Summary/Analysis on Ben Casselman’s “Shutup About Harvard”
For this essay, choose one reading we have not discussed in class thus far from Acting Out Culture. Read the essay carefully as you must summarize the
author’s argument and analyze the rhetorical appeals the author makes. Recall what you learned about rhetorical analysis in English 1101, as well as our
review on rhetoric. For the summary portion, imagine you are explaining the main points of the reading to a friend or relative who has never read it. Be
thorough and reserve authorial judgment. Your goal is to explain (objectively) the position for which the author is arguing while providing key quotes from the
text that demonstrate their position. For the analysis portion, you will show how the author argues their point. Consider the author’s various appeals (whether
to pathos, logos, or ethos), their intended audience, their rhetorical situation, and the overall persuasiveness of their piece. Pay special attention to the
author’s use of outside sources. What kind of evidence does the author cite? Is the evidence reliable/credible, or questionable? Do some digging to find out.
Cite any outside sources that you choose to consult that shed light on these questions. In order to earn full credit, this essay must be written in MLA format,
750-1000 words (excluding the Works Cited), and should include
an introduction and thesis statement; your thesis should state the author’s claim along with their main rhetorical appeals and strategies. one, fully-developed
paragraph of summary, as described above. fully-developed body paragraphs with analysis and evidence (direct quotations from the text, properly cited in
MLA) of the author’s rhetorical choices and use of outside sources. a conclusion. a Works Cited page (include the text you are analyzing, along with any other
sources you choose to consult).
