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This I Believe–Rhetorical Analysis and Essay Unit
Directions: Using the thisibelieve.org website, you will research one (1) essay of interest, analyze the various parts of this essay, and finally write your own essay. Each section will be evaluated based on completeness, clarity, and critical insight. Be sure that the work submitted is entirely your own so that it is an accurate measure of your analytical skills and your ability to compel readers to an idea using the narrative mode.
Step 1: Browse, Locate, and Actively Read Essay(s)
Search the website (by theme/subject) to find essays that inspire you, relate to your experience, and that you can meaningfully connect to some of the readings and concepts that we have covered in class. Choose one (1) of these essays and use it as the basis of your unit of study. Through a careful analysis of the text, you will deepen your understanding of the narrative essay genre and be better prepared to develop a richer and more compelling This I Believe Essay of your own. You will complete the following five (5) steps for the self-selected essay in your copy (Google Doc) of the document, ensuring that your responses are numbered correctly and that they accurately follow the outline of steps 1-5. No two students will be using the same essay for this assignment.
Write the title and author of the essay you have selected:
Using information provided–usually underneath the title/photograph–write a brief
description of the writer and the purpose of the essay.
a) Write the first sentence of the essay and describe your reaction. b) Is it an effective attention grabber (AG)? Is it powerful? Does it compel you to read on? Explain why/why not. c) Finally, is it related to the essays purpose? Explain.
Step 2: Focus Questions
a) Write the core belief described by the essayist. b) Do you agree with it? Explain why or why not?
a) Who is the intended audience of the essay? b) What makes you believe that? Offer at least three (3) reasons in your explanation.
Record five (5) new or powerful vocabulary words and their definitions here.
The author of this essay gives personal background about him or herself that inspired the writing of the essay. Use the prompts/questions below to articulate the authors motivation for the essay/belief:
4. a) Personal (family or childhood) background–Describe the life of the writer before the
Essay.
b) How/when his or her belief began–beliefs are often molded and created as a person
goes through life, especially when he/she faces challenges. Explain the personal battles
experienced by the writer (if applicable). What one moment or moments inspired the
writer to develop his/her core belief? When did this way of thinking begin?
c) What does the author want his/her reader to think or do after reading the essay? How
does the author want society to be different based on his/her belief? Offer a detailed
and critical explanation.
d) How are the beliefs or values of the writer applicable to our community here at CVHS?
In other words, how would this essay be received by other students here at school? Be
honest and realistic in expressing your response.
Step 3: Outlining The Essay
Write the thesis statement/central claim. This will be the writers I believe statement, typically found near the beginning OR the end of the essay.
Name the reasons WHY the author believes what he/she believes. Provide examples and evidence the author uses to support his/her belief/views. You must include three (3) quotes/textual evidence from the essay.
What counterarguments or opposing viewpoints does the author include? In other words, what does the author NOT believe? You should find evidence of this throughout the body of the essay, but if you DO NOT, you must CREATE the counterargument(s) you believe exists.
Closing statement/idea: Write down the authors closing thought(s), and then REACT and RESPOND to it. Are you compelled or moved by it? Do you agree with it? Why/why not? Is this close effective? Explain.
Step 4: Literary Connections
Explain the essays thematic connections to any literature/readings/discussions you have read before or to any of the readings, concepts, or discussion topics we have covered in class. How exactly is the viewpoint or belief of the author related? Give specific concrete examples and thoughtful explanations to support your connections.
a) Explain the real-world connections. How does this essay relate to real life? Again, as
a teenager of today, how do you connect or relate to the authors words/ideas? How
does your life parallel or reflect the authors belief?
b) At this point, also consider people of different races, political beliefs, gender,
socioeconomic status, religion, or age. Would this core belief be something
supported or opposed? Why? Offer at least two meaningful real-world connections,
and include specific reasons to support your answers.
Step 5: ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
ETHOS is related to the words ethics or ethical, but it is probably more useful to think of it as meaning image. In using ethos, an author attempts to create a persona or image that is credible, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. The idea is that if one appears to have good sense, good will, and good moral character, we are more inclined to believe him or her and accept the terms of his or her argument. Ethos is principally done through an authors word choice and style as well as his or her establishing a common set of values or common ground with his or her audience. Refer to the following examples: My three decades of experience in public service make me a great candidate for mayor; A shoe company endorses Lebron James with the hope that his celebrity and star power will enhance the companys brand or image; Make America Great Again as a political slogan establishes a connection to or common ground with Americans who believe America has somehow lost its greatness and want it restored.
Search for evidence of ETHOS, and cite two (2) examples from the essay. Include specific lines from the essay to show proof of ETHOS along with a clear explanation of how the appeal works to project the appropriate image or character of the author.
2. PATHOS involves using emotions to persuade. The idea is for an author to elicit just
the right emotion(s) from his or her audience so that it is more likely to accept the terms
of his or her argument. For example, fear and anger are incredibly strong motivators,
so an author can be persuasive by first invoking these fears in his or her audience and
then offering a solution or outlet for them. Think about the way relief organizations
plaster their ads with images of the suffering and then ask for money or the mother who
shares the tragic story of losing her son to drunk driving before asking her audience to
promise never to drink and drive. Search for evidence of PATHOS in the essay, and
cite two (2) examples. Include specific lines along with an explanation of the
emotional response the author is generating and its appropriateness to his or her
belief/purpose.
3. LOGOS is a logical appeal, where the writer displays a logical or rational argument,
rather than an emotional one. This is done through the use of facts, statistics,deductive
or inductive reasoning, as well agreed upon assumptions or truths explained in the
essay. Use specific statements from the essay to show proof of at least one (1)
example of LOGOS, and explain how the author attempts to use it persuasively.
4. Write some of the golden lines from the essay that seemed to stick with you most.
What lines did you think were the most powerful? What was it about these lines that
inspired you or made you think? Explain.
Write your This I Believe Essay
Now that you have completed your study of an essay, you are prepared to write your own narrative essay, one which highlights the value of your experience and retells it in a compelling way so as to show what you believe. In the same way that you analyzed the authors experiences and how they formed the basis of his or her beliefs, spend some time thinking deeply about what you believe and why. As you reflect, your goal is to develop a clear and concise belief statement. Once you have a statement–and it is approved by your teacher– think about which particular events, challenges, or battles in your life were essential in molding or shaping this belief. Once you have the belief and relevant experience(s), you are ready to tell your story. Showing, not telling, is the key to writing a compelling narrative, so approach this assignment similarly, retelling events using action, dialogue, imagery, and rich detail. Be prepared to write the essay as a process, planning, writing, and revising your story until it is ready to submit for a grade/credit.
Essay Guidelines:
Typed, double-spaced
MLA Format
Length approximately 400-500 words
Demonstrate effective narrative techniques: dialogue, action–including climax/pivot, imagery, point of view, etc.
Compel readers to your belief with convincing support
Attach Process (brainstorming/marked drafts) to final draft
Presentation Format (read aloud, Podcast, Video Journal, etc.)
Submit to turnitin.com (if applicable)
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