Writer Choice

39816Writing About Reading-Analyzing the “How” Instead of “What”

One of the skills readers and writers need to work on is the ability to think and respond not only to “what” is said by a writer but also “how” it is said in order to determine the reliability of the author and the strength of the author’s arguments.

For the SLO Exam this semester, you will be asked to make an analysis about the strength of the writing and not the actual ideas of the writer.

Here is the type of prompt you will see:
After carefully reading and considering both arguments on the topic, which author makes a stronger argument and why?

Look at the question carefully: which author makes a stronger argument and why?

So, you need to be able to discuss the construction of the argument and the “how” of why it is a stronger (or a weaker) argument.

Here are a few other instructions you will see:
In your essay, be sure to:
o provide a relevant summary of at least one article
o analyze the article(s).
 You may want to do the following in your analysis:
• picking the stronger argument and analyzing its merits OR
• picking the weaker argument and analyzing its flaws.
o include an introduction
o include a brief conclusion
o include a thesis statement in your introduction and/or conclusion that reiterates your analysis essay’s main point

Some final reminders:
• Remember, you are NOT writing an essay about the issue
• Instead, you are composing a rhetorical evaluation of these authors’ arguments and how they are constructed.
• Please do not include your personal opinion on the issue; focus on the articles and what they do and how they do it.

So, you need to summarize and analyze (by discussing what you see as the stronger or weaker argument) and need to argue about “how” it is written—not about the topic itself. Be sure not to offer your own personal opinion. Instead, as the prompt suggests, “focus on the articles and what they do and how they do it”, not on the actual content of the ideas being argued.

Things to Consider When Analyzing the “How” of an Article

Here is a list of points to consider when you analyze a text. Look at each section to see if it pertains to your reading; if it does not, then move on to the next one.

Purpose/Context: What is the article/text about? What is the purpose?

Author(s): Who is the author? What credentials or expertise does the author have about the subject? Does the author’s expertise give him/her credibility about the topic?

Audience: Who is the intended audience of the piece? Where and for what reason was the article/text published? How does the author address the reader (if at all)?

Topic and Position: What is the topic and the reader’s opinion about the topic?

Development of Support: What types of support has the author used to back his/her opinion? Has the author used research? Or is it based solely on the author’s opinion and experience? If sources are used, have they been fully introduced and integrated into the author’s discussion?

Categories of Support
Research: Is the research from a credible/reliable source?
Facts, Statistics, Expert Opinion
Personal: Is the research from the author’s experience and own knowledge?
Personal Experience, Examples, Direction Observation, Hypothetical Situation

Rhetorical Tools: Rhetoric addresses the ways in which an author is able to persuade a reader.

Pathos: an appeal to emotion (the heart) that relies on the reader’s emotional reaction
Ethos: an appeal based on credibility (character) based on who the author is
Logos: an appeal that uses logic (the brain) and relies on reasons and research

Point of Concession: an admission to the opposing viewpoint on an issue to make the author seem reasonable; an author might then use refutation to the point of concession to argue against the opposing viewpoint and continue to develop his/her own point of view.

Generalization: a broad statement that seems to be true but does not consider/explain exceptions

Antithesis-opposition or contrast of ideas

Euphemism-the use of a less offensive phrase instead of a derogatory one; it may also be used to “hide” the actual meaning of something

Hyperbole-exaggeration for emphasis or rhetorical effect

Irony-expression that is intended as the opposite meaning

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