Essay Two: Argument Analysis

Prompt
The purpose of your second assignment is to give you practice writing a coherent, grammatically correct analysis of one of the essays from our course reader. This assignment will give you practice in performing a close, critical reading of a text. Write an argument analysis of Getting Real with Reality TV by Cynthia Frisby (pages 272 -276) in Perspectives on Contemporary Issues.

Purpose
An argument analysis answers several open-ended questions—for example, what is the writer’s overall point, or thesis? How does the writer structure his or her argument? What evidence does the writer use? An argument analysis also explains how the parts of an article fit together, mentioning such matters as content, voice, tone, organization, and formatting. Because you are analyzing an argument, you’ll also need to show how the writer constructs and develops an argument, considering claims, evidence, and rhetorical appeals.

Audience
Assume that your audience is a college-educated or college-level student who is interested in your topic. Do not assume that your reader has read the essay you’ve chosen. Your tone should be formal; therefore, avoid use of the first person.

Here are some questions you will need to think about in examining your essay:

What is the author’s purpose in writing the essay?
What is the author trying to achieve?
How does an author make his or her ideas persuasive, informative, motivational, thought-provoking, or interesting?
What specific elements and strategies does the author use to appeal to the reader?

Procedure
You have to be a critical reader—another term is close reader—to write an argument analysis. Your goal is to go beyond the obvious. You want your readers to feel significantly taught as a result of reading your essay. Also remember that you are not writing a summary. You’re analyzing the ways in which a writer effectively makes her/his point. You are also not writing a critique. Your job in this essay is to create an argument that examines the author’s purpose/goals and methods. In other words, what exactly is the author saying, and how is s/he getting that idea across?

The ideal analysis essay uses:
1) Clear, correct sentences (and whenever possible, varied sentence length and structure)
2) An introduction in which you announce the author and essay you’ve chosen and ends with a thesis statement
3) A brief summary of the author’s topic and argument
4) A subtopic like device (tone, structure, etc.) rather than stepping through the author’s piece linearly
5) Body paragraphs that develop your thesis statement and demonstrate both unity and coherence in their analytical, close reading
6) A conclusion that communicates your thesis in a new way and emphasizes the importance of your topic to the reader. Leave the reader with something for further thought

Formatting
1000-1250 words. The essay must be typed (double-spaced) on 8.5 x 11 inch sheets of white paper in standard font (for example, un-italicized, un-bolded, black, 12-point Times New Roman). Leave one inch of margin around the page. Left justify. Include your name, the instructor’s name, the title of the course, and the date in the upper-left corner of the first page of each essay, but do not use a folder or cover sheet. Cite the essay you’ve chosen source using APA-style citations (in-text and in a References page).

Dos and Don’ts

Do:
:
 Establish a thesis that announces your reading of the essay and forecasts your analysis.
 Establish a context that helps your intended readers understand the issue or subject discussed in the essay.
 Use specific details, quotations, and examples from the essay to support your analysis.
 Use both summaries/paraphrases and quotations in your analysis of the writer’s argument.
 Discuss the elements of argument the writer employs using appropriate vocabulary and terminology.

Don’t:
 Argue for or against the issue that is represented.
 Use “fluff” written only to reach the word/page limit.
 Rely on extensive summary
 Move linearly through the author’s piece. Instead, structure your paragraphs by discussing the author’s use of devices like tone, logic, illustration, examples, etc.
 Offer a flimsy or very general thesis: This is a really good essay because the author wrote
o about an issue lots of people know about. This statement could describe thousands of images.
 Use secondary sources, including the internet—this is not a research assignment.

Outline and Thesis Due: February 16
Full Rough Draft Due: February 23
Final Copy Due: March 3 (electronic and hard copy)