Analysis blueprint WS template page 1 of 4 Paulette Swartzfager pmsgsla@rit.edu http://people.rit.edu/pmsgsla
Just a sample outline with directions… for this first writing assignment. BLUEPRINT FOR Evaluation or Analysis of Argumentative Essays 4 paragraphs due for this first draft CONTEXT: In at least 4 sentences, state the general context of the essay under consideration. In this area, set up the context by giving some background on the issue. Do not mention the author or the title yet. You could describe a “case” (like a friend who spends a lot buying bottled water because he/she thinks it is better than tap water OR a description of a family who does not have access to water. OR you could give some information (statistics or shocking facts) about the actual amount of water that is drinkable. There are other ways to begin, but do not begin with some general “fluffy babbling.” Try one of the 2 beginnings described above.
CLAIM: State the author's claim in a way that hints to your readers about your judgment of whether or not the author has succeeded in making this claim credible. In “…… … ,” author claims (or seeks to, demonstrates, explains,….etc)……<--Use this sentence structure for your analysis claim.
FORECAST: Predict the methods you will discuss that the author uses to convince or persuade his/her readers that his/her claim is valid. (You must discuss evidence as at least 1 of the methods.) This sentence predicts the organization—the analytical paragraphs that you will write (in the exact order you will write them). In order to accomplish this purpose, …..(author’s name) uses facts, statistics and testimony 1. factual evidence (real events or other facts) 2. statistics 3. testimony
Analysis blueprint WS template page 2 of 4
Support Paragraph 1 (tied to Forecast point #1)-- @ 9 sentences TOPIC sentence (with keyword) .. factual evidence
2 points of support: evidence from the essay to show how the author uses this method to enhance his argument. Discuss specific places in the essay where the author uses factual evidence. Show where the author uses facts, events (show at least 2 places) a. b.
SO WHAT (concluding sentence describes the impact of this strategy -- as it helps the purpose of the argument) Use the KEY word. Factual evidence Talk about the specific effect of the evidence on the audience, the credibility of this evidence, and whether or not it actually supports the claim sufficiently or not.
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Support Paragraph 2 (tied to Forecast point #2)-- @ 9 sentences TOPIC sentence (with keyword) .. statistics
2 points of support: show where the author uses this method to enhance his argument. Discuss specific places in the essay where the author uses statistical evidence. (Show at least 2 places) a. b. SO WHAT (concluding sentence describes the impact of this strategy -- as it helps the purpose of the argument) Use the KEY word. Statistics Talk about the specific effect of the statistical evidence on the audience, the credibility of this evidence, and whether or not it actually supports the claim sufficiently or not.
Support Paragraph 3 (tied to Forecast point #3)-- @ 9 sentences TOPIC sentence (with keyword) ..testimony
2 points of support: evidence from the essay to show how the author uses this method to enhance his argument Show at least 2 places the author uses quotes or testimony. Discuss the authority of the speakers and the impact on the credibility of the argument. a. b.
SO WHAT (concluding sentence describes the impact of this strategy -- as it helps the purpose of the argument) Use the KEY word. Testimony (Talk about the specific effect of the testimony on the audience, the credibility of the “witnesses”, and say whether or not their testimony actually supports the claim sufficiently or not).
Analysis blueprint WS template page 4 of 4
CONCLUSION: @ 3-5 sentences This should be more than just a restatement of your own topic sentences. You should have an INSIGHT, make a judgment about the effectiveness of this author's argument, and/or apply this discussion back to the text (in a quote), or CALL TO ACTION. Your conclusion should be an insightful judgment of the quality and credibility of the evidence considering the audience that the author is speaking to. Remember that each of the essays has a specific target audience, so each author has a different “burden of proof” based on the expectations of the audience and on the publication type. A report to the UN must be much more detailed and more researched than an opinion piece in a newspaper. Think about your article’s audience and judge its credibility in that way. But also in this conclusion, you should discuss the reality that all these essays have become popular and have been published in globalization textbook that have different audiences than the author originally planned to address. What should a reader (like you) consider when reading this essay? Is further information needed to take a position on the privatization of water? Is reading this specific article enough for someone to make a decision on this issue?