For this project, youll analyze a short, contemporary text or texts of your choosing. For example, you could analyze a recent political speech, an advertisement, a documentary, a press conference, an op-ed, etc In doing so, youll use rhetorical theories/concepts pertaining to either genre (eg. monomyth, apologia) or Burke (eg. scapegoating, the pentad). The text(s) you choose should be different from what you analyzed for Project #1. One of the challenges of this paper, as with the previous project, is pairing text(s) worth analyzing with a theoretical/conceptual angle that enables you to develop a rich and insightful analysis of it/them.
This assignment also asks you to incorporate research in support of your arguments; you should cite at least 3 scholarly sources as you discuss/develop your argument (at least 2 of which you track down yourself). Many of the academic articles weve looked at in this course could serve as (longer) models of this sort of analysis.
[Note: The text(s) you are analyzing do not count toward the 3 scholarly sources, though you should cite it/them as well]
Your paper should do the following:
Include an introduction in which you give a brief overview of the paper
Clearly assert your thesis
Use a coherent organizational structure
Explain the theory/theories you are using to analyze the chosen text.
Include a full account of how the text works persuasively in terms of the theory/theories you have identified
Be specific: make sure you point to particular features of your chosen text
Point toward the implications of your analysis
End with a conclusion
Be carefully formatted and proofread
Incorporate research regarding your theoretical framework (at least 3 sources, at least one of which you find yourself)
Cite any sources (including course readings) using MLA or APA format
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