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How To: Write an Article AnalysisThis course is founded upon learning and applying rhetoric in your academic and everyday lives. To this

end, you will bring in two articles/essays/works of art/books/etc. each week (every uesdayand hursday,even if I forget to remind you), with a synopsis and an analysis of the argument presented for each. They

do not need to be typed, but each mustcontain the following:

1. Your name and date at the top. (This is logistical; I cannot give you credit if I do not know it is yours.)2. MLA citationof the work. (You will most likely be using the citation guidelines under the Articlein a

Web Magazineor Pageon a Websiteheadings.

3. Author, name of article/work, and name of periodical (if you pulled it from a magazine or journal) inthe first paragraph.

4. Short (single sentence) explanation of which rhetorical devices the author uses and whether the work ispersuasive.

5. One paragraph outlining (with examples) how the author uses these rhetorical devices.6. One paragraph explaining why the article is or is not persuasive.

This may seem like a lot to do, but once you start writing them it becomes second nature. We will discuss

these articles in class, so pick articles that argue a point (this is important; many newspaper articles

merely report on a topic, so check the Opinion or Editorial pages for arguments) and come prepared to

discuss. If you have trouble finding something to bring to class, or if you forget about it until the last

minute, check out the RSS feed on the left of this page. I have set this up to deliver articles that I think are

worth reading. Snag one, write an analysis, and enjoy class knowing you came prepared. Itsa good thing.

Example

Here's a quick example of an average article analysis ofthis articlefrom last year. Note that the student

dissects the argument without identifying the rhetorical devices used. This is appropriate as you begin

writing your analyses, but take chances and implement the vocabulary you learn in class.

Parker, Kathleen. ThePerils of Pandering.Tulsa World. 17 Jan. 2008: A19.

ThePerils of Pandering,the title of Kathleen Parkerslatest opinion article, details the paradoxes and

labyrinthine mix of intentions involved in the Democratic front-runnerscandidacies, specifically those of

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Parker explores the argument of itshouldntbe about race or gender

but it isby referencing the candidatesown words and actions to display their contradictions. For

http://windmillsandgiants.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-write-article-analysis.htmlhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/09/http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/09/http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080117_222_A19_spanc44424http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080117_222_A19_spanc44424http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080117_222_A19_spanc44424http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080117_222_A19_spanc44424http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/09/http://windmillsandgiants.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-write-article-analysis.html

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example, Parker quotes Clintonsinsistence that she is notasking you to vote for [her] because [she is] a

woman,while following up with Clintonscry to shatterthat highest glass ceilingat Wellesley College.

The juxtaposition of the paragraphs emphasize Parkerspoint; that the candidates dontknow whether to

play their minority cards.

Another interesting topic is brought up in the article: the idea that a victory for one candidate is a defeat

for the othersminority group. Thebattle for race and gender has become a fight between race and

gender,Parker states. Ifa Clinton victory is viewed as a victory for all women, then her defeat can only

be viewed as a defeat for all women.

Parkersargument is convincing; itshard to disagree when the quotations are from the candidates

themselves. Her bias is mild compared to other articles she has pennedshe acknowledges the partys

nobleintentas she bemoans the identity politics. Her audience is not a narrow one; she can appeal to

Republicans and Democrats alike. All in all, itsa very effective piece.