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PAPER 2.1
Keep these due dates in mind:
• Peer Review DUE APRIL 16
• 3.1 draft DUE APRIL 18
• 3.2 draft DUE APRIL 30
These prompts differ in several significant ways from those you used earlier in the semester. In each of these prompts, you will be writing your document as yourself (rather than playing a part). Also, rather than writing a single 5-7 page paper, you will produce two shorter papers as part of each assignment. Finally, rather than simply address the prompt’s rhetorical situation, you will be both creating your own claims and analyzing what you have created.
CHOICE 1:
Rhetorical situation: The Austin Chronicle (Austin’s weekly paper) has asked you to write a film review. You are writing a review of a documentary for the Austin Chronicle (Austin’s weekly paper).
Specifics: There are two parts to this paper.
1.First, you will choose a film from the list below and write a 3-4 page review of it, paying close attention to both the documentary’s argument as well as those being made by its subjects. Your review needs to include a summary of the film as well as your analysis, and I’ve posted several samples reviews online that you may use as models. As we’ve discussed in class, documentaries make their own arguments through the ways in which they choose to present their topic or subject matter. For this paper, you will need to consider both the documentary’s perspective as well as the protagonist(s)’ point of view. In writing your analysis, you might think about the arguments being made by both the documentary and its subjects, as well as how the documentary constructs its argument. Your paper should not answer these questions outright, but rather should incorporate your ideas about this into your review. Another important aspect to think about is style. The Chronicle’s film reviews offer well-written, thoughtful examinations of what a film is about and what it does. I expect your review to come as close to this as possible. This means you will need to pay close attention to tone, word choice, and creativity. Your grade will depend on how well you inhabit the rhetorical situation.
2. Second, you will produce a 2-3 page rhetorical analysis of your own review. In this shorter document, you will analyze how your review works as a persuasive piece of writing. What kind of tone does it use? What kind of details stand out? What kind of argument does this review make about the film? Since you only have a few pages in which to offer your analysis, you want to make sure that your writing is clear, direct, and concise.
Possible choices:
The Education of Shelby Knox, Shut Up And Sing, Hell House, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
You are free to suggest another movie that you would like to write about, but you must get an okay from me first at least one week before the paper is due.
CHOICE 2:
Rhetorical situation: You are yourself, a concerned citizen, responding to a specific piece of writing or a speech or something else that you have come across in the media by writing a protest letter.
Specifics: There are three parts to this paper.
1.You will choose a specific piece of text, speech, etc. (it needs to be a specific piece of media) with which you disagree. As part of this assignment, you will need to obtain a hard copy of this document, or provide a stable link to it.
2.You will write a response to the author of the text. This response can go in many directions. It might work to refute the arguments being made by the speaker in order to demonstrate how the speaker’s argument doesn’t hold up. Or, it might point out fallacies within their arguments. You may also choose to offer a counterargument, or to offer facts and/or perspectives that the speaker’s argument does not consider. In this response, your argument may be based on a number of experts' statements (be sure to cite them). A few questions to think about include: To whom are you writing or speaking? What is your choice of a venue in which to publish or present your argument? This will largely determine who your audience is. Are you speaking to specific people, like a congressperson or other public figure? A group of people with a certain set of values or assumptions? Is your audience familiar with your topic or not? Do you expect that they already have a position on the issue you're addressing? Or have they likely not considered it before? If you think probably have formed an opinion already, what is it likely to be? How close is it to yours? Might they be somewhat skeptical of your position? Or might they simply have not considered it before? You do not have to address these questions specifically, but they will help you to craft and effective and engaging letter. As with the previous prompts, style matters. I expect your review to come as close to this as possible. This means you will need to pay close attention to tone, word choice, and creativity. Your grade will depend on how well you inhabit the rhetorical situation.
3. In the second part of this assignment, you will produce a 2-3 page rhetorical analysis of your own review. In this shorter document, you will analyze how your review works as a persuasive piece of writing. What kind of tone does it use? What kind of details stand out? What kind of argument does this review make about the film? Since you only have a few pages in which to offer your analysis, you want to make sure that your writing is clear, direct, and concise.
Minimum Requirements for this prompt
For a C or above, each essay will:
==> Your review or letter needs to be 3-4 double-spaced pages in length (approximately 1,200 words) with 1 in. margins, Times New Roman font. Your rhetorical analysis needs to be 2-3 double-spaced pages in length.
==> Your document needs to follow the correct format.
==> If you are writing a film review, you will need to follow the format of the Jesus Camp review. This means that the title of the film will be the title of your review, and you will need to include under that the following: Year Released, Directed By, (PG-13, 86 min.) I’ve given you models to work from, so you have no reason for not doing it correctly.
==> If you are writing a protest letter, please follow the format found in the examples letters found in the attached document.
==> If you use sources in your review, you must document them accurately (in-text and on Works Cited page) according to MLA style guides
==> Be written effectively and coherently, with very few grammatical errors
==> Have been peer reviewed at the in-class workshop
==> Be turned in on time and be accompanied by:
- all previous drafts (peer reviewed draft, etc.)
- written peer reviews
Getting help:
I highly suggest you come to my office hours or see me before or after class with questions you have on the paper. I also recommend taking advantage of the Undergrduate Writing Center (located in FAC 211). You can make an appointment by calling 471-6222 or you can just drop in for a consultation. Consultants here are highly trained in support, especially when it comes to rhetorical analysis.