Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes
Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or
action
Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines.
Purpose:
Using the critical reading and rhetorical strategies we’ve discussed thus far, conduct an analysis of
the effectiveness of the argument expressed in an essay of your choosing from the “Social Justice”
list in the Seagull Book of Essays. The analysis must both identify the point the author makes in the
essay and explain why the argument is or isn’t effective.
Submission Requirements:
The length requirement for this essay is 1000-1250 words.
Submit your own original work created for this assignment as an MLA-formatted Word
document. No other files or formats will be accepted.
Quoted evidence from your chosen text will be required to support your analysis.
This means you must use parenthetical citations and a Works Cited page governed by
MLA guidelines.
Submit your work to the Blackboard submission link, and nowhere else—emailed assignments
will be lost, not counted as submitted.
Essays that do not meet these requirements will not be eligible for a grade.
Guidance and Resources:
The first step in crafting your own argument, which is the ultimate goal of this course, is to
understand what makes an argument effective. Pathos, Ethos, and Logos are important—but so are
literary devices, sensory information, timing, and tone—all of which are part of a rhetorical
approach. Identify as much of that information as you can and use it to come to your own
conclusion about the effectiveness of the argument. IMPORTANT: Do not simply agree or disagree
with the point. You MUST address how the point is made and establish whether it was made
effectively. You can agree with a stance while criticizing the expression of the stance, and confusing
the two will result in a stressful process and unsuccessful essay. Since this essay ultimately makes
an objective claim about the value of an argument, it must be written from an objective, 3rd-person
perspective.
This essay will be graded according to the Essay grading Rubric contained in the Syllabus section
of our Blackboard site
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Writing Guide:
The field of social justice is multifaceted, and there are various essays that address social justice issues. This essay aims to analyze the effectiveness of an argument expressed in an essay chosen from the “Social Justice” list in the Seagull Book of Essays. The analysis will identify the point the author makes in the essay and explain why the argument is or isn’t effective. To achieve this, the essay will utilize critical reading and rhetorical strategies discussed in the course.
Identifying the Point of the Essay
The essay chosen for analysis is “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado-Perez, which discusses the impact of gender bias on women’s health. The author’s main point is that women’s health has been negatively impacted by the gender data gap, which refers to the lack of sex-disaggregated data in medical research, resulting in inadequate treatment and care for women. The author argues that the gender data gap is a result of systemic discrimination and sexism against women and calls for the inclusion of women in medical research to bridge the gender data gap.
Effectiveness of the Argument
The author’s argument is effective for various reasons. Firstly, the author employs the use of logos by providing factual evidence to support the argument. The author highlights several cases where women have received inadequate medical care, citing the case of women having more adverse reactions to medication due to under-representation in clinical trials. Additionally, the author references a study that found that the majority of medical research is conducted on male subjects, leading to inadequate care for women. The use of this evidence creates a compelling argument that supports the author’s main point, making the essay persuasive.
Moreover, the author effectively utilizes pathos by evoking emotions in the reader. The author cites the story of a woman who was misdiagnosed with a mental health condition when, in reality, she had a physical health condition that had been ignored by the medical community due to the gender data gap. This example creates an emotional connection with the reader and helps to highlight the gravity of the issue. This use of pathos helps to make the argument more relatable and adds to the overall effectiveness of the essay.
In addition, the author’s use of ethos strengthens the argument. The author is a feminist campaigner and writer, and this background makes her an authority on issues relating to gender bias. The author’s credibility is further enhanced by citing research from reputable sources, such as the World Health Organization, making the essay credible and trustworthy.
However, there are areas where the author’s argument could be strengthened. Firstly, the essay lacks a clear call-to-action, which could make it more effective in inspiring action from the reader. While the author calls for the inclusion of women in medical research, the essay does not provide clear steps on how this can be achieved, making the argument less effective in inspiring change.
Furthermore, while the author highlights the negative impact of gender bias on women’s health, the essay fails to address the impact of the gender data gap on other marginalized groups. For instance, the essay does not address the impact on transgender individuals or non-binary individuals, making the argument less inclusive.
The essay “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado-Perez effectively highlights the impact of gender bias on women’s health. The author’s use of logos, pathos, and ethos make the argument persuasive and compelling. However, the essay could be strengthened by including a clear call-to-action and being more inclusive of other marginalized groups impacted by the gender data gap. The analysis has utilized critical reading and rhetorical strategies to effectively evaluate the effectiveness of the argument presented in the essay.
