Rhetorical Analysis and Response to 'The Case against Reparations for Slavery'

General Instructions
Write a rhetorical analysis of and response to “The Case against Reparations for Slavery” by Richard A. Epstein, which is copied below. There are five parts to this assignment, plus a works cited page, and you must complete all parts.

 

Word Count: All parts should add up to a total of approximately 650-750 words (not including the works cited page). Please put a total word count in square brackets at the end of Part 5.

 

Part 1: Ethos
Identify and analyze an example of ethos in the article, in which the author tries to establish their credibility, authority, or trustworthiness. Write your analysis in a paragraph structured as follows:

• Your claim (how the author is appealing to ethos and a preview of the author’s ethical appeal in your own words)
• Your evidence (a direct quotation or set of quotations, properly integrated into grammatically correct sentences of your own – only quote words you will be directly analyzing)
• Your analysis a few sentences analyzing how the rhetorical appeal is working in the passage to try to persuade the reader of the author’s credibility, etc.

 

Part 2: Pathos
Identify and analyze an example of the appeal to pathos in the article, in which the author tries to evoke an emotion on the part of the reader. Write your analysis in a paragraph structured as follows:

• Your claim (how the author is attempting to appeal to pathos with a preview of the author’s appeal)
• Your evidence (a direct quotation or set of quotations, properly integrated into a sentence – only quote words you will be directly analyzing)
• Your analysis (a few sentences analyzing how the rhetorical appeal is working in the passage to try to evoke an emotion in the reader as part of a larger persuasive strategy.You must name the emotion(s) the author is attempting to evoke in the reader.)

 

Part 3: Logos
Identify and analyze the author’s appeal to logos by examining their inductive or deductive reasoning (set of premises and conclusion). Write your analysis in a paragraph structured as follows:

• Your claim (whether the author is using inductive or deductive reasoning in order to achieve their conclusion)
• Your evidence: a paraphrase of each of the main steps in the author’s reasoning or argument – you must identify the separate steps (parts of the argument) and how the author tries to lead the reader to a conclusion. You can use the resources on syllogisms or explain the reasoning in your own words.

• Your analysis (a few sentences analyzing how the logic is attempting to persuade the reader of the conclusion and whether or not each premise is valid and the premises lead convincingly to the conclusion).

 

Part 4: Logical Fallacy
Identify and analyze an additional logical fallacy in the article. Write your analysis in a paragraph structured as follows:

• Your claim (which logical fallacy the author is using and a preview of the example)
• Your evidence (a direct quotation or set of quotations, properly integrated)
• Your analysis (a few sentences analyzing how the logical fallacy is working in the passage and why it is a fallacy)

 

Part 5: Overall Response
Evaluate the weaknesses of the overall argument and how they impact the persuasiveness of the argument. You can also acknowledge elements that may be effective. Write your response as a paragraph that includes the following:

• Your claim (to what extent the article succeeds or fails to persuade the reader of its thesis – make sure to also paraphrase the thesis and preview your supporting reasons)
• Your supporting points (an assessment of its main weaknesses and, possibly, effective elements)
• Your concluding sentence (your assessment of how the argument in the article fits into the larger conversation on reparations – what it has in common with others or how it is different from others)

 

Format
Please format your assignment as a Word document (.doc or .docx) that follows MLA style. There is an MLA Assignment Formatting Sample posted in the week 3 content. Make sure to include a Works Cited page.