Read “Mother’s Tongue” by Amy Tan (Links to an external site.)
Be sure to read the chapters in your text on how write a rhetorical analysis. Note, this is not a researched paper and students are not allowed to use any exterior sources when writing the paper. Doing so will be considered a form of cheating.
When completing a rhetorical analysis essay, students are to examine the writer’s style and then determine how the choice of specific literary techniques create, develop, or enhance the theme/social commentary.
When writing about the rhetorical analysis and how it applies to the story’s theme, students are required to quote the literature in addition to using summarization and paraphrase skills. Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated, and students who utilize these tactics will be disciplined as described in the student handbook.
Remember to use these questions as guide to picking an article/story from your text:
What is the title of the literature?
Who is the writer?
When was the work written/published?
What is the work’s topic? What quote proves this?
What is the work’s theme? What quote proves this?
What are the writer’s dominant literary techniques? Note, do not be vague or ambiguous here; do not merely say diction, syntax, tone, etc. You must use more in depth points here. You only need to list two to three at this point.
Why do you think these contribute to the theme? You may be general; however, you should still show some form of thought and not just “I’m answering the question” superficiality.
