sample 4 on the Effects of Childhood Trauma.

Then, choosethe essay sample that you think does the best job accomplishing the grading criteria listed above.

In your response, first identify which sample you have evaluated (i.e. Sample 1 on Healthcare during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Sample 2 on Inequality and Hope, Sample 3 on Islam and Stereotypes of Terrorism, or Sample 4 on the Effects of Childhood Trauma)

Then, respond to the following questions, and please organize your responses clearly:

1). Why did you choose this essay as the strongest of the four? Explain.

2). Based on the Project 2 Grading Criteria above, what are the strengths of this essay? Be specific. To support your response, copy and paste three (3) passages from the student sample that you found particularly strong and explain why.

3). Based on the Project 2 Grading Criteria above, what could be improved with this essay? Be specific. To support your response, copy and paste two (2) passages from the student sample that you think could be improved and explain why.

4). Overall, what "letter grade" would you assign to this essay? After you state the letter grade, explain why. A = Excellent B = Good C = Average D = Below Average

Explain the contextual situation (you will need to do some credible web research), and cite from any outside source that provides this context;

Describe the authors' purpose and articulate the arguments they are making, explaining what the central claims are;

Identify the intended audience of the texts and explore the text's underlying assumptions;

Articulate your major claim (or thesis);

Comparatively, explore and analyze the relationship between the argument and the ways writers/speakers use rhetorical strategies and their body of evidence to advance their claims;

Consider how writers/speakers use these rhetorical strategies to appeal to their intended audience.

Consider how assumptions affect writing and/or artistic decisions

Consider how fallacies may affect the argument

Smoothly integrate direct quotes and/or paraphrases from your texts;

Effectively conclude your paper - consider your major claim/thesis and the greater significance of this type of analysis;

Use an effective comparative structure that carefully guides the reader from one idea to the next;

Be thoroughly edited so that sentences are readable and appropriate for an academic audience.

To begin your search for two (2) substantive texts for your comparative rhetorical analysis essay.

A substantive text is a text that is worthy of analysis and rich with the possibility for analyzing appeals to ethics, logic, and emotion.

A substantive text for a rhetorical analysis essay is a text that makes an argument and is not merely reporting or informing the audience on a current event. Avoid newspaper articles that are reporting on an issue.

Some criteria for choosing your two texts:

The two texts you compare should target a contemporary issue/topic that interests you.

The two texts should be making an argument (i.e., taking a position on an issue).

The two texts you compare should have been published/ presented/ dropped/ released within the last five (5) years. If you want to use an older/more historical text, discuss this with me in advance.

These two texts should be similar in genre or category (i.e., two articles of similar lengths, two TED Talks, two speeches, two music videos, two documentaries, two films, etc.)

If you choose to analyze a film or music video, you will need to consider both the visual and textual components.

Here are some other popular and credible publications. If you cannot access the article online due to subscription issues, type the title and author of the article into our Grossmont College Library "One Search" -- you may get lucky:

• https://www.theatlantic.com/
• https://www.nytimes.com/section/opinion
• https://www.latimes.com/opinion
• https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/
• https://www.ted.com/newsletters
• https://stacker.com/history/50-essential-civil-rights-speeches
• https://ourgoodbrands.com/top-social-environmental-activism-speeches-21st-century/
• https://variety.com/lists/best-documentaries-streaming-netflix-showtime-amazon/