In this essay, you are going to analyze a reading. You may find your reading in one of three places: The back of your textbook, the list I’ve provided below, or you may find a viewpoint essay on Opposing Viewpoints (stick to the viewpoints sections of whatever topic you choose). Don’t pick one randomly; look through several of them until you find one that seems particularly interesting. Then print it out and read it, more than once, notating it as you read. There are two parts to this essay. The first is analysis, and you can use the Toulmin principles to do your analysis: What is the essay’s main claim? How is the claim presented? How is the claim supported? Does the author use lots of facts and details (logos), or stories and language that build pathos? Who is the intended audience? What sort of warrants are necessary for the support to work? Are they brought out and backed up, or are they left unstated? What rebuttals are presented? Beyond a strict Toulmin analysis, you might consider other issues as well. Who is the author? What argument or position is the author responding to? What factors are important for an understanding of this issue in general, and this particular argument?
Only after a careful analysis can you do the second part of the assignment, which is evaluation. So . . . how strong is the essay? Is the argument convincing? Does the author do a good job of making his argument? Is the argument effectively organized? If a person were to disagree, who might he or she attack the argument?
This essay does not require more than one source; however, there may well be some facts, figures, quotes, etc. that you really need to develop your evaluation. If you need some extra information, but didn’t bother to go and get it, that will hurt your evaluation and thus your grade.
I’m looking for 3-5 pages here with full MLA format, of course.
I will use the following rubric to grade your essay:
Toulmin analysis rubric Student__________________
The essay demonstrates a strong understanding of the reading _______/5
The essay clearly analyzes the reading _______/5
Claim, support, warrants, backing, rebuttal, qualifier
The essay clearly evaluates the reading _______/5
The essay is well organized and easy to follow _______/5
The essay is mechanically sound _______/5
Total _______/25