Rhetorical Analysis Paper

In this paper, you will choose a piece of media, art, or text and complete a rhetorical analysis. This paper is expected to be in APA format, 3-4 pages.

1. Choose a piece of media to do a rhetorical analysis.

– Students usually choose music videos and incorporate an analysis of the lyrics as well as the visuals presented. You can also choose art, a movie, or text (like a poem), whatever you’re interested in that will provide you with enough to analyze.

2. Answer the following questions and complete these rhetorical analysis components in your paper:

– Introduction (at least a half a page): Tell us about your piece of media. Who or what created it? When was it created and is there external social context that is important to consider while looking at this piece of media? What was the purpose…to educate, to entertain, to provoke?

– Claims (at least a half a page): What are the claim(s) being made. Are they overt or covert? Are they well supported or does the artifact rely on the audience to provide it’s own support or assumptions.

– Appeals to Ethos (at least a half page): Share at least one appeal to credibility in your piece. If you feel like you can’t spot an appeal to credibility, is the source’s credibility assumed because of who or what they are? Explain how their appeal to ethos works or doesn’t.

– Appeal to Pathos (at least a half page): Share at least one appeal to emotion. What emotions is the audience suppose to feel? How does the piece of media incite those emotions. Use specific examples from the piece of media. Were the appeals to emotion effective? Why or why not?

– Appeals to Logos (at least a half page): Share at least one appeal to logic. What logic statements or assumptions is this piece making. Are they clearly stated or implied? Did the appeals help the piece of media make a point or highlight a claim? Why or why not?

– Overall Analysis (at least a half page):
Why did you choose this piece?
What is your takeaway of the message(s)?
Was it an effective argument?

3. You are expected to have APA in-text citations (Links to an external site.) for your piece of media and to list it as a reference at the end of your paper. When you submit your paper it should include:

1. APA Cover Page (I can do the APA cover if you want)

2. Your 3-4 page Rhetorical Analysis

3. Your APA Reference List