Waiting for Superman Assignment

1. TASK: Your assignment is to do a rhetorical analysis of a documentary film. This can be done as an essay, power point or podcast. Project must analyze the purpose of the film, the audience to whom it is geared, and discuss at least 4 rhetorical strategies that are used to reach that audience.

OUTLINE DUE: November 14
FINAL PAPER/PODCAST/POWERPOINT DUE: Monday Nov 19

* if you are choosing to do powerpoint or podcast, each paragraph should represent a slide


2. SAMPLE OUTLINE

Documentary: An Inconvenient Truth

Introduction/Thesis: In An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore wishes to reach a large audience, particularly

nonscientists, to stress the urgency of responding to global warming. (AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE)

I. He establishes the ethos of a public servant whose concern stems from ethical and moral rather than

political motivation. (RHETORICAL DEVICE )

II. He provides an enormous amount of technical information, appealing to logos by taking advantage of a multimedia format.

(RHETORICAL DEVICE )

III. He relies on emotional appeals by juxtaposing what was or is with what might be—and, in fact, is likely to occur.

(RHETORICAL DEVICE )

IV. Gore acknowledges several counterarguments, but he refutes them with humor or alternative

explanation. (RHETORICAL DEVICE )

V. He uses his personal experiences, in particular anecdotes as a father and a brother to stress the deep commitment he has to this issue ( RHETORICAL DEVICE)
Conclusion: An Inconvenient Truth effectively sounds the alarm for global warming by providing an

explanation that blends scientific information and human interest.

3. RUBRIC

Thesis 20 %, audience and purpose are addressed as well as your central argument (Thesis)	Poor Student has not identifed the audience and has not constructed a clear thesis or central argument	Fair Student has identified the audience and suggested the central argument, but has not convinced the reader of the  purpose	Good Student has identified the audience and stated the central argument by giving a thesis with support	Excellent Student has clearly identified the audience and clearly stated the central argument. Writer's purpose is clear to the reader.
Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies 40 % Student has chosen a selection of rhetorical strategies to analyze and has given examples from the film	Poor Student has not succesfully identified the rhetorical strategies employed by the writer.	Fair Student has identified some of the rhetorical strategies employed by the writer and alluded to examples of same	Good Student has identified several of the rhetorical strategies employed by the writer and has given some examples.	Excellent Student has clearly identified at least 4 strategies employed by the writer and has given clear examples for each.
Organization 20 % Student has effectively organized his or her ideas in a logical, persuasive manner.	Poor Student has not mastered the art of organization in the essay. Ideas are not logically presented and fluency is an issue. Topic sentences are not clear - no transitions.	Fair Student has a planned structure to the essay, however, lacks fluency. Needs better transition and topic sentence.	Good Student has a good structure - Topic sentences introduce main ideas and transistions serve purpose of movement from one idea to the next.	Excellent Student has an ecellent structure - Excellent fluency with creative topic sentences and meaningful transitions
Grammar, Usage and Mechanics 20 % Student has written with style and maturity, varied sentence structure, vocabulary, and effective compositional choices. Free of spelling, punctuation, and  grammar errors. G.U.M  stands for  grammar usage and mechanics	Poor Student lacks style and mature prose for junior AP level. Proofread and correct spelling, punctuation and grammar errors.	Fair Student demonstrates adequate style and mature prose. Some variation in sentence structure. Mostly free of G.U.M.* errors	Good Student demonstrates good style and mature prose. Good variation in sentence structure. Free of G.U.M. errors.	Excellent Student demonstrates excellent style and mature prose. Excellent variation in sentence structure and a firm grasp of appropriate  G.U. M.