A Critical Analysis Essay asks the writer to make an argument about the persuasiveness of two sources. One of those sources should be a scholarly text (following the criteria for the Inquiry Essay sources) and the other should be a credible but non-scholarly text, such as a book, essay, movie, podcast, TedTalk, blog post, etc. These texts should be on the same subject: your Inquiry Question. They do not need to come to the same conclusion about your Inquiry Question, but they both need to center on that topic. You will analyze these two primary texts using rhetorical criteria to determine which of the sources is more persuasive, and why. The goal of this essay is two-fold: first to determine what your criteria for persuasiveness are (the rhetorical appeals you draw on later to evaluate the sources), and second to determine the claim you are making (your argument about which of the sources is most persuasive and why). You are not writing a “book report” that summarizes the authors’ arguments but evaluating the effectiveness of the authors’ rhetorical strategies and techniques.

Sometimes it can seem intimidating to pick apart an argument made in a formal text; after all, these texts are often composed by experts. However, part of this exercise is to expose the fact that even though these authors might be qualified in their respective fields, they are still advancing an argument and providing their own evidence to support that argument, like you will in your Researched Position Essay. Their aim is to persuade you that their argument is true—not just to present facts. Once you recognize that these authors are making arguments, you can analyze whether or not you find their arguments persuasive. Here are some questions you should ask to analyze and evaluate arguments:

Rhetorical Questions:

• Identify the intended audience. Where did this text originally appear? Do you feel you are part of the intended audience? How do you know?
• Determine the author’s purpose and mode in creating this text. Is its intent to answer a question, pose a problem, add to research on a given topic, introduce a new idea, argue a point, etc.? What is the medium through which it communicates information (i.e. graphs, case studies, statistics, etc)? Is it a website, is there a visual/aural component, is there additional information being conveyed beyond the written word, etc?
• Explain the rhetorical situation. What, from the context in which it appeared or the text itself, can you tell about its audience? For example, are they experts in the topic or novices? Are there factors that might affect how the audience receives this text?
• Examine the components of the text. What is the author’s message? What strategies do they use to convey that message? What features of the text (word choice, style, arrangement) are most important in conveying that message?
• Evaluate the author’s decisions. How well has the author crafted the message to reach the intended audience? What types of evidence are used? What strategies does the writer use? Examples of strategies include use of classical rhetorical appeals (e.g., ethos, logos, and pathos) and stylistic elements, such as speech, word choice, rhythm, and syntax. What is the style of the piece? List examples of techniques (e.g., figurative language, repetition, complex sentences, etc.) and specialized vocabulary. If specialized vocabulary is used, is it explained or are readers expected to know it?

Purpose and Audience:

The Critical Analysis Essay is a research-based essay that analyzes two texts to make a new claim about the comparative persuasiveness of the texts. Your overarching purpose is to determine whether the text is persuasive to its audience and why, and which is more persuasive. The audience for this essay is our class—a diverse group of people who may be neutral or slightly skeptical of your argument.

Project Components:

This assignment will contain the following stages:

1. Proposal for Critical Analysis Essay (a well-developed paragraph)
2. Critical Analysis Essay (1600-2100 words)
3. Revision Plan (400-600 words)

Proposal for Critical Analysis Essay:

In your proposal, you will select two texts that you will analyze for your Critical Analysis Essay. The texts you select can be any artifact that makes an argument related to your Inquiry Question. One of those sources should be a scholarly text (following the criteria for the Inquiry Essay sources) and the other should be a credible but non-scholarly text, such as a book, essay, movie, podcast, TedTalk, blog post, etc. You should explain why you chose these texts and how the texts relate to your specific research question. You must have your two texts approved by me before you begin working on the Proposal, and you must have your Proposal approved by me before beginning work on the Critical Analysis Essay.

Critical Analysis Essay:

Your Critical Analysis Essay will be 1600-2100 words in length and analyze at least one approved text. Your essay should do the following:

• Include an interesting hook
• Introduce the text/s being analyzed and present a strong thesis (i.e., your argument about which of the texts is more persuasive and on what rhetorical grounds)
• Briefly summarize the text and describe its major features (e.g., visual, textual, aural)
• Identify the target audience
• Explain the text’s argument (i.e., what claim is the author trying to make?)
• Analyze how the text communicates that message to the intended audience
• Provide evidence from the text (e.g., direct quotations, paraphrased, and summarized information) to support your analysis
• Synthesize information to make a cohesive analytical argument
• Conclude with an evaluation of the text based on the details of your analysis

All sources must be cited using MLA formatting in text and at the end of the essay on a Works Cited page.

Introduction,

Thesis, and Conclusion

• Includes an interesting hook
• Introduce the texts being analyzed using title and author’s name
• Presents a strong thesis (i.e., an argument about which of the texts is more persuasive and why) that is clear and carefully worded
• Concludes with an evaluation of the texts based on the details of the analysis

Organization

• Follows a logical organizational pattern
• Includes clear transitions within and between paragraphs that guide readers through the argument
• Develops one main idea in each paragraph
• Includes clear topic sentences that set up the focus of each paragraph

Context for Analysis

• Includes a brief summary of the texts
• Identifies the texts’ target audiences
• Explain the texts’ arguments (i.e., what claim are the authors trying to make?)

Critical Analysis

• Analyzes how the text communicates a message to the intended audience
• Provides evidence from the texts (e.g., direct quotations; paraphrased and summarized information, etc.) to support the analysis
• Uses sufficient level of detail to analyze the authors’ strategies related to the rhetorical appeals
• Analyzes the text using rhetorical questions to make an overall claim
• Synthesizes information to make a cohesive analytical argument

Source Use

• References two relevant sources, one credible and one scholarly
• Cites paraphrased or summarized information using MLA formatting in text and on a Works Cited page
• Use quotations marks around all directly quoted material and limit use of direct quotations

Grammar, Punctuation, and Style

• Demonstrates careful proofreading
• Follows standard grammatical conventions
• Communicates ideas clearly and in an engaging manner
• Maintains an objective and reasonable tone while making a clear argument in support of your reading of the texts