Rhetorical Analysis Paper
 
Prompt: For this assignment, you conduct a rhetorical analysis over a speech of your choice; you
 
will be given three speeches to choose from, and they are listed below. You are looking at how
 
this person delivered their message. Although there will be some summarizations throughout
 
your essay, it should only be when you are describing how this individual delivered a message.
 
Remember this is not a summary, but an analysis. Your essay needs to be 700-800 words (it can
 
go over), and needs to include an intro, body, and conclusion.
 
Important Features
 
1) You will need to employ how devices and/or appeals were implemented in the piece of work
 
you are analyzing
 
2) Indicate somewhere in your essay a counterargument and rebuttal that the speaker mentions in
 
their speech.
 
2) You should weave in a quote or two within the body paragraphs to provide an example. If it is
 
a direct quote, be sure to use quotation marks. For this assignment, you do not have to include
 
parenthetical in-text citations.
 
3) Be sure to add transitions throughout your essay.
 
4) Be sure this is indeed a multi paragraph essay
 
5) Be sure your thesis statement is clear and concise and reflects the body of the essay.
 
Why is this a required assignment?
 
– Analyzation is something we all do everyday, and we really don’t realize it. We need to stand
 
back, take words apart, and put them back together again so we can see messages clearer.
 
Analyzing can bring meaning and clarity to a situation, and that is important in class and in your
 
future careers.
 
• Due date is listed in Brightspace.
 
Choices – Of the four speeches below, pick one that you would like to analyze.
 
• The Power of Introverts TED Talk and Transcript
 
• The Danger of a Single Story – TED Talk
 
• The Danger of a Single Story Transcript
 
• I Have a Dream Speech
 
• I Have a Dream Speech Transcript
 
• Puzzle of Motivation TED Talk and Transcript
 

https://www.classacthr73.org/resources/Documents/Event Materials/Chimamanda Adichie The Danger of a Single Story.pdf

https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety