Short Analysis

This short assignment (minimum 600 words, submitted via email) asks you to analyze one of our class readings thus far: Frost, Hunter, smith, or Smarsh. Your analysis should address the following prompts:

• The first section of your analysis (probably two or three paragraphs) should focus on the main purpose, aim, and argument of the text. First, articulate what the main purpose and argument is. You should then identify the main ideas, claim(s), reasoning, and evidence supporting the purpose and argument, showing how these various pieces fit together. Be mindful of Toulmin‘s terminology here as well: what assumptions and beliefs (warrants) underlie the claims and evidence? Does the author address any counterarguments and offer a rebuttal to them?
• The second section should situate this argument within the larger conversation around the topic it addresses. What is the author’s relationship to the topic? How does their perspective compare to others? How can we classify the argument drawing on stasis theory? Finally, offer your own thoughts and response: what do you agree or disagree with? How would you assess the argument in terms of its effectiveness or ineffectiveness, its benefits or limits?

Also, as you address these prompts, you should aim to incorporate specific quotes from the text in order to support and develop your analysis. You should include appropriate in-text citations and include a “References” page as well (the citations do not factor into the word limit). Our handbook has instructions for citations; use APA citation guidelines. You can also find these guidelines at the Purdue OWL.