Rhetorical Analysis

In the article “Why Science Is So Hard to Believe,” your task is to write a rhetorical analysis essay in which you examine Achenbach’s purpose for writing this text and the rhetorical strategies he uses to accomplish it, and evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies in persuading the audience.  Write an essay that analyzes rhetorical strategies the author uses to make their argument and appeal to their audience. A successful rhetorical analysis pulls apart a text, explains how it works, makes an original claim about it, and supports the claim with specific details. Your goal in this assignment is to choose the elements of the text that you think are most interesting and most important to making it work (or not), and make a critical argument about their effect. Your thesis will state your rhetorical argument about the text, establish the rhetorical elements you will focus on in your analysis, and explain how these relate to the author’s purpose and the impact you believe these elements make on that purpose. For example: The author’s use of personal stories combined with extensive research persuades readers of her credibility. This helps the author make an effective argument for x by …  While the authors effectively utilizes appeals of ethos and pathos, their logos appeal is undermined by x, which…  The author’s tone and word choice in the essay are (not) effective in supporting his overall purpose because… In the body of your essay, you will demonstrate your understanding of the text, its message, and its audience, and develop support for your rhetorical argument with evidence from the text. This assignment does not ask you to argue for or against the essay’s topic. Rather, you will be writing more about the techniques the authors use than the topic of their essay.  Formatting and Requirements  Write your essay directly in Achieve. Your draft will automatically save as you go, and you can continue to write, revise and change your draft until you submit it. Refer to the instructions and draft goals for help as you write.