ENGL 120 Mesa Community College Rhetorical Analysis Worksheet

English 120 Rhetorical Analysis

MLA stipulates that all papers have titles. Your title should be telling of what your paper is about. It should be professional and appropriate Introduction

Peer editor’s Name _________________________

Essay’s author’s Name_______________________

1. Does the paper have a hook? Yes_________ No________
2. Does the writer contextualize the article in a rhetorical precis? Yes_____ N0_________

3. In the paper does the writer introduce author and article: mention:

A. article’s title and discuss briefly author’s background –Yes____ No__________

B. Describe briefly article’s topic/ argument (very short summary) —Yes_______ No_____

C. Identify briefly author’s main claim(s) and make clear which claims are purpose and which are secondary points —Yes____ No_______

D. Identify very briefly author’s intended audience(s) —Yes____ No__________

4. Does this paper state a thesis with a Claim/ Statement about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness? Yes___ No_____

5. Comment on the overall effectiveness of the Body Paragraphs (3+):

A. Do they have a topic sentence which includes a clear rhetorical choice that supports the thesis? Yes___ No______

B. Does the topic sentence make a thoughtful statement about how the rhetorical device is used.

C. Show the choice through quotes, summary, or paraphrase. Yes____ No________

D. Focus on how the author writes the device and why it is effective or not effective. Yes___ No____

E. Does the writer provide sufficient and balanced support from the text, meaning find two or three excellent examples of the rhetorical device. Yes____ No______

F. Does it include commentary on the choice explaining how and why the author uses the quote (discuss the rhetorical choice in conjunction with purpose and audience). Yes____ No___

G. Finish with a sentence that wraps up the point of the paragraph and/or transitions to the next one. Yes_______ No_______

7. Make a list below of any additional information (evidence, topic sentence, explanations) that may be needed or if the writer should eliminate anything (opinions, summary, excessive quotes).

8. What is the strength of the essay and what is the weakness of the essay?

Please answer the question on peer edit word document and save it and send it to me .