Please CAREFULLY review, and note, the due dates listed for this assignment.
Project III--Analyzing Opinion Pieces
A definition of analysis:Analytic writing identifies the elements within a text and describes the relationships among those elements. Text, here is broadly defined to include any aspect of culture that can be interpreted. Analysis focuses on structural elements over meaning. Examining meaning or theme is the focus of the explication.
Conventions of analytic writing:
• establishes a frame for analysis. For example and editorial can be analyzed in terms of the three classical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos), the author’s voice, larger cultural discourses, etc.
• a brief summary or description of the text.
• a clear statement of what the analysis shows, usually defined in a thesis statement.
• an exploration of the role each significant elements serve in the text.
• specific evidence, taken from the text, that supports the writer’s claims about what the analysis shows.
An introduction to our assignment:
Our society debates multiple issues: the limits of free speech, the definition of life, health care, the most responsible plan for the economy, and numerous others. Few of these debates have only two sides. Most of them, however, affect how we live, which makes them interesting and important. Many of these debates occur through writing, particularly via opinion pieces published in newspapers, magazines, and blogs. In order to be active, responsible citizens, people must be able to navigate these debates, figuring out where different writers stand and determining the major elements of their arguments. This assignment will help you gain this critical skill.
Task:
Below are examples of the type of topics in “Today’s Debate” column in USA Today. “Today’s Debate” is a section of the editorial page that presents two columns arguing different positions on the same issue.
• Teacher tests separation of church and state. Opposing view: Government shouldn’t pick ministers
• What debit card fee critics miss on capitalism Opposing view: Investigate “unfair and abusive” bank fees
• Feeling poorer? You have plenty of company Opposing view: Concerted action is needed to create jobs.
• No excuse for US infant mortality ranking Opposing view: Misleading neonatal data distort rankings.
Use the link http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/index.htm ,also on the class blog, to select one pair of articles.
Write an essay that compares and/or contrasts the strategies the authors use to construct their arguments, focusing on their use of logos, pathos, and ethos. You do not have to discuss all three strategies in your essay, but you will need to focus on a point of similarity and/or contrast between the articles. Assume you are writing for the same audience as your response essays: an Honors high-school English class focusing on popular culture.
Purposes:
This assignment builds on the analytical, critical reading, and critical thinking skills we practiced with the last response and argument essays, applying them to written texts. This essay will also introduce you to some of the common moves used to construct persuasive arguments, moves you can apply in your other academic courses.
Hints:
This assignment is intended to help you learn how to break the articles apart, identify the strategies used to create them, and determine how those strategies further the writer’s purpose for his or her chosen audience. Use the same strategies for analysis that we practiced in class. For this assignment, I want your analysis to emphasize the three major appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos. You must use one or all of these terms correctly in your essay. Assume that your audience has read the articles. As a result, you do not have to spend much time or detail summarizing them. A sentence or two giving the main points should be enough. However, you must draw on specific evidence from the articles to support your points. This means you should paraphrase and quote selectively. I am willing to let you write about another set of articles that are not included in our textbook or USA Today. However, you must provide me the copy of the articles, and I must give you written permission. If you do not meet either of these criteria, your essay will not be accepted, and you will lose points from your portfolio.
Length: 1000 words. Your essay may go over the requirement.
Evaluation Criteria:
I will use the conventions listed above and the criteria on the College Composition Student Information Sheet to evaluate your essay. You will earn a deadline draft grade for this assignment. It will be a required piece in your portfolio.
Assignment Steps (dates are subject to change):
• March 13: Assignment distributed. Select articles.
• March 15: Project III proposal due to Gotprofkiefer@gamil.com by noon. Whole-class and group practice on text analysis. Bring hard copies of articles to class.
• March 27: First draft due. Bring it to class as two a printed, hard copies.
• March 29: Catch-up/review as needed. Time to draft. Conferences: bring your draft for feedback.
• April 10: Revision work on second drafts. Bring second draft in two hard copies.
• April 24: Deadline draft due by noon today. Email to Gotprofkiefer@gmail.com
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