Essay 2: Rhetorical Analysis
In this paper, you are going to consider one of the below articles and will write a rhetorical analysis in which you explore how the author conveys a thesis, theme, or meaning to his/her/their audience.
The focus is not on whether you agree with the author, rather, focus on what strategies the author is using to create a meaningful or effective piece. This does not mean that you have to take everything the author says at face value. If the author seems to over-emphasize emotional appeals, ignore counterarguments, or rely on faulty data, you are free – indeed, encouraged – to call them out on it.
A couple salient features to really consider when reading:
Where does the author show audience awareness?
What sort of stylistic or language tools does the author use to prove their point?
What are the purposes (notice that there are probably several) of the author?
What disciplines or discourses does the author draw from?
How does the author use rhetorical proofs (appeals to emotion, authority, and reason) to prove their point?
Article choices:
“Whites Swim in Racial Preference.” Tim Wise. Racism.org 2012 (Originally Published AlterNet 2003)
People who cry foul at affirmative action programs have to ignore a lot of evidence that white people already benefit from racial preference.
https://racism.org/articles/basic-needs/affirmative-action/1105-affirm20-1
“In Defense of Dangerous Ideas.” Stephen Pinker. Scholars at Harvard 2007
Honest academic inquiry should not be punished, even if the questions asked are offensive or make people uncomfortable.
https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/pinker/files/dangerous_ideas.pdf
“I’m a Cop: I Won’t Fight a War on Crime like I Fought the War on Terror.” Patrick Skinner
Better policing may mean removing our reliance on warrior cops
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/03/beat-cop-militarized-policing-cia/
“Is Humiliation an Ethically Appropriate Response to Plagiarism.” Loye Young. Engage: Conversations in Philosophy 2008.
Publicly shaming cheaters should not only be legal, but standard practice.
http://engagepodcast.blogspot.com/2008/11/should-students-be-publically.html (Note: this is a message board, and Young’s essay is currently the second response to the post. It is the one that begins with “I am that instructor.”)
“Real Change Can Happen.” Matthew McConaughey.
In the wake of a school shooting, Matthew McConaughey argues for “responsible gun ownership”
Content Warning: This speech contains graphic descriiptions of gun violence and candidly discusses victims’ experiences
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/06/08/matthew-mcconaughey-talks-gun-violence-white-house-read-speech/7551975001/
“The Case for Censoring Hate Speech.” Sam McElwee.
Online speech that intimidates minorities should be censored by content providers and banned by federal law.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hate-speech-online_b_3620270
Also available in Chapter 12 of your book.
“How to Fix Grade Inflation at Harvard.” Samuel Goldman. The American Conservative 2013.
Students should have a second, curved grade in addition to the one that assesses mastery of course concepts.
Also available in Chapter 33 of your book
“The Social Costs of Abandoning the Meaning of Marriage.” Ryan Anderson. Heritage Foundation 2013
Expanding marriage beyond monogamous, permanent, heterosexual relationships harms society as a whole.
https://www.heritage.org/marriage-and-family/report/the-social-costs-abandoning-the-meaning-marriage
Also available in Chapter 12 of your book
“The Singer Solution to World Poverty.” Peter Singer. New York Times 1999.
When we fail to donate money to feed the hungry, we are committing murder.
https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/05/magazine/the-singer-solution-to-world-poverty.html
“From Degrading to De-Grading” Alfie Kohn. High School Magazine, 2019
Schools should do away with grades and use more meaningful forms of assessment.
NOTE: Some of these links may be to online newspapers with a limited number of free article views a month. Once you choose your piece, you should probably print it out immediately.
“NUTS AND BOLTS” CONCERNS:
Whichever essay you choose, please consider the following guidelines:
Your essay should be about 750 words in MLA format. You must include a works cited page.
You may quote and paraphrase from the text as well – indeed you should quote or paraphrase when doing so will illustrate the point you are making.
This essay is due at the end of Unit 9