Writing Project 2 Prompt: Using One Text as a Lens for Another Text
DUE DATE: Sunday 4/14 at 11:59 PM via Turnitin on Blackboard
In Patricia Roberts-Miller’s text, “Characteristics of Demagoguery,” she identifies rhetorical characteristics she believes to be central to demagogic discourse. For this essay, you will use Roberts-Miller’s text as a “lens” on George Wallace’s 1963 inaugural speech.
Your essay should be:
6 to 8 pages in length and contain a properly MLA formatted works cited page (does not count for the 6 to 8 page count requirement.)
-Provide an introduction that includes the rhetorical situation (context about the topic, who the author is, where and when the speech occurred, who you think the intended audience might be, the purpose of the text) a brief synopsis of the author’s main claims, and a thesis that informs your reader about the characteristics of demagoguery that you will be discussing and the relative effectiveness of the argument as a whole for an intended audience.
-In your body paragraphs you will, examine the speech at hand, exploring how—or to what extent—George Wallace displays demagogic characteristics (i.e. “heavy reliance on polarization”). You will discuss examples—extracted from the speech—of these characteristics, explaining why it may have been used in relation to the speech’s context, as well as its possible effects on the intended audience and your evaluation if this certain type of demagoguery might/might not be effective at persuading the intended audience.
-Within this, you will utilize at least two of the following four verbs: Extends, Complicates, Challenges, Illustrates
-You will discuss the ways in which George Wallace extends, complicates, challenges, and/or illustrates characteristics of demagoguery by citing Patricia Roberts-Miller to prove your case.
-Identify one rhetorical strategy within the speech that you believe to be reasonable or ethical. You will pull an example from the speech that indicates the use of that particular strategy, support your reasoning as to why it is a legitimate strategy, and evaluate its effectiveness in supporting the argument.
-Identify one fallacy within the speech and analyze how this fallacy is working in the argument and whether or not you think it would be effective for the intended audience and why?
-Provide a conclusion that summarizes the work that you have done thus far in order to remind your reader of your main points. Commentary on discoveries made throughout the essay as well as the importance of conducting the analysis. Demonstrate forward thinking to answer the big “So what?” question, or: Why is this topic important to consider for the future consequence of our society?
-Consider these questions to enrich your choice for analysis: Who is the speaker’s primary audience? What are they trying to persuade readers of and why? What beliefs or ideas does the speaker take for granted (or assume that the audience will agree with) and how do these assumptions influence the persuasiveness of the overall argument? In what ways are these appeals based on assumptions the speaker makes about that audience? How does their effectiveness change when read by a wider audience? How do rhetorical choices (the way the speaker frames the issue, constructs analogies, addresses the audience, characterizes the opposition, builds rebuttals, creates pathos, etc.) impact the persuasiveness of the overall argument?
Rubric – Writing Project 2 – Lens Assignment
Introduction (10% – 10 points)
Body: Analysis (60% – 60 points)
Conclusion (20% – 20 points)
Mechanics (10% – 10 points)
