The authors use of emotion and imagination

Lecture Notes for Critical Analysis

Your reading assignments for the are as follows: Starting at the

bottom of page 134 in your Composition and Rhetoric Guide, read the section that covers

“Textual Analysis” and “Purpose and Technique” (134-136).

The Critical Analysis essay relies heavily on being able to understand what another author is

writing about, and being able to analyze whether that author is successful at achieving his or her

purpose. We arrive at this conclusion about the author’s success by examining how the author

uses Rhetorical Tools to achieve his or her intended purpose. Having said this, you will want to

go back in your Comp/Rhet Guide and also reread the “Appearing Credible” section

(Ethos, Pathos, and Logos) on page 102.

Once you have figured out what the author’s purpose is for writing (what the author is trying to

communicate to his or her audience), then you can craft your thesis statement. The formula for

your is: Subject (who the author is and what the author is writing about)

+ an argumentative opinion about whether or not the author is successful at achieving his or her

desired purpose.

Your Body Paragraphs for this essay will be about the following: Body Paragraph One – Is the author successful in terms of using Ethos or not? Something about

Ethos, trustworthiness, or credibility should be your Topic Sentence for this paragraph.

Body Paragraph Two – Is the author successful in terms of using Logos or not? Something about

the authors use of logic and reason should be your Topic Sentence for this paragraph.

Body Paragraph Three – Is the author successful in terms of using Pathos or not? Something

about the authors use of emotion and imagination should be your Topic Sentence for this

paragraph.

You may choose any of these on the EReader to analyze in order to

write your Critical Analysis essay. The link to the EReader is:

http://english101electronicreader.blogspot.com/

* When May I Shoot a Student? by Greg Hampikian (found in the Introduction section of

your E-Reader)

* The Black Silence of Fear by William O. Douglas, (found in

the Op-Ed section of your E-Reader)

* New Orleans Mayor: Why Im Taking Down My Citys Confederate Monuments by

Mitch Landrieu (found in the Op-Ed section of your E-Reader)

* The New Censorship on Campus by Jeffrey Herbst and Geoffrey R. Stone (found in

the Op-Ed section of your E-Reader)

* To the Louisiana I Know by Kristen Becker (found in the Op-Ed section of your

E-Reader)