The document outlines an agenda for analyzing the structure of an argument and planning a rhetorical analysis. It includes discussing the writing prompt, outlining the rhetorical analysis, and presenting an introduction. Deadlines are provided for submitting the rhetorical analysis and an outline for a research paper. Guidance is given on how to structure an introduction, discuss the audience, analyze the structure of the essay, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses.

1. AGENDA
MAIN OBJECTIVE: ANALYZING THE
STRUCTURE OF OUR CH. 21 ARGUMENT AND
PLANNING THE STRUCTURE OF OUR
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
WRITING PROMPT
DISCUSSION
OUTLINING YOUR RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
PRESENTATION – INTRODUCTION
CLOSING
HW: FINISH OUTLINE, COMPOSE INTRO

2. DEADLINES
TUESDAY, NOV. 12
1) RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
2) BASIC OUTLINE – RESEARCH PAPER
TOPIC
TENTATIVE, WORKING CLAIM
SECTION A SUBTOPIC
SECTION B SUBTOPIC
SECTION C SUBTOPIC

3. WRITING PROMPT
READ THE ANN ROIPHE RHETORICAL
ANALYSIS. WHAT CAN YOU LEARN ABOUT
ANALYZING AN ARGUMENT’S STRUCTURE BY
READING THIS PIECE?

4. RHETORICAL
ANALYSIS
HOW TO STRUCTURE AND OUTLINE YOUR
ESSAY

5. INTRODUCTION
A. __Contextualize the essay: discuss its context, give a
little background on the issue, paint a quick picture of the
cultural climate into which the argument was introduced.
B. __Introduce the author and essay: mention the essay’s
title and discuss briefly the author’s background,
occupation, other writings, etc.
C. __Describe/summarize briefly the essay’s subject/gist
D. __Identify briefly the author’s main claims/goals
E. __Identify briefly the author’s intended audience
F. __State thesis: How persuasive or unpersuasive you find
this argument, listing briefly some of its greatest
strengths and weaknesses

6. AN INTRO CAN LOOK
LIKE THIS:
“Anne Roiphe’s “Confessions of a Female Chauvinist Sow”
first appeared in the magazine New York in 1972. In this
essay Roiphe aims to convince her readers that women must
put faith in the idea that they are equal to men, not superior:
“Women who want equality must be prepared to give it and
believe in it…” (Roiphe). Personal anecdotes, contrast, and
comparison are techniques Roiphe skillfully uses to create a
strong, convincing essay.

7. AUDIENCE
(This can be part of a single introduction paragraph, or it can
be broken into a separate paragraph that is still part of the
introduction section. We haven’t talked a lot about audience
yet, so listen up (-:
__Identify author’s intended audience – the likely readers of
the publication.
__Describe how else we know – from the essay’s subject
matter, argument, etc. – that this is the likely intended
audience.
__Discuss why the author likely chose this audience and how
you know this.

8. WHAT THIS CAN LOOK
LIKE:
(Second paragraph)
“Judging by the author’s persuasive pleas, this article is
written mainly to people who do not already share the
author’s views entirely or in part. The Journal, Social
Research, Is primarily written to scholars and learned
individuals, but I think the general population just does not
have enough information on wild species and/or the direness
of their situations to feel greatly motivated to act. Here, he
could have supplied more information for the less
knowledgeable majority, though it is not really necessary
because of the journal’s target audience.”

9. DISCUSS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE
ESSAY
Provide a roadmap of the of the essay’s organization and/or
logic for your readers.
__Do so by describing how the essay opens, how it unfolds,
and how it concludes.
__Also, you can describe any major shifts in the argument’s
reasoning.
__Evaluate the argument’s structure. In other words, you can
comment on how the structure of the essay itself might
persuade (or fail to persuade) the audience.
(Some of you are already doing this, especially if your claim
says that the author is successful with one part of the essay
but not another part)

10. WHAT THIS CAN LOOK
LIKE:
“Roiphe begins her essay with a personal anecdote describing
the “horrifying” realization that she married a man exactly like
her father. This technique immediately establishes the essay as
informal and personal. It is a great way to capture the reader’s
interest…”
“Shortly after capturing the reader’s interest with the
introductory anecdote, Roiphe begins using contrast…”
“About midway through the essay, Roiphe makes a transition
from contrast to comparison…”
“More important than the functions of the techniques she uses
independently is how Roiphe uses them together…It is obvious
that Roiphe purposely used the techniques in a planned way.
This allowed her to create a specifically designed essay that
helped convince her readers…”

11. DISCUSS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE
ESSAY
__Provide a roadmap of the of the essay’s organization
and/or logic for your readers.
__Do so by describing how the essay opens, how it unfolds,
and how it concludes.
__Also, you can describe any major shifts in the argument’s
reasoning.
__Evaluate the argument’s structure. In other words, you can
comment on how the structure of the essay itself might
persuade (or fail to persuade) the audience.
(Some of you are already doing this, especially if your claim
says that the author is successful with one part of the essay
but not another part)

12. WHAT THIS CAN LOOK
LIKE…
“Roiphe begins her essay with a personal anecdote
describing the “horrifying” realization that she married a man
exactly like her father. This technique immediately
establishes the essay as informal and personal. It is a great
way to capture the reader’s interest…”
“Shortly after capturing the reader’s interest with the
introductory anecdote, Roiphe begins using contrast…”
“About midway through the essay, Roiphe makes a transition
from contrast to comparison…”
“More important than the functions of the techniques she
uses independently is how Roiphe uses them together…It is
obvious that Roiphe purposely used the techniques in a
planned way. This allowed her to create a specifically
designed essay that helped convince her readers…”

13. DISCUSS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE
ESSAY
__Provide a roadmap of the of the essay’s organization
and/or logic for your readers.
__Do so by describing how the essay opens, how it unfolds,
and how it concludes.
__Also, you can describe any major shifts in the argument’s
reasoning.
__Evaluate the argument’s structure. In other words, you can
comment on how the structure of the essay itself might
persuade (or fail to persuade) the audience.
(Some of you are already doing this, especially if your claim
says that the author is successful with one part of the essay
but not another part)

14. WHAT THIS CAN LOOK
LIKE…
“Roiphe begins her essay with a personal anecdote
describing the “horrifying” realization that she married a man
exactly like her father. This technique immediately
establishes the essay as informal and personal. It is a great
way to capture the reader’s interest…”
“Shortly after capturing the reader’s interest with the
introductory anecdote, Roiphe begins using contrast…”
“About midway through the essay, Roiphe makes a transition
from contrast to comparison…”
“More important than the functions of the techniques she
uses independently is how Roiphe uses them together…It is
obvious that Roiphe purposely used the techniques in a
planned way. This allowed her to create a specifically
designed essay that helped convince her readers…”

15. DISCUSS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE
ESSAY
__Provide a roadmap of the of the essay’s organization
and/or logic for your readers.
__Do so by describing how the essay opens, how it unfolds,
and how it concludes.
__Also, you can describe any major shifts in the argument’s
reasoning.
__Evaluate the argument’s structure. In other words, you can
comment on how the structure of the essay itself might
persuade (or fail to persuade) the audience.
(Some of you are already doing this, especially if your claim
says that the author is successful with one part of the essay
but not another part)

16. WHAT THIS CAN LOOK
LIKE…
“Roiphe begins her essay with a personal anecdote
describing the “horrifying” realization that she married a man
exactly like her father. This technique immediately
establishes the essay as informal and personal. It is a great
way to capture the reader’s interest…”
“Shortly after capturing the reader’s interest with the
introductory anecdote, Roiphe begins using contrast…”
“About midway through the essay, Roiphe makes a transition
from contrast to comparison…”
“More important than the functions of the techniques she
uses independently is how Roiphe uses them together…It is
obvious that Roiphe purposely used the techniques in a
planned way. This allowed her to create a specifically
designed essay that helped convince her readers…”

17. STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES
After discussing the chronological
structure of your essay, you will
discuss first the strengths of the
essay you are analyzing, and then its
weaknesses.

18. STRENGTHS
From Milena Ateya:
“The author earns the reader’s
respect because of his knowledge and
through his logical presentation of the
issue.”
“The author also emphasizes the
danger of the slippery slope of
censorship…”

19. WEAKNESSES
From Milena Ateya:
“Overall, however, Bok’s work lacks
the kinds of evidence that statistics,
interviews with students, and other
representative examples of
controversial conduct could provide.”
“Throughout, Bok’s personal feelings
are implied but not stated directly.”