Here are the directions. Typed. MLA. Due Friday, 12/20, or sooner.
Your task: Write a rhetorical
analysis of “On Dumpster Diving.” Your essay should include an introduction, three
body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should be built on one
of the discussion questions from class.
The introduction can be short
and perfunctory.
· You need to establish the author, the title, and the
purpose of the essay you’re analyzing (try not to include the word purpose. Instead
of writing “The author’s purpose is to encourage us to …” write “The author
encourages us to …”).
· You might
want to spend a moment contextualizing the text (when was it written? Why does
it matter now?). If this becomes time consuming, skip it and get to the body
paragraphs. You can add this info later if you finish early.
Each body paragraph should be
built around one of yesterday’s discussion questions. Remember that rhetorical
analysis answers the following questions:
· What choices does the author make?
· Why does the author make those choices?
· How do those choices impact the reader?
· How does this moment open or fit or close the argument?
· How do these choices help the author achieve his or
her purpose?
You don’t need to address all
questions in all paragraphs, and you don’t need to address them in this order.
The close may also be short
and perfunctory. It’s another opportunity to contextualize the argument, or you
may simply summarize your claims.
Do not:
· Use first person singular. Instead, refer to the
reader or the audience or we or us.
· Evaluate or give your opinion. Your job is to explain how the rhetoric works, not whether you
like it or whether it’s effective.
Do:
· Embrace formulas, if you find them helpful.
· Ignore formulas, if you find them constricting.
· Focus on the task of explaining what choices a writer
makes and why he or she makes those choices.
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