Writers can be very manipulative with their words. They can lead readers to believe their views by using strategies such as word choice (descriptive "show" words), figurative language, and by using an overt statement. Your abilities for detecting these strategies in other pieces of writing should be enhanced after performing this exercise. The bias behind a person's work will hopefully be more obvious to you as an astute reader.
Your assignment is to write two descriptions, an analysis, and a reflection of your work.
Choose a location where you can sit and observe for at least 20 minutes in preparation for writing a focused description of the scene that will enable your readers to actually see what you see. The tricky part is to describe the scene in two separate ways, with two angles of vision: one positive and one negative. Remember, it's the same scene, but seen in two different lights. (Ex. It cannot be raining in your negative description and sunny in your positive. One description would not be factual.) Your first description must convey a favorable (or positive) impression of the scene, making it appear pleasing or attractive (while still being factual and truthful in your details). The second description must contain only real details and must describe exactly the same scene from the same location and at the same time. Each description should be one paragraph long (200-250 words each). (20 points per paragraph)
In this section you will explain how your two equally factual descriptions create two contrasting impressions of the same subject. You will explore the five strategies for conducting a rhetorical analysis in this section. Provide a separate paragraph for each strategy. (For example, in one paragraph you should discuss the effects of figurative language and how it was used in both of your descriptions while providing examples [in quotes] from your own positive and negative paragraphs.) How were these strategies used to create the emphasis you desired for each description? The analysis is a very important part of this assignment. If you find that your Part A does not have sufficient examples or that it does not utilize all five strategies in each description, you may have to go back and revise. For the analysis you will have at five paragraphs, one for each strategy. (500-700 words)
In this section, you will address the question, "So what?" by exploring what you have learned about reading and writing from composing your two descriptions and analysis. You should help your readers see what is significant about your thought exercise. Here are some guiding questions: How has seeing two angles of vision affected you in your reading and writing as well as in your day-to-day life? Why is seeing two angles of vision important in the real world? How can it help you? Also, with this new knowledge, how will you be affected as a student, employee, son/daughter, friend, sister/brother, community member, club member, etc.? How seriously did you take this assignment in contrast to how much you gained from doing it? The most important factor is to be honest! (125 words) (10 points)
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We will have two peer editing days in class. The first will be for the two descriptions. The second will be for the analysis section. For peer editing days, please bring both a hard copy and an electronic copy of your paragraphs to class. |
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See the solonschools.org calendar for due dates. |
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Your final copy must be submitted to turnitin.com. |
