Our first essay will be our first chance to dig into the world of conspiracy theories, rhetorical strategies, truth, logic, and much more! The essay is meant to be diagnostic. Please remember that the grading contract is at work here. You will earn an automatic B if you do all of the requirements. If somehow, the essay doesn’t quite make the grade, I will also allow you to revise if you meet the new deadline after you get your grade the first time on this essay.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
- THE READING: For our first essay, you will write a 3-4 page MLA format rhetorical analysis essay of Visum et Repertum — a tale about vampires. Visum et Repertum.1732 Report-2.docx Download Visum et Repertum.1732 Report-2.docx<— you are analyzing this essay!
- THE ASSIGNMENT: Your task will be outlined in the following assignment: Vampire Essay-3.docx <– Download Vampire Essay-3.docx <–The assignment instructions are here
- HELPFUL INFORMATION: The following handout is LONG!!!! but it will walk you through each of the rhetorical strategies and is a great guide to help you figure out what logical fallacies belong to which type of rhetorical strategy. I recommend it. Writing an Analysis of an Argument-1.pptxDownload Writing an Analysis of an Argument-1.pptx
EXTRA CREDIT SURPRISE: PEER REVIEW YOUR ESSAYS ON THE DAY ONE GREETINGS DISCUSSION BOARD.
To help you focus on the AIDS conspiracy theory and your essay, I decided NOT to make you do a formal peer review on this DAY ONE week’s discussion board. If you DO decide to do one, however, I will grant you extra credit! Here are the rules: These posts DO NOT replace the regular discussion posts. These post do NOT remove an assignment. Instead, they simply help increase a grade. You must do all parts to receive points!
STEP ONE: PREWRITING AND ROUGH DRAFT: Post your working outline, thesis, and very rough draft (at least the first page and a half) on the discussion board this week no later than Wednesday. Include any clustering or planning for the essay in addition to the working outline, thesis itself, and at least the first page of your essay. Please note that your prewriting and outline don’t need to be “formal” but should show us your direction in full. This exercise must be typed and double-spaced, in Times New Roman, 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Submit it as an attachment.
STEP TWO: PEER REVIEW: By no later than Friday, peer review at least two other classmates. Provide your classmates with answers to big questions by answering the questions below. Help them to see where to make the essay better.
Using a checklist to complete your review will allow you to rate each of the parts in the paper according to their strength. There are many different peer review checklists, but the one below should be helpful for your assignment.
- Is the thesis clear?
- Does the author use his or her own ideas in the thesis and argument?
- Is the significance of the problem in the paper explained? Is the significance compelling?
- Are the ideas developed logically and thoroughly?
- Does the author use ethos effectively?
- Does the author use pathos effectively?
- Are different viewpoints acknowledged?
- Are objections effectively handled?
- Does the author give adequate explanations about sources used?
- Are the sources well-integrated into the paper, or do they seem to be added in just for the sake of adding sources?
- Is the word choice specific, concrete and interesting?
- Are the sentences clear?
- Is the overall organization of the argument effective?
- Are the transitions between paragraphs smooth?
- Are there any grammatical errors?