Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Write a well-developed, interesting, original essay that analyzes the rhetorical strategies used in one of the following options available at the Miller Center

:

1. Franklin Delano Roosevelt — “Address to Congress Requesting a Declaration of War”

1. John Fitzgerald Kennedy — “Address on the Space Effort”

1. George Walker Bush — “Address to the Nation on the Terrorist Attacks”

1. Barack Obama — “Remarks on the Death of Osama Bin Laden”

*You may chose a different speech; however, the speech must be approved and must relate to a time of national crisis. It cannot be motivated by party ideology.*

In addition to considering the ways in which the President uses rhetorical strategies in his speech, you will need to conduct research to support the analysis and create an interpretive context. At minimum, the research must include 1 news account of the event referenced by the President (or, in the case of the Kennedy speech, you may include a contextual article). The maximum number of sources that may be used for this essay is 4. The purpose of the news or contextual article(s) is to help you to create an interpretive context. You need to understand the time period in which the speech was written as well as the factor(s) that resulted in the President delivering the speech. Remember, this is known as exigence.

First, you will read and annotate the speech. You will note the use of ethos, logos, and pathos in the speech. Then, you will conduct outside research to help create a context for the speech. As you continue to evaluate the speech and the outside sources, create an analysis of the speech that includes a clear thesis statement with an interpretive context. While the essay needs to consider the President’s use of rhetorical strategies, it must also establish a clear cultural context for the speech. I strongly suggest watching a video of the speech or listening to a recording as well as reading it.

An understanding of terms from the readings is necessary in order to write a complete analysis (audience, pitch, complaint, moment, conversant, ethos, logos, pathos, exigence, and constraints, specifically).

Requirements

• MLA format (heading, header, double spaced, etc.)
• Times New Roman, 12-point font
• Academic writing style
• All sources must be cited in text and on Works Cited.
• Perform a rhetorical analysis of a speech
• Include a thesis statement. The thesis must:

1. be a clear statement (could be up to four sentences)
2. appear in the first paragraph
3. identify the analytical methods that will be used in the analysis (include more than ethos, logos, and pathos — repetition, binaries, and so on are other possibilities)
4. preview the cultural context for the speech
5. avoid vague language and/or evaluative adjectives

• 750+ words (excluding Works Cited)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

• Develop a thesis about the primary source with an interpretive context that considers the cultural context.
• Organize information to support the controlling idea.
• Complete the writing of a rhetorical analysis paper through drafting, revising, and editing using Standard American English and MLA format.
• Demonstrate critical thinking standards as they engage in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of rhetorical sources in order to explore patterns and contradictions among images and present the complexity of multiple interpretations and implications.
• Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and offers fresh insights.

Getting Started

1. Read and annotate the speech.
2. Use the heuristics in Writing Analytically to develop points of analysis of patterns and contradictions.
3. Evaluate the speech for the use of ethos, logos, and pathos.
4. Follow MLA format for all in-text citations and Works Cited entries.
5. Write body paragraphs first, using paragraph strategies and academic writing style.
6. Write opening introduction to source and overall analytical thesis.
7. The thesis must:
8. be a clear statement (could be up to four sentences)
9. appear in the first paragraph
10. identify the analytical methods that will be used in the analysis (include more than ethos, logos, and pathos — repetition, binaries, and so on are other possibilities)
11. preview the cultural context for the speech
12. avoid vague language and/or evaluative adjectives
13. Write conclusion with overall implications of your analysis (why does it matter?).
14. Revise, revise, revise.

Evaluation Criteria

The following categories determine the grade for each submitted paper: Meets Assignment, Introduction, Thesis, Focus on Thesis, Content, Analysis, Organization, Audience, Closing, Format, and Mechanics. Not all of these elements are weighted the same, but all are part of the final grade for your paper. The most important aspect of any paper in this class is critical thinking.

*The paper will not be graded without the Works Cited as the last page of the essay.