Feedback for revising Rhetorical Analysis #1

• Your paper should be an argument (with a thesis that you defend) not an explication (a line by line explanation of what the essay “means”).
• Thus your claim should not restate the author’s claim. Think of the points you need to cover and create a thesis that will hold all those points together.
• Do not simply summarize the essay. You may use summary selectively but only as needed to make a point.
• Use quotations from the essay to prove your thesis and/or support your ideas.
• It’s good to ask questions in your paper once and a while but make sure you answer them. Rhetorical questions should be avoided. Ex: “What is Jones saying here?”
• Omit phrases like “I think” or “in my opinion” because it is already assumed that what you write is your (informed) opinion, unless you indicate otherwise.
• Document any information taken from any source, whether quoted, paraphrased or summarized.
• Introductions--Keep the introduction brief, but make the major focus of the paper clear to the reader by stating your thesis. Avoid “padding” your intro with generalities. Yet, the introduction should include the name of the author(s) and title to be discussed.
• Don’t limit yourself to writing 3 supporting paragraphs. Use a many as necessary to cover you topic.
• Use present tense when writing an analysis. Use past tense only to discuss the author’s biography or historical facts.
• Do not address your audience directly by using the pronoun “you.” Also, avoid the first person singular pronoun “I” unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Do not start a paragraph with a pronoun: use the author’s name or an appropriate noun at first.
• Keep your conclusion brief and avoid simply restating your intro. Think of your conclusion as a ”so what?” paragraph.
• Do not simply cite the tile of the text you are analyzing as the title of your paper. It may be part of it but create a title that gives your reader a general idea of what the argument will be.