Rhetorical analysis;

Rhetorical analysis; For this assignment, you will analyze the rhetoric of a text.  When you are asked to do a "rhetorical analysis" of a text, you are being asked to apply your critical reading skills to break down the "whole" of the text into the sum of its "parts." You try to determine what the writer is trying to achieve, and what writing strategies he/she is using to try to achieve it. Reading critically also means analyzing and understanding how the work has achieved its effect. The purpose of rhetorical analysis is to not only describe techniques and strategies, but it is also to show how the key devices in an argument actually make it succeed or fail. Show readers where and why an argument makes sense and where it falls apart by quoting from the text, explaining your reasoning, and providing evidence from other texts. The hardest part of rhetorical analysis is to keep your distance from the topic.  It doesn’t matter whether you agree or disagree with the author's point of view about abortion, gun control, gay marriage, etc.  You are to focus SOLELY on how well/poorly the argument works. Thus, your claim should address the rhetorical effectiveness of the argument itself, NOT the opinion or position it takes.  YOU SHOULD NOT ADDRESS THE AUTHOR'S IDEAS; YOU SHOULD ADDRESS THE RHETORICAL DEVICES OF ARGUMENT. For example, let's imagine that I am writing a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream Speech."  Here is short quote from that speech: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." Here would be an appropriate rhetorical analysis of this portion: One of the reasons King's speech is so effective is the repetition of the phrase, "I have a dream."  Not only has this phrase become iconic in American culture, it is easy to remember.  Thus, King repeats the phrase X number of times so that his audience will understand the importance of the phrase.  However, the phrase also embodies the idea of hope, a hope not yet realized, which make the phrase even more powerful. Another reason King's argument is so brilliant is his reference to the United States constitution.  When King states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," he knows that all Americans will understand his reference to American history.  It is a brilliant move because King understands the concepts of the Constitution are something no American can disagree with, which is a deeply felt appeal to his audience's emotions. Thus, the rhetorical analysis focuses on the way the author the argues (his words, techniques), not the argument itself. Assignment: In a well-developed essay of at least three pages, write a rhetorical analysis of an essay of your choice.  Anything that makes an argument is a good candidate for rhetorical analysis.  You may even write your analysis of one of the essays from our textbook. Key information •    At the bottom of this assignment is a list of possible topics. •    A controversial topic is the best choice for rhetorical analysis. •    I have an additional resource at the bottom of the page which gives a lot of information about rhetorical analysis. •    You must have a thesis.  The thesis will address whether the argument is effective or ineffective. •    Do not use "I' or "You" •    Read the chapter on rhetorical analysis in our textbook. BECAUSE I HAVE POSTED A STUDENT SAMPLE (under resources), YOU MAY NOT WRITE YOUR ANALYSIS ON KING'S "LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL." I DO NOT RECOMMEND LOOKING UP ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE ESSAY YOU CHOOSE--THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE, AND IT CAN HEAVILY INFLUENCE YOUR POINT OF VIEW. Ideas for analysis: (You are free to choose one of these or your own). Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Elizabeth Caty Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments Winston Churchill’s addresses to the British people during WWII Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” Ronald Reagan’s tribute to the Challenger astronauts Toni Morrison’s speech accepting the Nobel Prize Elie Wiesel’s Nobel prize acceptance speech will.i.am and The Black Eyed Peas’ “Yes We Can song/collage” on you tube Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth Any Michael Moore Movie (Bowling for Columbine,  Roger & Me, Farenheit 911) A song with a controversial message or theme (Tupac, Madonna) Caesar Chavez ends his fast speech Bishop Mary Ann Swensen writes dissent on council Birmingham Statement http://www.rmnblog.org/2013/10/bishop-mary-ann-swenson-writes-dissent-on-council-birmingham-statement.html (Why Bishops should be allow to perform marriage ceremonies for homosexual couples.) Sojourner Truth, “Aint I a Woman” (Great You Tube re-enactment by Alfre Woodard) “You are not special” commencement speech by high school English teacher. http://theswellesleyreport.com/2012/06/wellesley-high-grads-told-youre-not-special/ **Note, if you choose a film you may only choose a documentary. TERMS/QUESTIONS/HELP WITH RHETORICAL ANALYSIS Rhetoric – the art of using language effectively or persuasively. Context – the larger social or cultural context and the ongoing conversation on the topic. Reading the articles one should pay attention to the larger sense of culture, politics, and history in which the article appears; potential bias or point of view; place of publication; how the ongoing conversation affects what you think; how your own cultural, political, ethnic, or personal background affects what you believe. Rhetorical Analysis – an examination of how well the components of an argument work together to persuade or move an audience. In rhetorical analysis you want to examine: The self-image a writer creates to establish trustworthiness, authority, and credibility with the reader, the author’s ethics and moral values. (sometimes referred to as ethos) The strategy in which a writer tries to specific emotions (fear, envy, anger, pity) in an audience to dispose it to accept a claim (sometimes referred to as pathos) The strategy in which the writer uses facts, evidence, and a chain of logical reasoning to make audience accept a claim. (sometimes referred as logos) Devices: Tone:  Does the author sound angry, arrogant, didactic, kind, concerned, etc. Diction:  Diction is the voice—the way someone speaks or writes.  Does the author use sophisticated language, or does he/she use a more conversational tone. Figurative language: Metaphors: A metaphor makes an implicit comparison between dissimilar ideas or things without using like or as. It was raining bullets outside. Similes: A simile is an explicit comparison between two essentially different ideas or things that uses the word like or as to link them. The clouds looked like cotton candy. Analogies: Analogies usually involve explaining one idea or concept by comparing it to something else. An analogy is typically a complex or extended comparison. Personification: the writer attributes human qualities to ideas or objects. Hyperbole - a figure of speech which is an exaggeration. "I nearly died laughing," Understatement - to represent as less than is the case. Rhetorical question - A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected. "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" says the persona of Shakespeare's 18th sonnet. Sarcasm: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. 1.    Verbal irony is when an author says one thing and means something else. 2. Dramatic irony is when an audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know. 3. Irony of situation is a discrepancy between the expected result and actual results.     Parallelism: The laws of our land are said to be “by the people, of the people, and for the people.”     Antithesis – the use of parallel structures to mark contrast or opposition: “That’s one step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Neil Armstrong)     “Marriage has no pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.” (Samuel Johnson) Inverted word order  (Syntax) when parts of the sentence are not in the usual subject-verb-object order: “Hard to see, the dark side is.” (Yoda)     Back and forth rocked the boat.     Out of the volcano billowed smoke.     Overhead shone the sun. Anaphora, or effective repetition:     For everything there is a season . . . a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.–Bible, Ecclesiastes.     To die, to sleep; to sleep: perchance to dream.–Shakespeare, Hamlet. One of the most famous examples of anaphora in Shakespeare occurs in Act II, Scene I, Lines 40-68. Reversed structure:     “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country.” J.F.K. (inaugural address, 1961) The questions below will help you explore various rhetorical strategies and focus on elements that strengthen or weaken the argument. Questions for Rhetorical Analysis •    Who is the writer/organization? Any bias? •    How does the writer establish credibility? (or not?) •    What is the major claim? •    Who is the audience? •    What is the purpose – To explain? To inform? To anger? Persuade? Amuse? Motivate? Explore? Sadden? Ridicule? Anger? Is there more than one purpose? Does the purpose shift at all throughout the text? •    What is the context - the larger social or cultural context and the ongoing conversation on the topic? Reading the articles one should pay attention to the larger sense of culture, politics, and history in which the article appears; potential bias or point of view; place of publication; how the ongoing conversation affects what you think; how your own cultural, political, ethnic, or personal background affects what you believe. •    What appeals does the argument use – emotional, logical, ethical? •    What evidence does the writer use – facts, experts’ testimony, personal experience? •    What claims are advanced in the argument – fact, definition, cause-and-effect, value, policy? •    How is the argument presented? What is its organization and structure? What is the logic of its order? How does this structure create and/or constrain the text’s meaning? How does it shape the text and its argument? •    How does the language, style or tone of the argument work to persuade an audience? The basics of style are word choice, figurative language (similes, metaphors), sentence structure, and paragraphing. How does the writer use qualifiers? (To qualify their thoughts writers use such qualifiers, for example, as sometimes, often, presumably, unless, almost) Does the writer use irony, humor, or sarcasm to be persuasive? Does the writer use a very formal tone, a highly technical vocabulary, or an impersonal voice to signal that an argument is for experts only? •    Does the writer present his/her claim fairly addressing the opposition and providing counter arguments for their major claims? •    What values and believes does the text promote and how they shape the argument and limit or expand the rhetorical strategies available to the writer? Professors Project Review Form Project's Grade 1.Employing Various Design Methodologies (at least 2: AASHTO + 1) (ABET: Design) ...................... 2.Proper Use of Design/Analysis Procedures, Specs/Codes, Standards. (ABET: Mathematical and computer tools)...................... 3.Construction Considerations(stabilization, stage const, time, etc.)...................... 4.Cost Analyses, Comparisons(First Cost, Life-Cycle Cost) (ABET : Design)...................... 5.Pavement Management and Maintenance Considerations...................... That was the professors instructions for the project. What I need you to do is do everything is needed for the designing aspects and cost estimates for each design option in terms of overall pavement cost for the entire pavement structure in terms of $ per lane-mile. Design that includes every section is mentioned in the instructions. Do not worry about the following: -Mechanistic criteria (for example, KENPAVE) to analyze/validate your various design recommendation and checking for their adequacy. -Reporting pavement management and maintenance recommendations. PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET AN AMAZING DISCOUNT :)-