Week 5: Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Practice

Sorry for the lateness of this post. I would strongly recommend that--for the practice--you respond to the blog before Tuesday. However, if you do not respond until Wednesday, I will not deduct points for lateness. 

Directions:

Look at the two websites. Read the About Us page for each, and then browse the websites, watch some videos, read some articles. Then, choose one website and determine the following:

1. The purpose of the website.
2. The audience of the website.
3. The main argument/thesis of the website based on the target audience.
4. The rhetorical (ethos, logos, pathos) methods and evidence the website uses to prove its argument to its target audience.

http://www.peta.org and http://www.humanesociety.org

Once you have made these determinations, please write out your own thesis like the one we wrote on Thursday for the Crichton speech. Include the website's thesis, then your determination of whether or not the website succeeds or fails based on the target audience, and then add how the website uses or misuses the rhetorical elements to succeed or fail in their argument. You may also go with the "yes, but," or "no, but" approach. Refrain from making blatant judgments, either positive or negative.

Classmate reply by Friday, midnight:

Rather than making suggestions for the argument itself, make suggestions for how your classmate might strengthen words and phrases to create a stronger thesis.

Week 4: Beginning Unit III

Please follow this link and watch the video, then answer the questions in paragraph form (watch the video at least twice and write down points as you watch):

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_and_the_magic_washing_machine.html

1. What is the speaker's purpose?
2. What rhetorical (pathos, ethos, logos) methods does he employ in communicating his purpose?
3. Does he succeed in convincing you, as one of his audience members? Please respond to this question in the following manner.

• Yes, he succeeds because...
• No, he does not succeed because...
• Yes, he succeeds, but....
• No, he does not succeed, but...

For the parts that come after the ellipses, please use evidence from the video. The reason for the formatting of your response to his presentation is that you need to know why you disagree or agree with him, and you also need to explain where he succeeds or fails, even if you agree/disagree with most of his points.

This exercise is to prepare you for the rhetorical analysis paper we will be working toward for the next week and a half.

Reply: choose a post you disagree with--either partially or completely), and then give evidence from the video of why you disagree. Please continue to be respectful. If you do not yet know how the blogs are graded, please look on D2L: Content/Get Started Here/Blogging/Blog grading.

As always, if you have questions, please let me know.

Week 3: beginning to identify audience, purpose and rhetoric

Initial post due before the start of class on June 11th. Respond to the initial post with approximately 200 words.

Instructions:

Please view the video below once, and then read the questions posted afterward and watch it again.

If you have trouble opening the above video, the link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7PThULPb3E.

Please format the questions into paragraph form as you answer them.

1. What is the purpose for the video?
2. Who do you think is the intended audience?
3. What aspects of ethos, logos and pathos does this video use to fulfill its purpose?
4. Does the video succeed in its purpose? (Why or why not?)

If you wish to express opinion, please do so, but remember to keep an academic mindset by using evidence from the video to back up any claims you make.

Peer Reply by Friday, June 14th.

Advise a classmate about how you may agree or disagree with him/her and use at least one piece of evidence from the video in order to support your response (use evidence that is different from what you used in your original post, and different from examples your classmate used in his/her post; if you have difficulty finding new evidence, then please find ways to rephrase). Please argue responsibly with your classmates by staying academic.

Let me know if you have questions.

Week 2: Summary

In your Little Brown Handbook there is an essay called "Student Loans," for which you will write a one-paragraph summary. This is an exercise in concision and also to practice writing your summary. You might think about performing this exercise prior to writing your summary of "Please Give Me Your--Divided--Attention."

Replies by Friday: on page 152 of the LBH, there is a list of key elements for writing a summary. Note one area where the poster has succeeded, and one area where the poster could improve on his/her summarizing skills. Please be as specific and professional as possible.