Essay Two: Rhetorical Analysis
During this second unit, our attention will shift away from the past, as we look toward a discussion of the present impact that technology has on individuals and society. At the same time, we’ll explore how authors influence their audiences by shaping their messages to achieve specific outcomes. In doing so, we will learn to identify and analyze the rhetorical (or persuasive) strategies authors use to communicate their ideas. This means we’ll look beyond the surface of the text to understand not just what authors say, but how and why they say it.
Instructions: For the second essay in this course, you will write a rhetorical analysis of “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr. This essay must be a minimum of 4 complete, double-spaced pages, and it must adhere to MILA guidelines.
With regard to structure, the introduction should first clearly introduce the text (title and author), as well as give an overview of the topic and Carr’s main ideas; then, you should describe elements of the rhetorical situation (or context); here, you can strategically answer the questions below in order to identify the unique circumstances that form the foundation of this text:
- Who is the author? What is their background? On the subject matter in question, what are their qualifications, beliefs, biases, etc.? Might any of this information affect the author’s message?
- Who is the intended audience? What are their values and beliefs? What is the relationship between the author and the audience, if any?
- What is the setting? Where was the article published? When does this article appear online and why is it relevant now?
Finally, conclude your introduction with a clear and concise thesis statement. Your thesis should indicate: (1) the author’s purpose, including their main argument and what they want the audience to think or do, and (2) the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) that contribute most to achieving that purpose.
Next, the body paragraphs of your essay will summarize and analyze the author’s key rhetorical strategies (i.e., the appeals you’ve chosen to highlight). Each paragraph should clearly introduce a rhetorical appeal and demonstrate how Carr uses it by incorporating evidence from specific moments in the text. In addition to providing evidence through paraphrase or direct quotes, you must (1) explain how the evidence demonstrates the rhetorical appeal, and (2) analyze why the evidence is effective (or ineffective) in supporting Carr’s overall purpose.
Please note: in your body paragraphs, do not feel as though you need to follow the structure of a five-paragraph essay by listing and analyzing all three classical rhetorical appeals. Instead, you may choose to primarily focus on the use of emotion (pathos) in the text, or you may conduct your entire analysis on the writer’s use of logic (logos). Ultimately, you should aim to present the most noticeable rhetorical moves that you see the author making and analyze those moments for the reader.
In the end, your conclusion should synthesize all of the rhetorical strategies that you analyze into a discussion of the text’s overall effectiveness. In other words, given the rhetorical situation, do you think that the author was successful in utilizing the rhetorical appeals to achieve their overall purpose? Here, you can use transitional language to “point back” to your thesis statement and, in light of the analysis that you’ve provided in your body paragraphs, make a cumulative argument that discusses what the author ultimately accomplishes or fails to accomplish.
This essay must be presented in MILA format with a works cited page that helps your audience locate the text in question. Beyond Carr’s article, you do not need to incorporate any other texts. But, if you’d like, you can use outside sources for background information on the author.
Requirements: Your essay will be graded on the successful inclusion of:
- An original title
- A compelling introduction that describes the text in question and illustrates the rhetorical situation
- A clear and concise thesis statement that indicates: (1) the author’s purpose, including their main argument and what they want the audience to think or do, and (2) the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) that contribute most to achieving that purpose
- A “body” that contains a developed, well-written summarization and analysis of the most striking rhetorical strategies that are used to achieve the author’s purpose
- A conclusion that provides an in-depth examination of the author’s overall rhetorical success
- Clear and concise writing, free from excessive grammatical errors
- Standard use of in-text citations and MILA format
- A works cited page that documents your source(s) in MLA format
- A minimum of 4 COMPLETE pages (you may go over the minimum if need be)
