RWS305W-36: Writing in Various Settings

Tips for Revising Project 1 In your mission statement make sure that you clearly explain your projects three goals: 1. to rhetorically analyze 2. to critique 3. to make your own argument In your early body paragraphs make sure that you clearly explain candidates main claims: that they should be elected president because they have ___ and they will ___. Use the rhetorical précis as a guide. It works well because it introduces the candidates with context about their speeches and breaks down the rhetorical components of their speeches. Incorporate metadiscourse throughout your essay for smoother transitions and clearer connections between ideas. See the handout with sample student essays for help. Pinpoint which specific voters the candidates are targeting. Don’t just say that they are targeting “their base” “the general public” or “all Americans.” When critiquing candidates also consider the specific target voters. Target voters can include the following: Democrats liberals progressives working class families Republicans conservatives moderates independents swing voters etc. Since your essay should have three goals those parts of your essay should be separated for clarity. Separate your rhetorical analysis body paragraphs from your critique body paragraphs. Critique candidates separately in different paragraphs. Separate your critique paragraphs from your own argument in the conclusion. Include your own argument in the conclusion about how politicians in general (not just these two candidates) should use rhetoric more effectively to engage voters. Avoid long quotes (more than three lines) in short essays. Make sure you integrate your quotes into your analysis instead of merely inserting them to take up space. Quotes and paraphrased parts of text should complement your own writing not overshadow it. Include a works cited page with full publishing information. Know the difference between rhetorical appeals and rhetorical strategies. Rhetorical appeals are ethos pathos logos. Rhetorical strategies include tone organization diction etc. (You can use the term “rhetorical devices” to include both rhetorical appeals and rhetorical strategies.) Rhetoric is a noun. If you are discussing rhetorical appeals and rhetorical strategies don’t call them “rhetoric appeals” and “rhetoric strategies.” When you are placing a word before the nouns “appeals” and “strategies” that word needs to be an adjective so use “rhetorical” (adjective) not “rhetoric” (noun). Don’t say that a candidate “appeals to” ethos pathos or logos. You can’t appeal to an appeal. Ethos pathos and logos are rhetorical appeals. They are not synonyms for credibility emotion and logic. Instead you say that a candidate “incorporates” “uses” or “employs” ethos pathos or logos. Avoid excessive comparing and contrasting in this short essay. The prompt does not ask you to compare and contrast. You can incorporate a little comparing and contrasting in your transitions between the candidates but don’t let it take over your essay. Furthermore the prompt also does not ask you to choose one candidate over the other or to pit the candidates against each other. It also does not ask for your mere opinion (as in “I like this candidate’s policies” or “I disagree with these candidates’ policies for example). Instead it asks for your well-researched argument. I look forward to reading your revision!