This document outlines an assignment for an English 102 college writing and rhetoric course. Students will write a 3-5 page rhetorical analysis of the essay "The War on Public Schools" by Erika Christakis. The analysis will include a thesis about the most important rhetorical strategy used, a summary of the key aspects of the text, an explanation of how the strategies fulfill the purpose supported by examples, and a concluding comment on the significance of the article or analysis. Students will be graded on their thesis, organization, summary, rhetorical analysis, and writing correctness.

1. English 102H College Writing and Rhetoric
Rhetorical Analysis of an Text
Purpose
To develop and practice the skills necessary for synthesizing arguments, this
assignment focuses on reading, summarizing, and analyzing an argument in a single
text.
Description
This unit is about how messages persuade. The assignment is based on Ch. 3:
Summarizing and Responding (specifically, on how a text is written) and Ch. 11:
Analyzing Texts.
We will be reading a long-form, non-fiction essay, “The War on Public Schools” by
Erika Christakis, critically and rhetorically, to identify what it is arguing and how it is
making its argument.
You will compose a 3- to 5-page rhetorical analysis to include the following
elements:
a. Thesis – make a claim about which rhetorical strategy (or strategies) is the
most important for achieving the purpose of the text.
b. Summary – briefly summarize the significant aspects of the text
c. Support – using material from the Analytical Circle assignment, describe
what the text does, explain how what it does attempts to fulfill its purpose,
and explain how that supports your thesis.
d. Conclusion – comment on why this article, its argument, or your rhetorical
analysis of it matters.
e. MLA citation style and Works Cited page
Grading Rubric
Criteria Not Yet Moving Toward
Expectations
Meets
Expectations
Exceeds
Expectations
Thesis Lacks a stated,
overarching point
or includes
multiple points;
not all parts of the
text relate to or
support the main
point.
There is a single
claim but it may be
general, vague or
obvious; may list
rhetorical strategies
without making an
argument about
them; not all
elements of the essay
relate explicitly to
the main claim.
There is a single,
thoughtful,
interesting main
claim about how
the article uses
rhetoric; the main
claim is
developed
consistently
throughout the
body of the essay.
There is a highly
sophisticated
main claim about
how the article
uses rhetoric to
meet its purpose
beyond the
expectations of a
college writer.
Organization Order of
paragraphs/ points
seems random;
points stand alone
lacking transitions
to connect them.
Order of
paragraphs/points is
acceptable; some
points may lack
transitions or use
weak transitions
Paragraphs/
points
demonstrate an
effective
organization
pattern (most
Thoughtful order
with especially
elegant
transitions.

2. English 102H College Writing and Rhetoric
(such as first, next,
etc).
important to
least, general to
specific, etc) to
support the
argument;
explicit
transitions make
the relationships
between points
clear.
Summary Lacks summary;
does not
accurately identify
main point;
includes
supporting
information;
includes essay-
writer's opinion.
Identifies main point
but is vague or
general; includes
most of the main
points; objective
tone.
Accurately
identifies main
points in detail;
includes only
main points;
objective tone.
Demonstrates
nuanced
understanding of
main point.
Rhetorical
Analysis
Does not include
adequate
examples of
rhetorical
strategies; lacks
analysis of how
the examples
support the
article's purpose
as stated in the
essay’s thesis.
Some examples of
rhetorical strategies
but may lack specific
details; an attempt at
analysis that may be
superficial or
obvious or may not
connect to article's
purpose or essay's
thesis; some
strategies may be
analyzed more
completely than
others; the amount of
analysis is
significantly less
than the rhetorical
example.
Adequate
examples of
rhetorical
strategies;
thoughtful, in-
depth analysis of
how each strategy
supports the
article's purpose
and the essay's
thesis;
approximate
balance between
the rhetorical
example and
analysis.
Particularly
effective
presentation of
rhetorical
examples;
analysis of how
they support the
article's purpose
and essay's thesis
beyond the
expectations of
college writing.
Correctness Multiple surface-
level errors that
undermine reader
comprehension
and/or author
ethos; unclear
wording/syntax.
Some surface-level
errors that do not
impair reader
comprehension;
typo-type errors that
demonstrate
inadequate attention
to proof-reading;
repetitive sentence
length.
Mostly free from
surface-level
error (only one or
two obvious
errors at the
most); varied
sentence length.
Completely free
of error;
sophisticated,
varied sentence
construction;
engaging voice
and personal
style.