Empoword

Part Three: Research and Argumentation 250 Activities Op-Ed Rhetorical Analysis One form of direct argumentation that is readily available is the opinion editorial, or op-ed. Most news sources, from local to international, include an opinion section. Sometimes, these pieces are written by members of the news staff; sometimes, they’re by contributors or community members. Op-eds can be long (e.g., comprehensive journalistic articles, like Ta- Nehisi Coates’ landmark “The Case for Reparations” ) or they could be brief (e.g., a brief statement of one’s viewpoint, like in your local newspaper’s Letter to the Editor section). To get a better idea of how authors incorporate rhetorical appeals, complete the following rhetorical analysis exercise on an op-ed of your choosing. 1) Find an op-ed (opinion piece, editorial, or letter to the editor) from either a local newspaper, a national news source, or an international news corporation. Choose something that interests you, since you’ll have to read it a few times over. 2) Read the op-ed through once, annotating parts that are particularly convincing, points that seem unsubstantiated, or other eye-catching details. 3) Briefly (in one to two sentences) identify the rhetorical situation (SOAP) of the op-ed. 4) Write a citation for the op-ed in an appropriate format. 5) Analyze the application of rhetoric. a. Summarize the issue at stake and the author’s position. b. Find a quote that represents an instance of logos . c. Find a quote that represents an instance of pathos . d. Find a quote that represents an instance of ethos . e. Paraphrase the author’s call-to-action (the action or actions the author wants the audience to take). A call-to-action will often be related to an author’s rhetorical purpose. 6) In a one-paragraph response, consider: Is this rhetoric effective? Does it fulfill its purpose? Why or why not?