Evaluate and analyze how well an author rhetorically presents his/her argument.

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The goal of this assignment is to help you understand and evaluate the persuasive/logical nature of another authors argument–regardless of whether or not you agree with it. As a result, you should improve your ability to read and think critically about argumentation and rhetorical strategies. By being able to evaluate argumentative/rhetorical strategies of other writers, you should be better able to write your own arguments.
Task:
Evaluate and analyze how well an author rhetorically presents his/her argument. That is, convince a group of readers that an essay either is or is not argued logically and/or effectively as a whole. Do not assume that your readers have read the essay you evaluate. Evaluate the same essay you summarized for Paper #2. Complete the assigned prewriting, and write a draft to discuss with your group.
Remember that EH 102 focuses on critical thinking skills—not merely on the ability to persuade by using emotional appeals. Thus, this paper should focus on both the logic and the pathos of the essay. That is, you should build your essays own thesis statement around the question of why you, as an informed reader, did or did not find another authors arguments logically sound and/or rhetorically convincing. In other words, you are not agreeing or disagreeing with the authors arguments; rather you are trying to show what it is about the authors arguments you found unconvincing and why.
Grading:
Papers will primarily be assessed based upon the “Shared Criteria” (see Resources for Composition). For this assignment, development/support means more than simply repeating the essay you evaluate; in fact, merely summarizing the essay will lead to a failing grade.
Failure to bring drafts or other work on the date due for such work will lower the papers grade. Papers turned in late will be lowered by half a letter grade for each day they are late.
Suggestions:
The best papers will:
· avoid needless commentary as to your opinion of the topic that the author discusses,
· not be dominated by a mere summary of the essay you evaluate,
· support each evaluative statement with evidence taken from the essay, and
· have a clear, consistent evaluation of the essay as a whole.
Format:
The final copy should be 1000 – 1250 words (4-5 pages). At the top of the paper, provide a word count. Turn in your final copy in a folder; include the initial draft and the final draft along with your reflective essay.