Posted: April 14th, 2016
Essay 3: Rhetorical Analysis Required Length: 900 words
For this essay assignment you will use what we will learn about argument, close reading and
rhetorical analysis over the next few weeks, as well as our discussions about the American
Dream, in order to write an argumentative essay that analyzes and compares two presidential
announcement speeches. By synthesizing the content of the speeches and your own
interpretations, examine how each speech attempts to appeal to voters, and which speech is
ultimately more effective. Which rhetorical strategies do the speeches use, and how do they use
them? Finally, explore what the speeches might reveal about each speaker’s intended audience, or
the speakers’ assumptions about their audience.
Prompt: Write a 3 page long argumentative essay in which you analyze and compare two
presidential candidates’ uses of rhetorical strategies to support your reasoning of which
speaker more effectively “sells” his or her vision of the American Dream.
Prewriting Steps To Help Brainstorm and Outline:
1) Choose TWO presidential announcement speeches (all four available on the class site)—
Bernie Sanders (D)
Hillary Clinton (D)
Donald Trump (R)
Ted Cruz (R)
2) Closely read and annotate your selections to determine which rhetorical strategies are used
and to what effect.
Logos-appeal to logic
Place an order in 3 easy steps. Takes less than 5 mins.