Comparing and Contrasting Two Articles: Rhetorical Strategies and Audience

Introduction and Purpose of the Essay

Compare and Contrast Essay, 1250-1500 words:-  In order to participate in academic conversations, it is important to understand how and why an argument works for a particular audience.

For your second essay, you will be comparing and contrasting two articles. The articles should make the same argument on the same topic, but one will be a peer-reviewed from a scholarly source while the other will be an article from a popular or news source.

Your essay will evaluate the rhetorical strategies evident in the two approaches and discuss why they are appropriate and effective for their respective audiences. A successful essay must:

Include an introduction that informs the reader of what the issue is and what the purpose of the articles is. · - Introduce articles, authors, sources, and different intended audiences. 

Compare and contrast the rhetorical strategies used by both articles and make strong connections between the effectiveness of those strategies and the audiences targeted. o What are the commonalities between the two texts?

o What are the differences in how the two texts arrive at their conclusions?

o How does the language and presentation of evidence differ and why?

o How are the rhetorical appeals used differently in the two texts?

o What logical fallacies are evident in the articles and what impact do they have on the effectiveness of the article?

o Does the popular article encourage more research? If so, how? If not, is this good or bad for its purpose? ·

Include strong textual support wherever appropriate. Include a well-thought-out conclusion that considers the effectiveness of the articles and the importance of more than one rhetorical approach to the subject. 

While not required, I suggest that you use sources that might be of use to you in your final paper. Look for articles that are related to a trend in your discipline that you would like to learn more about. You may choose to use the article from your first essay for your peer-reviewed assignment as long as you can find the corresponding article from a popular source.

If you would like specific instructor feedback on your complete rough draft, please make an appointment to see me during office hours. You will need to email me a copy of the rough draft one day before the appointment, and please allow 15 minutes to discuss your paper.

While I am happy to discuss any part of the writing process with you on a drop-in basis (for example, thesis issues or questions about a source), I require a formal appointment to evaluate an entire draft.

That being said: please stop by! I am here to help you get the most from this course. Get help early and often. In addition to meeting me during office hours or seeking serious feedback from your pod, consider meeting with a writing tutor in Coates 151.

Appointments can be made online here. Collect and keep all brainstorming, prewriting, and drafts in a folder to be submitted in class, along with your peer review feedback worksheets, on the essay’s due date. I will provide you with a cover sheet.

The drafts and peer review feedback are worth 50 points (see the syllabus for assignment breakdown). If you are unhappy with your grade once grades and feedback are released, you have one week in which to submit a revision. I suggest you make an appointment with me before you revise. Only serious attempts at revision will be considered for a grade change.